Long-Term Care Planning in Palo Alto

35 Years Protecting Bay Area Families from Long-Term Care Costs

Skilled nursing care in the Bay Area ranks among the most expensive in the country, and those costs aren’t covered by Medicare or most private health insurance plans. A few years in a care facility can deplete a lifetime of savings. The families we serve in Palo Alto come to us because they’ve realized that waiting until a crisis arrives narrows their options significantly. Proactive long-term care planning creates room for strategies that simply aren’t available later.

Our approach integrates three planning disciplines into a single coordinated strategy: Medi-Cal eligibility planning, long-term care insurance advising, and asset protection. Michael Gilfix co-founded the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and was the first attorney elected as a Fellow to that organization. Over more than 35 years, our firm has helped thousands of Bay Area families protect their assets and manage care costs, and we’ve helped clients preserve substantial sums in taxes and long-term care expenses through planning strategies tailored to their circumstances.

Planning now gives your family far more options than planning later. Call us at (650) 683-9200 to schedule a consultation with our Palo Alto long-term care planning team.

Why Palo Alto Families Trust Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP

Three of our attorneys hold certification as Certified Legal Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California. That credential requires demonstrated proficiency and peer recognition in the field; it isn’t granted automatically with years of practice. Our firm pioneered special needs planning in California and is recognized nationally as a leader in elder law. Michael Gilfix and Mark Gilfix co-authored Facing the Reality of Long-Term Care, a published consumer guide to long-term care financing options, and that depth of published knowledge shapes how we counsel every client.

We also bring continuity that matters for long-term planning. Our firm spans three generations of attorneys, with a succession structure designed to serve clients and their heirs for decades ahead. Our proprietary Peace of Mind Program maintains ongoing communication and legal support so clients don’t have to start over when their circumstances change. Over more than three decades, we’ve served tens of thousands of individuals and families in the Palo Alto area.

Medi-Cal Asset Protection: What California Law Actually Allows

Many people believe Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, is only available to those who have exhausted all their savings. That’s a common misconception. The term “spend down” is widely misunderstood to mean every asset must be depleted before eligibility begins. In reality, asset and income thresholds determine eligibility, and strategic planning can help preserve significant assets for a spouse and heirs while allowing access to Medi-Cal benefits for care costs.

Some assets are already exempt from Medi-Cal’s eligibility calculations. Others can be legally transferred without triggering a period of ineligibility, provided the transfer is structured correctly and within California’s rules. Transfers made improperly within the look-back period can trigger extended ineligibility, which is why the mechanics matter and why working with an experienced Medi-Cal planning attorney is essential.

A comprehensive plan addresses three connected concerns:

• Income planning: Structuring income sources to support eligibility thresholds
• Asset protection: Using exempt assets, legal transfers, and, in appropriate cases, an irrevocable trust to hold title to the family home
• Estate recovery prevention: Taking specific steps intended to reduce the likelihood that Medi-Cal seeks to recover program costs from the client’s estate after death

One client wrote to us after we addressed a threatened lien on her home: “Your letter to the Medi-Cal office did the trick. They are no longer threatening to put a lien on my house. I cannot thank you enough for helping me protect my home.” (D.S.) We follow Medi-Cal’s rules strictly and use every available exception on behalf of our clients. Learn more about our approach on our about page.

Schedule a Long-Term Care Planning Consultation

Planning for long-term care is easier when it starts before a crisis. We work with families across the Palo Alto area and the broader Bay Area to build plans that address care costs, protect assets, and preserve what you’ve worked to build. The earlier we can evaluate your situation, the more tools we may have available.

Contact Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP to schedule a consultation. Call us at (650) 683-9200 or reach out through our online contact form.