Elder law is the area of laws, statutes, regulations, and decisions that affect the lives of older Americans and their families. Here's a small sample of the myriad topics elder law encompasses:

• Coordination of private and public resources to finance the cost of care
• Income assistance benefits, taxation, conservatorship, general estate planning, estate and trust administration (e.g., wills, trusts, probate)
• Counseling and planning for incapacity with medical directives, advanced directives, and other alternative decision-making documents
• Physical abuse, financial abuse, nursing home abuse, nursing home impoverishment, and nursing home neglect
• Medicare claims and appeals
• Social Security and disability claims and appeals

Elder Law Articles:

• Avoid Sibling Warfare: Get a Caregiver Contract
• Guardianship Gone Bad
• Plenty of Issues Facing Elder Law Attorneys

Elder Law Blogs:

• The Importance of a Will
• Elder Abuse: An Overview
• Hospitalized Friend's Family Limiting Access to Her