Generations Estate Planning & Elder Law, LLC

08/28/2024

We are LOVING these beautiful flower arrangements designed by ! We used them to decorate our office for our branding photoshoot. Absolutely Flowers always does an amazing job.

08/27/2024

We are SO excited for our branding photoshoot with tomorrow!!

08/19/2024

Good morning, Happy Monday!

Heather is off today and we have several client signings today. If you try to call us and get voicemail, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. It may be tomorrow morning before we're fully able to return all calls. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

07/26/2024

I missed yesterday due to my daughter participating in the Reno County 4-H Fair.

Nevertheless, we're continuing our final day talking about Kansas Medicaid, Snapshot Dates, and Division of Assets!

▶️ Recall we mentioned that miscounting countable assets can lead to a Medicaid denial. Here's what happens then:

1️⃣ If a miscalculation occurs and Medicaid is denied, a Community Spouse may be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars owed to the nursing home due to long Medicaid processing times.

2️⃣ The average processing time for a long-term care Medicaid application is 90 to 120 days, and that's often with the benefit of us filing for a Fair Hearing to keep applications moving.

3️⃣ Finding out you're ineligible for Medicaid 90 days after the fact, assuming the average monthly cost of a nursing home is $8,500) means your owe the nursing home $25,500 and you still don't have Medicaid. 120 days (4 months) is $34,000 due and owing.

▶️ The bottom line is trusting the wrong person to help you with a Division of Assets can be detrimental.

▶️ As an elder law firm, we are experienced with the nuances of countable versus non-countable assets, permissible asset transfers, and advanced planning strategies that KanCare workers and social workers can't advise on.

▶️ We are experienced and know how to legally maximize asset protection for the Community Spouse by accurately calculating countable assets at the time of Snapshot and the time of application and using advanced elder law planning strategies to save clients money and protect assets for the Community Spouse.

07/24/2024

Day 3! We are continuing our informational posts about the Medicaid Snapshot Date.

1️⃣ Not all assets are "countable" and subject to division in a division of assets.

2️⃣ Medicaid processing times are lengthy and although there is retroactive coverage for long-term care Medicaid, that only applies if Medicaid is approved.

3️⃣ Miscounting countable assets will quickly lead to a Medicaid denial.

Did you miss Day 1 and Day 2? Here are the links:

Day 1: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hxc9RKZSpVFmuv85/?mibextid=oFDknk

Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/w5UnXvAcyj7yCC8r/?mibextid=oFDknk

Check back tomorrow to learn more!

07/23/2024

We're continuing our education about Medicaid Snapshot Dates today!

1️⃣ Without a Snapshot Date, one cannot simply "divide your assets" one-half to each spouse and assume you are Medicaid eligible.

2️⃣ A "Snapshot Date" doesn't have to be in the same year that you're applying for Medicaid.

🔸For example, if your spouse was in the hospital after a fall 3 years ago, and then entered into rehab for 2 months, and then went home for the next 2.5 - 3 years your snapshot date could be the month of the initial fall that lead to going into the hospital.

🔸However, if your spouse fell 3 years ago, was hospitalized for 3 days, then went to rehab for 2 weeks before going home, they have not triggered the snapshot.

🔺The upside? Having a snapshot from years' prior can sometimes be helpful, especially if you have more money at that time. Frequently, in-home care or long-term care costs prior to applying for Medicaid decrease a couple's assets and it's important that they get "credit" for that spend down.

🔻The downside? Proving assets from a snapshot in prior years can be very difficult to prove and without the help of an ✨ experienced ✨ elder law attorney couples can find themselves in a Medicaid minefield.

Check back tomorrow for more information about Kansas Medicaid, Division of Assets, and how Snapshot Dates work.

07/22/2024

❓What is a Medicaid Snapshot?

Each day this week I will be discussing lots known facts about the Medicaid Snapshot Date in Kansas.

A Medicaid Snapshot Date is the most important date in determining Medicaid eligibility for a married couple! Assuming an incorrect date, or using account balances based on the wrong date, will likely lead to a denial of benefits.

1️⃣ The law uses the terms Community Spouse and Institutionalized Spouse.

2️⃣ A Community Spouse is a spouse who lives at home, in independent living, or in assisted living, (i.e., still lives in the community).

3️⃣ An Institutionalized Spouse (IS) is the spouse who lives in a nursing home.

