Elder Law News
From Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
June 2025
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New York's Elder Law Team
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Five Essential Steps to Create a Long-Term Care Plan in Your 30s
By: Lauren C. Enea, Esq.
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Your 30s mark a time of major life decisions — marriage, buying a home, starting a family, and/or advancing your career. While these milestones demand attention, planning for your future care deserves equal consideration. Even I, as someone who practices elder law and long-term care planning for a living, have struggled to make this a priority. Yet, starting your long-term care planning at a younger age offers more options and better financial benefits than waiting until later in life. Here are five steps to help you create a comprehensive health care plan now to ensure that you are sufficiently covered in your golden years:
1. Begin with health care decisions
Creating a health care proxy lets you choose someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so yourself. It is crucial to pick someone you trust, who understands your wishes and values regarding medical treatment. Technically, everyone over the age of 18 should have a health care proxy. It is the only way to ensure that a trusted individual is at the reigns if you can no longer make medical decisions yourself due to a medical condition or diagnosis (such as Alzheimer’s Dementia).
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Issues to Consider When Marrying Later in Life
By: Stella King, Esq.
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Love can bloom even in your golden years! Whether you’re tying the knot for the first time or giving it a second (or third) go-round, below are some long-term care and estate planning issues to consider when marrying later in life.
Long-Term Care
It may come as a surprise that the resources of both spouses are counted when determining one’s financial eligibility for Medicaid: Either the couple’s combined liquid non-retirement assets must total below Medicaid’s financial eligibility threshold ($32,396 for 2025) or the ill spouse’s assets must total below this amount while the well spouse executes a Spousal Refusal (SR). The SR allows Medicaid to consider only the ill spouse’s resources when determining eligibility, however, Medicaid may later seek to recoup funds expended on the cost of the ill spouse’s care from the refusing spouse. While a pre- or post-nuptial agreement does not eliminate spousal responsibility in New York (NY), post-eligibility planning for the refusing spouse could be beneficial.
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Enea, Scanlan & Sirinano, LLP was proud to support Pace Women's Justice Center once again at this year’s Cocktails for a Cause benefit. Firm Partners Lauren C. Enea, Esq. and Stella King, Esq. served as event co-chairs, helping to raise awareness and funds for PWJC’s vital work. The Center provides free legal services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse in Westchester and Putnam Counties — offering critical support with issues such as divorce, custody, financial exploitation, housing, and more.
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Upcoming Speaking Engagements
Featuring the Attorneys of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
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Tuesday, June 10, 2025 from 12:00-1:00pm
Anthony J. Enea, Esq. will be speaking on
“Gray Divorce: Estate & Medicaid Planning Implications”
Hosted by: Lawline
Webinar
This program is appropriate for the legal community.
For more information or to register, visit:
https://tinyurl.com/5n8u7jy2
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Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 7:00-8:00pm
Stella King, Esq. will be speaking on
“Planning Considerations for New York's New
Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for Long-Term Care”
Hosted by: The Warner Library
Webinar
This program is open to the public.
For more information or to register, visit:
https://tinyurl.com/4e37eysb
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Wednesday, June 25, 2025 from 3:00-5:00pm
Lauren C. Enea, Esq. will be speaking on
“Life Transitions and the Unexpected”
Hosted by: The Bristal at Armonk
In Person: 90 Business Park Dr, Armonk, NY 10504
This program is open to the public.
For more information or to register,
call (631) 372-2272.
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Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 3:00-4:00pm
Stella King, Esq. will be speaking on
“Estate Planning for Every Age”
Hosted by: Tuckahoe Public Library
In Person: 71 Columbus Ave, Tuckahoe, NY 10707
This program is open to the public.
For more information or to register, visit:
https://tuckahoelibrary.libcal.com
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Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 12:00-1:00pm
Michael P. Enea, Esq. will be speaking on
“Avoiding the New York Estate Tax Cliff”
Hosted by: NYSSCPA Manhattan/Bronx Chapter
Webinar
This program is for financial professionals.
For more information or to register, visit: https://cpe.nysscpa.org/product/35478
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The Talking Seniors podcast is currently on break.
Take a listen to some of the episodes from last season.
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Episode 13: What to Discuss with Family When an Alzheimer's Diagnosis Occurs
Anthony J. Enea, Esq. interviews Joan Nimmo of The Alzheimer's Association about the important conversations that are necessary when a diagnosis of Alzheimer's occurs within the family.
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