MARCH 4, 2009
Hook Law Group staff certified by Florida Bar
NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA. –
Four staff members of Hook Law Group, 4918 Floramar Terrace, recently were designated as Florida Certified Paralegals by the Florida Bar Association.
According to Joan Nelson Hook, Esq., founder of the law firm, they are:
   
Shannon Caraccia, Stacey Meece, Caroline Posey, Monica Simmons
Hook says the designation was established by the Florida Bar Association to set professional and ethical standards for paralegals, who are vital to the day-to-day operations of a law firm. To qualify for certification, a paralegal must have earned a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an approved paralegal program and have at least a year of paralegal work experience.
An alternative is to have earned an associates degree and have at least two years of paralegal work experience.
But the process doesn’t end there. To maintain certification, a Florida Registered Paralegal must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education every three years with at least five hours of study in legal ethics or professionalism.
Specializing in elder law, Hook Law Group handles all aspects of planning,counseling, educating and advocating for elderly clients and their families. This includes dealing with Medicaid, estate and long-term-care planning; probate; guardianship; specialneeds trusts; will and trust administration and inter-generational issues.
Attorneys Joan and David Hook are members of The Florida Bar, West Pasco Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys and Florida State Guardianship Association.
More information about Hook Law Group is available by calling (727) 842-1001.
Nursing Homes for Veterans
Nursing home coverage for veterans is available from two sources within the Department of Veterans Affairs -- the veterans health care system and the state veterans homes system.
Nursing Home Coverage through the VA Health Care System
Nursing home coverage along with other long term care services such as home care and assisted living as well as geriatric care management are available through the Veterans Health Administration for qualifying veterans.
In order to get into the veterans health care program, the veteran must have service-connected disabilities, or be below a qualifying income level or be receiving Veterans Pension income. Once in the system, veterans are not guaranteed long term care services, including nursing home care, unless they meet specific requirements. Here is a list of these requirements for nursing home coverage.
Who is Eligible for Nursing Home Care
- Any veteran who has a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more;
- A veteran who is rated 60 percent service-connected and is unemployable or has an official rating of "permanent and total disabled;"
- A veteran with combined disability ratings of 70 percent or more;
- A veteran whose service-connected disability is clinically determined to require nursing home care;
- Nonservice-connected veterans and those officially referred to as "zero percent, noncompensable, service-connected" veterans who require nursing home care for any nonservice-connected disability and who meet income and asset criteria; or
- If space and resources are available, other veterans on a case-by-case basis with priority given to service-connected veterans and those who need care for post-acute rehabilitation, respite, hospice, geriatric evaluation and management, or spinal cord injury.
VA's nursing home health system programs include VA-operated nursing home care units and contract community nursing homes. Many VA hospitals operate nursing home care units located in or near the hospital. Other hospitals, without adequate nursing home beds, contract with approximately 2,500 community private nursing homes nationwide to provide services.
State Veterans Homes
State veterans homes fill an important need for veterans with low income and veterans who desire to spend their last years with "comrades" from former active-duty. The predominant service offered is nursing home care. VA nursing homes must be licensed for their particular state and conform with skilled or intermediate nursing services offered in private sector nursing homes in that state. State homes may also offer assisted living or domiciliary care which is a form of supported independent living.
Every state has at least one veterans home and some states like Oklahoma have a number of them. There is great demand for the services of these homes, but lack of federal and state funding has created a backlog of well over 130 homes that are waiting to be built.
Unlike private sector nursing homes where the family can walk in the front door and possibly that same day make arrangements for a bed for their loved one, state veterans homes have an application process that could take a number of weeks or months. Many state homes have waiting lists especially for their Alzheimer's long term care units.
No facilities are entirely free to any veteran with an income. The veteran must pay his or her share of the cost. In some states the veterans contribution rates are set at a certain level and if there's not enough income the family may have to make up the difference. Federal legislation, effective 2007, also allows the federal government to substantially subsidize the cost of veterans with service-connected disabilities in state veterans homes.
