The Elder Care Continuum helps families view the care journey as a process that begins well before what we call "the crisis point," which happens when families realize that a loved one can no longer safely live at home. At the crisis point, caregivers find themselves scrambling to make immediate arrangements for long-term care, often under great pressure, and wondering how they will pay for that care.

We believe that the long-term care journey begins with what we call a "trigger event." It could be a stroke, a car accident or a fall in the home. It could be a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, cancer or another condition that may eventually lead to incapacity. Once the trigger event happens, family caregivers gradually step in to assume the responsibility for researching, coordinating, and delivering care, and managing more and more of the loved one's financial, legal, and personal matters. Over time, these burdens can become overwhelming.

Families often need more help early in the care journey than they realize. Unfortunately, traditional elder law attorneys, Medicaid planners, and senior advisors are limited in their ability to help earlier in the process because their focus is on the money. For many families, however, the long-term care journey is about much more than money. It's about making sure the loved one is safe and well cared for. It's about quality of life. 

When you meet with Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning staff members during your initial consultation, the focus will be on locating your loved one's position on each line of the Elder Care Continuum. We will then help you identify gaps in care and suggest ways to mobilize resources and public benefits to close those gaps. The goal is to plan for the best care for your loved one, both now and in the future.