About Elder Care Law Center
About The Elder Care Law Center, LLC
The Elder Care Law Center, LLC was founded by Pennsylvania attorney Gerard J. Woods to provide legal assistance to seniors who face entering a nursing home and the potential loss of their assets.
When a person requires nursing home care, the cost of that care is staggering. This may result in the elder person's assets being wiped out in a very short period of time. Two important questions facing the elderly when entering a nursing home are:
- Will I lose all of my assets?
- Is there a way to prevent this from happening?
- Asset preservation through proper planning
- Comprehensive estate planning services
Our Commitment to You
We are dedicated to helping seniors conserve their assets and to prevent a spouse from living in poverty due to the high cost of nursing home care. We are also dedicated to helping non-seniors with asset preservation and protection in other circumstances through the use of wills, trusts, and other estate planning tools and techniques.
The range of legal services provided by The Elder Care Law Center, LLC consists in planning and implementing the most effective ways to keep the maximum amount of assets allowable under law (Medicaid planning), preparing the application for Medicaid, and taking any necessary appeals from decisions by the county assistance office. We also provide services for estate planning (including the preparation of wills, trusts, health care advance directives and powers of attorney), guardianship proceedings, estate tax planning and the administration of estates and trusts.
Our Legal Team
Gerard John Woods
Founder & CEO
Gerard Woods has been practicing in the field of elder law since 1994. He began practicing in this area because many of his estate planning clients needed help responding to the legal and financial challenges of parents or spouses suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other illnesses.
Email: gwoods@elderlawofpa.com
Admitted to PA Bar: 1975
David L. Reibstein
Attorney
My passion for estate planning and Elder Care Law goes beyond mere financial engineering—it's about building legacy. While asset protection, distribution, and tax strategy are vital components, the true joy for me lies in securing a family's enduring story.
Email: dreibstein@elderlawofpa.com
Admitted to PA Bar: 2002
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we use an Elder Law Attorney?
Senior citizens have a different set of legal problems. For the public at large, elder law attorneys deal with these problems on a daily basis and can guide you through the complexities. The decisions which seniors make will impact their lives as well as the lives of their loved ones. Hiring an elder law attorney will enhance your ability to make the correct decisions allowing you or your loved one to age with security and dignity.
Do I have to spend all of my assets before I qualify for Medicaid?
You do not have to spend all of your assets before you qualify for Medicaid. While technically as a single person you have to "spend down" to $8,000 or $2,400 (depending upon your monthly income) before you are eligible for Medicaid, advanced planning, through the aid of an attorney who is knowledgeable in this area, can help you avoid spending all of your hard earned assets on the cost of a nursing home. The law is more flexible for married couples and it is possible that with proper planning you may be able to retain the majority of your assets.
What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
Medicare will only pay for a maximum of 100 days in a skilled nursing facility and only the first 20 days are covered in full. Medicaid on the other hand will pay the entire cost of long-term custodial care in a nursing home if the person qualifies.
How important is estate planning?
Estate planning is extremely important. Simply put, without a properly written will or trust there is no guarantee that the people who you want to receive your property after you die will in fact receive it. Wills and trusts are legal documents and should always be prepared with the advice of an attorney, preferably one who is knowledgeable in this area of the law.
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These conversations are never easy, but we're here to guide you through every step.