State Veterans Homes Per Diem Program
The Veterans Administration pays the state veterans homes an annually adjusted rate per day for each veteran in the home. This is called the per diem. The 2008 nursing per diem amount is $74.42 and for domiciliary care it is $34.40. Adult Day Health Care – up to one-half of the cost of care -- cannot exceed $66.82 per day. The goal of state veterans homes is to get Congress to increase the per diem rate for nursing care to 75% of the state private nursing rates. In most states the per diem falls well short of this goal.
The per diem program and construction subsidies mean that State veterans homes can charge less money for their services than private facilities. Some states have a set rate, as an example $1,400 a month, and they may also be relying on qualified veterans receiving the Pension benefit with aid and attendance plus the per diem to cover their actual costs. Other states may charge a percentage of the veteran's income but be relying on other subsidies to cover the rest of the cost. Some state homes can receive Medicaid support as well.
Most of the states with income-determined rates are selective about the veterans they accept. These states may rely on a variety of private and public sources to help fund the cost of care.
Eligibility and Application Requirements for State Veterans Homes
From state to state, facilities vary in their rules for eligible veterans. And even in the same state it is common, where there is more than one state home, for some homes to have very stringent eligibility rules and others to be more lenient. These differing rules are probably based on the demand for care and the available beds in that particular geographic area.
Some homes require the veteran to be totally disabled and unable to earn an income. Some evaluate on the basis of medical need or age. Some evaluate entirely on income -- meaning applicants above a certain level will not be accepted. Some accept only former active-duty veterans, while others accept all who were in the military whether active duty or reserve. Still others accept only veterans who served during a period of war. Some homes accept the spouses or surviving spouses of veterans and some will accept the parents of veterans but restrict that to the parents of veterans who died while in service (Goldstar parents).
Federal regulations allow that 25% of the bed occupants at any one time may be veteran-related family members, i.e., spouses, surviving spouses, and/or gold star parents who are not entitled to payment of VA aid. When a State Home accepts grant assistance for a construction project, 75% of the bed occupants at the facility must be veterans.
Domicile residency requirements vary from state to state. The most stringent seems to be a three-year prior residency in the state whereas other homes may only require 90 days of residency.
All states require an application process to get into a home. Typically a committee or board will approve or disapprove each application. Many states have waiting lists for available beds.
A current contact list of all state veterans homes is available at here.
HUDSON :: Jul 5, 2007
Caregivers to meet for support group
A caregiver support group, hosted by Gulfside Regional Hospice and the Hook Law Group is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday and continuing each week through Aug. 29 at Atria Baypoint Village, 7927 State Road 52, Hudson. Led by William Wolfe, M.A., this group is for anyone caring for a loved one, family member or friend. The group offers opportunities for members to share their challenges and successes with others. To reserve a place, call Nancy Terkeurst at (727) 845-7507, ext. 244.
PASCO TIMES :: Feb 25, 2008
Law firm shifts to life-care planning
The Hook Law Group announces plans to shift its focus to life- care planning - a comprehensive approach to dealing with issues of the elderly - while continuing its practice of elder law, says Joan Nelson Hook, a board-certified lawyer who founded the New Port Richey law firm.
One of the country's first law firms to build its practice around elder law, the Hook Law Group will incorporate wide-ranging elements that explore a client's physical, legal and financial well-being, up to and including the end of life. By its very design, life-care planning preserves a client's quality of life and frequently involves family members in consultations.
Hook Law Group, 4918 Floramar Ter., may be reached at (727) 842- 1001 or by visiting www.elderlawcenter.com.
PASCO TIMES :: Jan 7, 2008
HEART INSTITUTE RATED AS A
SPECIALTY CENTER
The Adult Education Committee of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church will have four seminars on Mondays in the Family Life Center, 7922 State Road 52, Hudson, (727) 863-5646. Each seminar will begin at 1:30 p.m. No seminar fee. The schedule is: Jan. 7, Financial Issues, Tri Acorn Investment Services Group; Jan. 14, Legal Issues, The Hook Law Group; Jan. 21, Hospice Care, Hernando Pasco Hospice; Jan. 28, Funerals and Memorial Services, Prevatt Funeral Home and St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Pastor.
