Edwards Elder Law, P.A. Planning Ahead for Your Peace of Mind

By Suzanne Driscoll

Very few of us want to think about the time when we may be unable to care for ourselves at home, but savvy seniors know the importance of planning for the future. Edwards Elder Law in St. Pete specializes in guiding and educating people to identify resources available and to take the legal steps necessary to ensure their safety and security.

Founder Stephanie Edwards received her law degree from the University of Richmond and later worked in human resources in St. Pete and Bradenton. Her interest in elder law began when a friend’s father became ill and eventually died. Her friend was overwhelmed with all the decisions that had to be made but found comfort and support from a knowledgeable attorney who guided him through all the legalities in order to move forward. “I thought I could happily be that guide to help people through a time that everyone hopes will never happen,” Edwards recalls. She returned to school to obtain an LLM degree in elder law from Stetson University, and launched Edwards Elder Law in January 2011. Since then, she and her staff have helped thousands of local residents and their families to navigate estate planning, probate, incapacity planning, and Medicaid longterm care.

The Best Ways to Prepare

Edwards advises that a good way to plan for the future is to consider obtaining long-term care insurance. The earlier you purchase it, the less expensive it will be. “However, it’s not the answer for everyone, as some may not qualify or be able to afford it.” Another option is to start planning now for Medicaid assistance to help pay for a nursing home, which today runs about $10,000 - $12,000 per month. By using Edwards Elder Law’s Medicaid Roadmap, you can start strategizing using the Medicaid rules that allow you to turn countable assets into non-countable assets, for example.

The second most important task is to set up a Durable Power of Attorney where you permit someone you trust to step in and handle your finances if you are unable to. “This does not automatically default to your spouse, and if you don’t have a Durable Power of Attorney, in place the decision could end up in guardianship court,” Edwards says. “When you set one up ahead of time we can hit the ground running if your family needs to help make financial plans for your future care. And if you currently have one that was put in place before October 2011, it needs to be updated, since the laws have changed.”

Fixed Pricing Helps to Budget

Most services at Edwards Elder Law are based on a fixed price rather than hourly fees, so you can ask your questions and take the time to “sleep on” any decisions without worrying about increasing billable hours.

“The biggest gift you can give to your family is to plan ahead for the time you may be unable to care for yourself,” Edwards says. “Don’t wait for a crisis to happen, since there will be a lot more flexibility and options to explore if you make plans now.”

Caregiver PAWS Connection

In 2020, Edwards founded the not-for-profit organization Caregiver PAWS Connection, Inc., to provide resources that allow seniors to care for their current pets or adopt new ones. There’s the Furry Godparent Program to help find homes for cats and dogs when their senior owners are no longer able to care for them, as well as a directory of resources for short-term support in caring for your pet if you are unable to do so. All information can be found at caregiverpaws.org.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call Edwards Elder Law at (727) 209-8282 or visit www.EdwardsElderLaw. com. The office is at 2510 First Ave N., St. Pete. Stephanie Edwards is available to speak to senior groups of any size to help them plan for their future needs.