4️⃣ A "Snapshot Date" can be likened to taking a picture 📸 of the couple's assets on the date the Institutionalized Spouse first leaves home and enters the hospital or nursing home for a continuous period of at least 30 days.

DAY 2's POST: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/FW74o665hqe9rx6S/?mibextid=oFDknk

I'll discuss more nuances about the date and how figures are calculated this week. Check back daily for more!

If you, your spouse, parents, or a loved one are entering into a nursing home, or are already in long-term care, call us for an initial consideration to learn more about how Medicaid Crisis Care Planning with the elder from an elder law attorney may help.

Call now: 620-662-2905

We provide estate planning and elder law services, including Medicaid and Division of Assets.

07/22/2024

❓What is a Medicaid Snapshot?

Each day this week I will be discussing lots known facts about the Medicaid Snapshot Date in Kansas.

A Medicaid Snapshot Date is the most important date in determining Medicaid eligibility for a married couple! Assuming an incorrect date, or using account balances based on the wrong date, will likely lead to a denial of benefits.

1️⃣ The law uses the terms Community Spouse and Institutionalized Spouse.

2️⃣ A Community Spouse is a spouse who lives at home, in independent living, or in assisted living, (i.e., still lives in the community).

3️⃣ An Institutionalized Spouse (IS) is the spouse who lives in a nursing home.

4️⃣ A "Snapshot Date" can be likened to taking a picture 📸 of the couple's assets on the date the Institutionalized Spouse first leaves home and enters the hospital or nursing home for a continuous period of at least 30 days.

I'll discuss more nuances about the date and how figures are calculated this week. Check back daily for more!

If you, your spouse, parents, or a loved one are entering into a nursing home, or are already in long-term care, call us for an initial consideration to learn more about how Medicaid Crisis Care Planning with the elder from an elder law attorney may help.

Call now: 620-662-2905

06/28/2024

Our office will be closed next week on July 4th and 5th. Have a safe and Happy 4th!

06/28/2024

05/29/2024

The City of Hutchinson in partnership with Reno County VOAD will have a clean up day on June 8. If you are someone who needs help with tree limb and brush removal and are unable to do these tasks, please contact United Way of Reno County at 620-669-9329.

05/23/2024

We excitedly accepted the invitation to present at the Good Samaritan Society on June 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Join us for a seminar presented by Elder Law attorney, Kristen M. Armstrong.

Ms. Armstrong will discuss new elder law issues, the importance of pre-planning, estate planning, and Medicaid planning, including division of assets and crisis planning.

When: June 11, 2024 at 2:00 P.M.
Where: 810 E 30th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502
Contact: Allison Saffle, MBA, 620-727-1810

Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorney serving Hutchinson, McPherson, Rice County, Reno County, Kingman County, Pratt County, Butler County, Sedgwick County

05/20/2024

Generations Estate Planning & Elder Law, LLC will be closed on Friday, May 24 and Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.

We remember all of our nation's heroes who fought and died for our freedom.

05/17/2024

Sharing a bit after the fact, but I was so excited to attend the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Annual Conference in Boston at the beginning of the month. Not only did I have the opportunity to attend, but I was honored to serve on the planning committee for the event.

Attending this conference is always a highlight of the year, and it was even more fun this year as many of my Kansas Elder Law colleagues and friends attended as well!

Presentations included a wide variety of topics, but some of my favorites included Medicaid policy change updates, litigation updates, special needs drafting & planning, and my favorite - "Dementia Through the Eyes of a Professional."

Visiting Boston has always been on my "bucket list" and I added a couple of days to my trip, invited my husband to join me, and we saw so many of Boston's historical sites. Boston did not disappoint!

As an elder law attorney, I find it both important and helpful to meet other elder law attorneys across both Kansas and the United States. The conference provides excellent advanced elder law material that I learn and can use every day in my practice.

04/05/2024

Good morning from Manhattan, Kansas! It's always a joy to meet up with my Kansas elder law colleagues at the annual KNAELA conference. We are always learning from each other. This is a room full of wonderful, smart, compassionate humans who care about Kansas seniors.

04/04/2024

An attorney in Great Bend is leaving the practice to be a stay at home mma and she referred a few clients to me to help them handle some Medicaid planning issues. Best wishes to Molly and her stay-at-home adventures!

