Springer Bush & Perry several years ago recognized a need to establish an elder law practice to serve the aging population in Western Pennsylvania. Elder Law, while relatively unknown 15 years ago, has grown in national recognition because of the growth of the elderly population, the increases in healthcare costs and the lack of effective legislative attention to the issues that face the elderly.

As a result, we are proud to have an experienced Elder Law Practice Group having served clients for more than a decade in 20 counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania that focus their practice exclusively on Elder Law and Disability Planning. The chair of the Elder Law Practice Group, Julian E. Gray, is one of only 5 Certified Elder Law attorneys in Western Pennsylvania.

Our Elder Law Practice Group has extensive experience in counseling clients and their families in dealing with nursing homes, Medical Assistance, estate and tax planning for the elderly, guardianships, special needs trusts and various related issues. The planning issues facing seniors may be very different than those issues usually associated with more common estate planning. We take a comprehensive review of our clients’ personal situations, needs and goals in order to formulate the best plan for their particular situation.

Medical Assistance – Our Elder Law Practice Group handles all aspects of the Medical Assistance process. Whether assisting seniors in planning for long term care benefits in a facility or at home, or handling a crisis situation for a disabled family member, our attorneys work closely with clients, nursing facilities and Medicaid agencies to guide our clients through the complex process of obtaining benefits. In addition, we are often called on to represent our clients to appeal adverse decisions of a County Assistance Office relative to a Medical Assistance denial.

Special Needs Trusts and Disability Planning – Our Elder Law Practice Group handles a wide range of cases for disabled clients, both young and old. We counsel clients that are victims of catastrophic injuries in establishing Special Needs Trusts to maintain eligibility for government programs while utilizing such trusts to enhance their quality of life. In addition, we also counsel families of disabled children who wish to establish Supplemental Needs Trusts to provide the care that the disabled beneficiary will need throughout his or her life to enhance their quality of life, while still qualifying them for important government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Attorneys

 Shannon N. Darby

 Caitlin G. Eberle

 Julian E. Gray, CELA

 Jennifer Rose

Case Coordinator

 Rhagan Moore

Articles of Interest by Julian E. Gray, CELA

 Home Safe Home – Or is it?

 Is Keeping Half Really Good Enough?

 Living Trusts - What's Your Fear Factor?

 The Death Tax "Repeal" : Relief or IRS Trojan Horse?

 Who's Got the Power?

Medicaid Myths

With continual changes in both federal and state law surrounding the Medicaid program, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what types of care Medicaid covers, how to obtain these benefits and the consequences of prior actions by a Medicaid applicant during the “five (5) year lookback” period immediately before the filing of a Medicaid application. Visit our Medicaid Myths section to learn about some of the common misconceptions.

Click here for more Medicaid Myths

Downloadable Forms

 Eldercare Planning Questionaire - Married

 Eldercare Planning Questionaire - Single

Note: You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the forms. Get it here.

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