estate planning lawyer York Cliffs ME 03902

8. Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) — Under federal spousal impoverishment rules, if one spouse enrolls in Medicaid and moves into a nursing home while the other spouse continues to live in the home, the spouse who continues to live in the home is allowed to keep a certain portion of the couple's income. This rule applies when the Medicaid enrollee moves into a nursing home.

4. DNR, which stands for "Do Not Resuscitate Order," is an order that tells medical professionals not to try to extend a patient's life by performing CPR or cardiac resuscitation on them. Both the individual and their attending physician are required to sign the order. DNRs are not the same as living wills. Living wills enable people to specify whether or not they want general medical treatment to extend their lives, while DNRs are only applicable to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

5. DPA (Durable Power of Attorney) - With the help of a DPA, you will be able to designate a reliable person to handle your health care decisions or financial decisions in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself. On the other hand, a financial agent may assist you in managing your money and paying your expenses, while a health care agent can make judgments about the kind of treatment that you get. In the event that you become unable to care for yourself in the future, having a durable power of attorney in place may help you avoid the need for a guardian.