Lara J. Schneider-Bomzer
My grandmother lived to be 103 years old. While she lived alone and was fiercely independent (I told her at age 100 not to stand on chairs to replace lightbulbs!), I also saw how her needs changed as she got older. The concerns she had about remaining independent were coupled with her children’s concerns about nobody living close by to her. It was only after she had her final fall that she had to have a home care aide in the house with her. It was hard to see her lose her independence and she went downhill quickly. It gave me the motivation to advocate for the vulnerable senior population.
I first advocated for the elderly working for a legal services organization in New York City. My role as an attorney was to defend elderly tenants who were being evicted from their apartments. Many of my clients had lived in subsidized rental properties for many years. The potential loss of a primary need – shelter – was devastating. I did whatever I could to try to keep them in their homes or to provide them with a long term exit strategy with their landlord. This experience cemented my goal of working with seniors.
Since my experience working at legal services, I have been working as an elder law and estate planning attorney for over 15 years. I assist seniors, as well as clients of all ages, who are in need of estate planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, and estate administration. I can draft your estate planning documents according to your specific wishes and you can rest easy knowing that your estate will pass in accordance with your wishes.
I also understand your concerns about paying for long-term care costs and the need for public benefits, like Medicaid, as well as the emotional stress that comes with navigating the complexity of Medicaid eligibility in a crisis. My knowledge of the Medicaid rules enables me to protect your assets and all you have worked so hard for throughout your life.
As a wife and mother to three children, I know firsthand how important it is to have your estate plan in order and to plan ahead as much as possible. There will be many changes in your life as the years go by, but with proper estate planning and advanced planning to protect your assets, I can give you the peace of mind you need for the future.
When I'm not in the office, I relish time with family taking nature walks and finding good homemade ice cream, enjoy reading fiction, often return to my Long Island roots, and I am a long-time, frustrated Mets fan!