You can avoid potential problems by seeking legal and financial advice in advance. 

For example, think now about utilizing these common legal tools: 

• Advance directives, including a “living will”
• Durable power of attorney
• Will
• Other legal documents particular to your situation (such as a guardianship for an incompetent family member).

Financial issues often accompany legal issues.  Paying for home care, assisted living facilities and nursing homes can bankrupt a family that does not plan ahead.  Ask for legal advice from a competent attorney who specializes in estate planning or elder law issues.  Find out about benefits such as Medicare, MaineCare, and drug programs.  Also, accessing insurance benefits including long term care insurance benefits can be complicated and require legal assistance.  Or you may need legal advice if your family cannot agree on care plans, including sometimes-difficult home care issues. 

Click here to see the details on the local resources for Finance. 

Click here to see the details on the local resources for Legal.

If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, contact:

Maine Legal Services for the Elderly   HelpLine 1-800-750-5353 

Some of their services, such as help with Medicare issues, are available to non-elderly clients.

Other possible sources of free legal help if you are not elderly: 

            Pine Tree Legal Assistance – must meet low-income financial criteria

Maine Disability Rights Center – services are limited to certain types of disability-related issues

Important Documents

• Wills
• Durable Power of Attorney for Finances
• Advance Directives
  - Power of Attorney for Health Care
  - Health Care Advance Directive (sometimes referred to as “living will”)
  - Oral Directives
• Emergency Medical Services Palliative Care / Do Not Resuscitate Order 

More information:

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: This listing of specialized lawyers can help you locate an elder law attorney. 
• Senior Law Home Page : Access information on Medicare, Medical Assistance, estate planning, trusts, rights of elderly and disabled citizens, and other elder law topics.
• Access America for Seniors: Government information on benefits  
• Administration on Aging:  Services provided by the public sector
• Eastern Agency on Aging:  Meals, housing, residential services, volunteer services & caregiver programs
• Healthfinder from the United States Government:  Social Security & Pension Search Directory, material on self care and choosing quality health care
• Medicare:  Information on Medicare, comparison of Medicare HMOs and user satisfaction, and nursing home survey results.  Or call the Medicare Hotline: 1-800-633-4227 
• Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213 Provides general information and handles problems related to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits.
• Veteran's Helpline: 1-800-827-1000  Assists veterans, their widows and orphans in obtaining V.A. benefits.

Maine Department of Human Services Office of Elder ServicesHelpful easy-to-read information for older Mainers on many topics, including: guardianships, advance directives, long-term care, prescription drug assistance, assisted living, home care, and much more.

Know Your Rights: Maine Legal Services for the Elderly  Basic introductory information about wills, long-term care, advance directives and other common issues seniors face.

Area Agencies on Aging: Listing of all of the AAA’s in Maine and their contact information.  Call the office nearest  you for help with caregiver programs, residential services and legal questions.  They work hand-in-hand with Maine Legal Services for the Elderly.

Maine Consumer Health Law Program (operated by Consumers for Affordable Health Care): Helps Mainers resolve disputes with their health insurance companies.  They also post information about health care resources, including government-sponsored benefits, for Maine consumers.