The Florida Department of Transportation plans a public workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Madison Square, 4035 Madison St., New Port Richey to discuss plans for improving U.S. 19 from south of Alternate U.S. 19 to north of County Line Road.
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PASCO TIMES :: Dec 9, 2007
HIGH FIVES
Elder-law attorney David Hook and three staff members from the Hook Law Group attended the Second Annual National Conference of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association in Kansas City, Mo., in October. Joan Nelson Hook, founder of the Hook Law Group, said that the association is composed of about 35 law firms nationwide that are concerned with planning for all facets of later life, rather than focusing on estate planning, which concerns the disposition of assets following death.
Also attending the conference were public-benefits specialists and life-care planning coordinators Stacey Meece, Caroline Posey and paralegal Shannon Caraccia. Topics centered on veterans' aid, long- term and geriatric care, dealing with depression in the elderly, Medicare resources and recovering damages from financial-abuse of the elderly.
Founded in 1993 in New Port Richey, the Law Group specializes in elder law, all aspects of planning, counseling, educating and advocating for elderly clients and their families. This includes dealing with Medicaid, estate and long-term-care planning, probate, guardianship, special needs trusts, will and trust administration, and inter-generational issues, tax situations and nursing home injury, abuse or neglect. Further information about the conference can be had by calling (727) 842-1001.
PASCO TIMES :: Nov 19, 2007
HOOK LAWYERS ATTEND ELDER LAW SEMINAR
[Joan Nelson Hook] Hook and David Hook of the Hook Law Group of New Port Richey located at 4918 Floramar Terrace in New Port Richey, recently attended an advanced elder-law seminar regarding changes to Medicaid eligibility in Orlando. Presented by the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, the invitation-only seminar examined how Florida is implementing the federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA '05) and how it will affect Florida seniors, says Mrs. Hook, the firm's founder.
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PASCO TIMES :: Oct 21, 2007
Caregivers to meet for support group
A caregiver support group, hosted by Gulfside Regional Hospice and the Hook Law Group, begins Wednesday and will continue each Wednesday to Dec. 12. Facilitated by Vanessa Price, MSW, the group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Atria Windsor Woods, 13707 Dallas Drive in Hudson. Open to all caregivers the group will help them deal with the stress of full-time caring for a loved one. Call (727) 845-7507, ext. 244 to reserve a seat.
SHE KNOWS LAW. AND BOBSLEDDING
Aug 12, 2007
While they were there, [Harvey] and their son, David, were inaugural members of the Virgin Islands' Olympic bobsled team. [Joan Nelson Hook] served as a coach and trainer for their 1988 trip to the Calgary Olympics. She stayed in the Olympic village and met the members of Jamaica's first bobsled team, who inspired Disney's 1993 flick Cool Runnings.
"We just don't hang it up at 65," she said. "People enjoy enriched lives by staying in the community and work force. I think older workers are prized because of their work ethic and dependability and focus."
"I just want to continue to love what I'm doing and to find joy in my life," she said. "And give joy to others."
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WEST PASCO HAPPENINGS :: Aug 10, 2007
Elder Law and Gulfside Regional Support Group: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Gulfside Regional Hospice and the Hook Law Group are hosting a support meeting at Atria Baypoint Village at 7927 State Road 52 in Hudson. Joan Nelson Hook will present "Florida Law: Today's Retiree & Caregiver." Hook is a board-certified elder law attorney and the president of the Gulfisde Regional Hospice Board of Directors. Learn creative ways to deal with the stress of full-time caregiving. The group leader is William Wolfe, MA. To reserve a seat, call Nancy Terkeurst at (727) 845-7507, ext. 244.
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