Elder Law & Estate Planning Resources

Foster Swift has prepared more content that ranges from a glossary of estate planning terms, to spotting financial elder abuse. Please reach out to an attorney with further questions or to better understand what an elder law attorney can do for you and your family.

Survivor's Checklist:

Due to the shock of the death of a spouse or a loved one, the steps of what needs to be done first can be an overwhelming process for the survivor(s). To aid in the breakdown and to act as a tool amidst the emotional days ahead, estate planning Jonathan "Jay" David has assembled a "Survivor's Checklist" of some of the important things that need to be addressed when a spouse or loved one dies.

Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024):

Below is a comprehensive guide of resources for older adults living alone, empowering them to thrive independently and access essential services. This guide was created and provided with permission by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024) (ncoa.org)

Elder Organizer Tool:

Foster Swift has created a free ‘Elder Organizer’ digital notebook to provide seniors and their caretakers with a toolkit that helps organize doctors’ appointments, medications, and more that can be shared online. The tools below are also available on the Elder Law Blog at mielderlawblog.com.

*For those trying to access these links by smartphone, it is best practice to copy/open the link in a separate tab and download the free Google Sheets app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

COVID-19 Checklist for Caregivers of Seniors:

For adult children responsible for their elderly parents and other senior caretakers concerned about protecting loved ones as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, below is a free downloadable checklist of steps to follow to prepare for any possible COVID-19-related illnesses among the most vulnerable. 

Articles: 

• Resources for Seniors and Caregivers, Matt Fedor and Lindsey Mead
• Choosing the Right Housing Situation for Your Elderly Loved One, Matt Fedor and Lindsey Mead
• Aging Unbound: A Multi-Part Caregiver Resource Guide, Matt Fedor and Lindsey Mead
• Parents: The Three Essential Legal Documents Your Child Should Have Before Leaving For College, Jay David
• Executing Estate Planning Documents Outside of Attorney's Office, Jay David
• When It Comes To Estate Planning, Coordination Is Key, Jay David
• Importance of Durable Powers of Attorney Jay David
• How FEPA Protects Michigan’s Elderly Against Financial Exploitation Matt Fedor
• Time to Give Up the Keys? A Guide to Seniors and Driving, Caring.com
• A Beginner’s Guide to Medicaid Planning, Caring.com
• Trending Scams Targeting Seniors in 2021, AARP
• Why Employers Need to Support the "Sandwich Generation" Matthew S. Fedor
• How to Spot the Red Flags of Financial Elder Abuse Matthew S. Fedor

Videos: 

• Spotlight on Elder Law with Matt Fedor
• What is Elder Law Planning? 
• What Should I Know About Medicaid Planning?
• COVID-19 and Elder Law Planning
• How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Elder Law and Pre-Planning