Long Term Care Planning

Long Term
Care Planning

Chances are you will need assistance in the future with your activities of daily living or long-term medical care. Even the healthiest elders may eventually have difficulty keeping up with cleaning, cooking, yard work, laundry and other manual household tasks. In addition, a chronic medical condition could trigger the need for extensive nursing and health care services. The costs of these services continue to rise, making access more difficult, especially for retired seniors. Waiting until you need these services to figure out what is available and how to pay for it is too late. The time to start planning is now.

Walser & Herman Law Firm has invested more than 30 years into helping seniors and their families make long-term care plans. Our Boca Raton elder law attorneys advise you on options for long-term living and medical assistance and your options for financing these costly services. You can, thus, feel confident that should the need arise, you will be well cared for and not suffer a financial hardship.

Choosing the Right Housing Option

When choosing the right type of housing for yourself or a family member, consider a variety of factors, including:

Level of care your loved one needs — whether 24-hour nursing care or minor assistance with daily living
Ratio of staff to residents and the staff’s demeanor and rapport with residents
Food quality, nutrition and choices, including whether the facility can accommodate special diets
Whether the space allows for independence and privacy, as dictated by your loved one’s medical needs
Opportunities for social interaction with other residents and guests
Availability of dementia care, if needed
Costs and negotiable payment arrangements
Possibility of a homecare option, given your relatives condition

Also, to maintain a stable environment, consider medical and assisted living needs at present and in the future. You do not want to uproot your loved one as his or her medical condition progresses and requires greater care.

Housing Options Available for Long-Term Care

Seniors who have a debilitating illness or dementia often demand 24-hour medical care and constant supervision. Most families are not equipped to provide these services in the home. The highest level of secure facility may be warranted in these cases. However, many seniors are living longer and healthier lives. The senior housing market has responded with numerous options best suited for a variety of circumstances.

Some housing options to review include:

Retirement community
A healthy senior may not need or want the restrictions integral in other housing options. Retirement complexes often have onsite services and age-appropriate amenities, in addition to opportunities for social interaction with other seniors.

Assisted living facility
Assisted living housing provides varying levels of care and supervision, depending upon your loved one’s health and circumstances. Some specialized assisted living facilities provide dementia care.

Home health aid or nurse
Your loved one may prefer to stay in her or his home. Although generally expensive, a home health aid can help your family member with activities of daily living and a nurse can monitor health or provide limited care.

Nursing home
A nursing home offers round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring for seniors with severe illnesses or injuries. Staffing the nursing home with medical professionals tend to drive up the costs of this high-level long-term housing option.

Learn More About Your Options
for Long-Term Care

Walser & Herman Law Firm guides you through important long-term housing options and advises you on the tools available to cover the costs. Call our dedicated lawyers at (561) 750-1040 or email to schedule your consultation at our Boca Raton main office or our Palm Beach Gardens office location.

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Call us (561) 750-1040

Our Team

Our experienced team of attorneys is here to help you navigate your estate plan and the Florida probate process.

Thomas C. Walser, JD, LLM

Partner/Attorney

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Thomas C. Walser, JD, LLM

Partner/Attorney

Originating from Minnesota, Thomas C. Walser received his Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Accounting from the Mankato State University, Minnesota in 1972. He obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1976. Thomas C. Walser, as founder of the Walser & Herman Law Firm has committed himself and his career to the field of trust and estates, exemplified by attaining an LLM or graduate law degree in the area of estate planning from the University of Miami School of Law, Heckerling Institute, graduating in 1983. The Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning is often regarded as one of the most prestigious and renowned programs specializing in the area of trust and estates.

Mr. Walser is a former CPA who has practiced tax law for over 35 years. He began his professional career as a tax accountant in 1975, serving in the tax department of Touché Ross & Co., one of the big eight accounting firms in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1979 he was employed in the legal department of United Air Lines, Chicago, Illinois. While at United Air Lines, he provided legal, tax and pension services to United Air Lines and its parent holding company, UAL, Inc. In 1977 he accepted a position as International Tax Attorney in the International Tax Department of McDermott, Inc., where he traveled extensively to the Middle East, India, Mexico and Europe, dealing with area management, foreign advisors, and foreign tax authorities.