I'm on my way to Manhattan for a state elder law conference and decided today would be a good day to stop in Great Bend for some home visits and document signings.

It's a beautiful day! 🌞

03/22/2024

Happy Spring!

Just an FYI that our office will be closed on Good Friday, March 29th. We will reopen on Monday, April 1st.

03/13/2024

See you Friday at Delos V Smith Senior Center 9 am - 12 pm.

NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reflection Living and Hospic

03/02/2024

It's Employee Appreciation Day and I can't say enough about these three women! I am so lucky to have the pleasure of working with them each and every day! They work so hard to serve our clients with a positive attitude day in and day out.

Thank you so much Andrea, Erica, & Heather. You're appreciated!

Andrea - 6 years
Erica - 5 years
Heather - 3 months (but already a rockstar!)

03/01/2024

Our new Instagram account is generations_estate_elder_law . Our previous account had some glitches and was still connected to the old firm and Meta didn't want to fix it. Alas, we're starting a new! We hope you'll follow along!

https://www.instagram.com/generations_estate_elder_law?igsh=MTg5czl5b3cxdjlsaA==

02/29/2024

I will be at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community tomorrow at noon speaking about Revocable Trusts, Wills, and Probate Avoidance. Please call Sara Nowlan tomorrow morning at Sunshine Meadows if you'd like to reserve your seat and a ✨free lunch!✨

Also, I'll be at the Delos V Smith Senior Center on March 15th for the Senior Fair. Please watch this page for additional details and information!

02/16/2024

Today, on National Caregiver's Day, we honor the dedication and compassion of caregivers everywhere. Your selfless service and commitment to providing care and comfort to those in need do not go unnoticed.

At Generations Estate Planning & Elder Law, LLC, we recognize the vital role caregivers play in our community and are here to support your legal needs, whether they involve planning for the future, navigating healthcare laws, or ensuring the rights and dignity of those you care for.

Thank you, caregivers, for your unwavering love and support. 💛

01/28/2024

See if you qualify for FREE tax preparation services provided by VITA volunteers.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site will open JANUARY 30, 2024 and run through APRIL 11, 2024 in The Salvation Army building (700 N. Walnut). The site will be open on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and Wednesdays & Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The site will also be open TWO Saturdays, February 17 and April 6 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. A drop off service is also available, but will end on April 4th. IRS certified volunteers will prepare taxes for FREE for households with a combined 2023 income of $64,000 or less. See the below poster for more details. See less

01/26/2024

It's official! As of 5:00 today, we're in business and ready to serve you. It has been a whirlwind 4 days, but we pulled off a HUGE transition of firms. I could not have done it without Andrea, Erica, & Heather. Those three women are AMAZING and I'm so thankful for each and every one of them.

We have a lot to do in the next few weeks - starting with where we left off on existing client files. Please be patient with us as we get re-organized!

If you were unable to reach us before today to have your files transferred, please rest assured that it is not too late. Please call our office or the Overland Park Shepherd office and request for your file to be transferred.

Thanks to everyone who reached out to us already. We are HONORED to be able to continue to serve you.

Sincerely,
Kristen

01/23/2024

After 6.5 years together, Samantha Shepherd and Kristen Armstrong would like formally notify you that effective January 25, 2024, Ms. Armstrong, our attorney in the Firm’s Hutchinson office, will be leaving Shepherd Elder Law. Ms. Armstrong has started a new venture, Generations Estate Planning & Elder Law, LLC (“Generations”), and will be managing that firm starting January 26, 2024. Andrea Armstrong, Erica Jones, and Heather Hutchinson will be joining her.

Generations will remain at its existing location inside First National Bank, located at One North Main, Suite 419, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501. Additionally, the telephone number of (620) 662-2905 will remain the same.

As a client of Shepherd Elder Law Group, attorney ethics rules do not allow us to transfer client files or documents without client's written consent. If you wish to have your file transferred to Generations, please email Heather at [email protected] and request that your file be transferred to Generations.

Starting Friday, January 26, 2024, please call Shepherd Elder Law in Overland Park at (913) 333-3533 to have your file transferred.

01/09/2024

❄️ Good morning, Hutchinson!

Our Hutchinson office will be closed today, Tuesday January 9th.

Kristen will still have her Delos V. Smith Senior Center appointments by telephone as previously scheduled.

Thank you and be safe out there.