Foundations of Financial and Legal Planning for Eldercare

Financial and legal planning for an aging parent is a tangle of documents, agencies, and decisions that most families have never had to navigate before. Without preparation, families face avoidable losses, delayed care, and disputes that can permanently damage relationships. This foundational course gives you a clear map. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the core legal documents involved in eldercare, explain the difference between common estate planning structures, understand how public benefits interact with private assets, and recognize when professional help is essential rather than optional. What you will learn: - The essential documents: financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, will, living trust, advance directive - The difference between general, durable, and springing powers of attorney - How wills, revocable trusts, and irrevocable trusts differ in control, taxes, and probate - How beneficiary designations on accounts and policies override what a will says - How Medicaid asset rules, lookback periods, and spousal protections work at a basic level - The role of elder law attorneys, certified financial planners, and fiduciaries - Common mistakes: avoiding the conversation, mixing accounts, late retitling of assets, DIY trust kits The course uses readings, document anatomy walkthroughs, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with a checklist that you apply to your parent's situation. This course is written for adult children and other family members. By the end you will have replaced fear of paperwork with a clear understanding of the major documents and structures, and you will know when you can act on your own and when bringing in a professional is the right move.