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

Rating:
Summary: Every adult should read it.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: The best guide in this topic I have seen!
Review: 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!!

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly comprehensive and well-written
Review: 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.