New Year, New Plan: a different kind of planning

As the New Year approaches, many of us make resolutions—eat healthier, exercise more, get organized…caring more for family that cannot care for themselves?

As we assess the past year and make plans for the new one, sometimes that include family members who can no longer care for themselves like they have in the past.

In the past weeks, we have been discussing what that can look like from starting to mis-manage medicines to confusion and even daily care.

Your New Years Resolution may need to include one that impacts the whole family by providing direction everyone needs to care well one for the other.

One of the most important resolutions you can make in 2026 is to put both estate and long-term care planning in place. This is a resolution that not only protects assets, but the people you love—your parents, your loved ones, and yourself.

Long-Term Care Planning vs. Estate Planning

Many families believe that once they have an Estate Plan, Will and/or Trust and Powers of Attorney in place, they’re “all set.” It’s a common but misguided assumption. 

As people live longer, daily care for aging adults becomes more complex as they require more assistance.  Daily care directives are not included in Estate Planning. 

The daily care directives such as where they live, daily assistance, types of care, who pays for care, care providers and more are created through a formal Long-Term Care Planning document created by an Elder Law certified attorney.

When completed in advance, this long-term care planning allows aging adults pre-decide all aspects of care and help care givers know their wishes, pay for care and make future decisions without second guessing.

A Simple Story Many Families Recognize

Mary, a 74-year-old widow, had a solid estate plan. Her will was updated, her trust funded, and her powers of attorney signed. Her daughter, Lisa, felt relieved knowing everything was “handled.” 

Then Mary fell. She needed assisted living and neither Medicare nor her Medicare supplement covered it. 

Suddenly, Lisa was scrambling—How would care be paid for? Would mom’s savings last? Would Mary need Medicaid? None of that had been addressed in the estate plan. What Lisa discovered, too late, was that planning for death is not the same as planning for life.

Estate Planning Protects Assets.

Long-Term Care Planning Protects People.

An estate plan’s primary focus is on what happens after someone passes away. Tools like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney help ensure assets go where intended and what decisions can be made if someone is incapacitated.

Long-term care planning, a core part of elder law, focuses on what happens while someone is alive but needs day to day help. It addresses healthcare decisions, living arrangements, caregiving, and how to pay for care (and medical equipment like hearing aids) without exhausting everything a family and their children have worked for.

In simple terms:

• Estate planning answers: Who gets what?
• Long-term care planning answers: How do we care for you, and how is it paid for?

Why This Matters Now—Not only on “Crisis Day”

Families often wait until a health event forces action. But crisis planning limits options and increases stress, cost, and conflict. Proactive elder law planning offers clarity, control, and peace of mind for everyone involved.

A thoughtful long-term care plan may include:

• Planning for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing care
• Protecting assets from being fully consumed by care costs
• Coordinating benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, or long-term care insurance
• Clear guidance so adult children aren’t left guessing or disagreeing

This isn’t about fear—it’s about preserving choice and avoiding unnecessary loss, both financial and emotional.

How an Integrated Approach Helps Families

An experienced estate and elder law firm understands how these plans work together. 

Silvas Law guides families through these decisions and aligns them with existing estate plans—to prevent a limitation of options when “an event” happens. With this alignment families feel more confident, informed, and prepared.

Make This New Year Count

Our experienced Estate and Elder law team helps families integrate estate and long-term care planning—ensuring both assets and loved ones are protected.

Choose your first step this New Year:

• Join our “Legacy Care Event” to learn more in an informative, relaxed setting.
• Schedule a personalized appointment to review your family’s unique situation.



Make this the year your family feels truly prepared—because planning ahead is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and the people you love.

Click here to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to learn more and get started today:

BOOK NOW!

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Silvas Law is a Personal Family Lawyer® firm, we know the value of planning for the future.
And we know the value of planning for the life you want today and the legacy that extends far beyond your assets.