Mr. Walser has been in private practice in Florida since 1983. His law practice includes the areas of wills, trusts, probate and estate planning. His tax practice includes individual, corporation and partnership income taxation, estate tax planning and the preparation of all applicable income tax returns.

Christa W. Herman, Esq.

Partner/Attorney

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Christa W. Herman, Esq.

Partner/Attorney

Christa W. Herman was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Canton, Georgia. She received her undergraduate degree from Berry College located in Rome, Georgia, in 2008, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Finance along with a minor in music.

Mrs. Herman relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2009 to attend Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, where she obtained her juris doctorate (JD) in 2012. Mrs. Herman was admitted to practice law in Florida in July 2012.

Prior to attending law school, Mrs. Herman worked as an Intern with Sellers & Warren, P.A., Attorneys at Law-Real Estate Closing Attorneys in Woodstock, Georgia, and as a Legal Administrative Assistant at The Mason Law Firm, LLC, Counselors At Law-Trial Attorneys and Mediators in Canton, Georgia. In 2011, Mrs. Herman joined The Law Office of Mitchell I. Kitroser, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida as a Law Clerk, and continued to work there as an Associate Attorney until May 2013. Mrs. Herman started working with the Walser & Herman Law Firm in May 2013 as an Associate Attorney. She practices in a variety of law fields, including Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Medicaid Planning, Guardianship, and Probate and Trust Administration.

Mrs. Herman is a member of the Buddy Walk Committee for the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization located in Boynton Beach, FL, and a volunteer with the Els for Autism Foundation located in Jupiter, FL. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Herman has a younger brother, with Down Syndrome, and a younger sister. Growing up in a supportive and diverse family environment has greatly influenced Mrs. Herman’s involvement with special needs individuals. She is passionate about providing legal services in a timely, caring, and professional manner in order to meet the needs of today’s families. Mrs. Herman lives in Jupiter, FL with her loving husband and fellow attorney, Michael Herman, Jr.

Jay L. Kauffman, Esq.

Of Counsel

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Jay L. Kauffman, Esq.

Of Counsel

Jay Kauffman represents individuals and families in prosecuting and defending claims regarding estates, trusts and guardianships, including disputes over: the validity and construction of testamentary documents and advanced directives; the modification or reformation of estate plans; the inclusion or exclusion of assets in estates or trusts; the validity of purported gifts; the mental capacity of alleged incapacitated persons; the existence and sufficiency of lesser restrictive alternatives to guardianship; the appointment of guardians; breaches of fiduciary duty in the administration of estates, trusts and guardianships; and tortious interference with expectancies.

Mr. Kauffman also represents fiduciaries in the efficient administration of estates, trusts and guardianships. Mr. Kauffman has represented clients primarily in Florida’s Palm Beach and Broward Counties in such matters for more almost 20 years. Prior to that, he wrote and negotiated contracts for a telecommunications company and litigated commercial cases.

Mr. Kauffman is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University (B.A. with Honors in Economics,1993) and The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1996). He has been admitted to the Florida Bar since 1996.

Mr. Kauffman co-authored the following published legal authorities:

Chapter 4, Rights of the Surviving Family, Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, 5th edition (2005), 6th edition (2007) and 7th edition (2009);

Chapter 14 Appellate Practice In Probate, Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, 5th edition (2005), 6th edition (2007) and 7th edition (2009);

Chapter 3, Jurisdiction, Practice Under Florida Probate Code, 4th edition (2006), 5th edition (2008), 6th edition (2010) ), 7th edition (2012), 8th edition (2014), 9th edition (2016), and 10th edition (2018);

Mr. Kauffman has also co-authored several Florida Bar Journal Articles regarding estate litigation.

Mr. Kauffman is currently a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL), Elder Law, and Trial Law sections of the Florida Bar. He lives in Boynton Beach with his wife and two daughters.

Bettee M. Collister, Esq.

Of Counsel

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Kenneth B. Wheeler JD, LL.M. Tax

Of Counsel

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Choosing the Right Housing Option

Housing Options Available for Long-Term Care

Learn More About Your Options for Long-Term Care

Our Team

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Long Term
Care Planning

Learn More About Your Options
for Long-Term Care