The Elder Law Handbook: A Legal and Financial Survival Guide for Caregivers and Seniors [Paperback]

Peter J. Strauss (Author), Nancy M. Lederman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

The explosion of recent laws affecting the elderly, and changes in these laws, has made finding up-to-date answers to questions about legal questions regarding this group all the more difficult. In this book, two attorneys offer a practical introduction and general reference to the laws governing the rights and programs affecting seniors. Glossary. Sample legal forms. Index.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Elder Law: A Legal and Financial Guide for Caregivers and Seniors by Peter J. Strauss and Nancy M. Lederman addresses the particular needs of the fastest-growing segment of the population. As they age, seniors "face the possibility of reduced spending power, rising health care and insurance costs, loss of health benefits both on the job and in retirement, pensions in jeopardy, and changing house needs." This new area of law has evolved to handle the legal and management problems that may result from aging, illness or incapacity. (Facts on File, $14.95 ISBN 0-8160-3410-9; cloth $25.95 -3082-0; Sept.)
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The laws affecting the elderly are numerous, complicated, and in flux. Estate and financial planning, employment issues, housing concerns, and the myriad problems associated with healthcare are on the minds of growing numbers of aging Americans. This handbook tackles these topics by providing detailed explanations of the legal principles and existing systems that administer them. The authors, both attorneys with experience in elder law, include practical guidance to help readers deal with the insurance, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid bureaucracies. The chapter on financing long-term care explains the types of care available, the role Medicare plays, what home healthcare benefits are allowed, the intricacies of long-term care insurance, and some creative options for funding care. Sections on estate and gift taxation, workplace protections for aging workers, disabilities planning, and adult communities are equally thorough. Appendixes list agencies, associations, and government offices that offer help and information on subjects ranging from organ donation to elder abuse. This timely and complete book is a necessary purchase for most public libraries.?Joan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816034109
• ISBN-13: 978-0816034109
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,479,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best guide in this topic I have seen!, April 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elder Law Handbook: A Legal and Financial Survival Guide for Caregivers and Seniors (Hardcover)

Possibly the best legal guide of any type I have seen. It's hard to believe that this is written by a LAWYER because it's actually easy for a regular person to understand. Highly recommended!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every adult should read it., June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elder Law Handbook: A Legal and Financial Survival Guide for Caregivers and Seniors (Paperback)

Easy to read and follow. Not just for seniors. Recommend it for all ages. Concise and to the point. Up-to-date with great resources in appendix.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly comprehensive and well-written, May 3, 2001

By 

ElderLawAnswers.com (The World Wide Web) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elder Law Handbook: A Legal and Financial Survival Guide for Caregivers and Seniors (Hardcover)

This hardcover volume is one of the most thorough and informed discussions you're likely to find on legal issues affecting the elderly. The authors, who are both elder law attorneys, begin with a quote from Milton Berle: "I've got enough money for the rest of my life, unless I want to buy something." They wrote the book, the authors say, to give readers "more than a punchline" with which to face their future. After reading it, you'll be able to face your future as something of an expert yourself.

Peter Strauss and Nancy Lederman dispassionately lay out rights and legal options so that readers can make decisions now regarding their health care, retirement income and living arrangements in later years. While expected topics like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are well covered, the authors address sometimes neglected areas, such as choosing a hospital, obtaining home care, and planning for a disabled child. The book features a particularly comprehensive section on "Meeting Your Housing Needs" that includes discussions of rental assistance, reverse mortgages, and adult living communities.

For all its detail, The Elder Law Handbook is clearly and engagingly written and benefits from frequent section breaks. And although it is intended for the layperson, it could be of use to professionals seeking general information on areas of elder law. The Handbook was published in 1996, so a few rules and regulations have undoubtedly been tweaked since its writing. The book ends with a helpful and comprehensive resources section.