elder law

Lori Kayne, MSS, LSW, C-ASWCM, Geriatric Social Worker of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will co-present “Walkers, Canes and Hearing Aides – Why Won’t They Use Them and What Can I Do?” hosted by United Way of Northern New Jersey Caregivers Coalition. Along with Ruth Rothbart-Mayer, LCSW, C-ASWCM, Psychotherapist and Eldercare Coach, Kayne will address the frustration many caregivers face when it comes to a loved one’s resistance to use a walker, cane, or hearing aids, and provide potential reasons for this resistance and the techniques to promote change.

When: Tuesday, June 18, 2019

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center Bayberry Cafe

One Bay Avenue

Montclair, NJ 07042

For more information and to register, please click here. Registrations will be accepted until Friday, June 14, 2019, as space allows.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, Events | Tags: Caregivers, elder law, elder lawyer, Geriatric Social Worker, Lori Kayne, New Jersey Social Worker, United Way of Northern New Jersey

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will be speaking at the “Five Wishes” workshop hosted by Westwood for All Ages in association with North Jersey Villages. The free workshop will cover legal documents and state requirements, helping families connect, communicating effectively with healthcare providers, and influencing communities by advocating for compassionate care. The event will help attendees reflect upon their personal choices for healthcare and end-of-life wishes, and give them the opportunity to draft a document to effectively communicate their “wishes.

When: Thursday, May 30, 2019

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Thomas J. Riley Senior Center

100 Madison Avenue

Westwood, NJ 07675

For more information and to register, email , or leave a message at 917-701-3121. Seating is limited.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, Events, Shana Siegel | Tags: Conversation of Your Life, Elder Care Law, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, elder lawyer, Five Wishes, Shana Siegel

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, and Lori Kayne, Geriatric Social Worker, will present “The Next Steps: An Empowered Consumer’s Action Plan,” as the final presentation of the Essex County Conversation of Your Life (COYL) Task Force series. The free event will take place on Monday, May 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the West Orange Library.

The presentation will conclude the Essex County COYL four-week series and will reflect on what attendees have learned throughout the sessions and how to turn those lessons into action plans. Siegel and Kayne will cover planning for your health care needs, including medical power of attorney, healthcare proxy, important documents, and planning for your financial needs. For more information, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Shana was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations. Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989.

Kayne has been working in the healthcare field for over 20 years. In collaboration with client’s attorneys, she conducts Geriatric Assessments and develops detailed Life Care Plans to address any care, legal, or financial issues the client may have.

Prior to joining the firm, Kayne was an Elder Care Coordinator at WanderPolo & Siegel. Kayne earned her M.S.S. from Bryn Mawr College in 1983, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Bucknell University. She holds a Certificate in Elder Care from Stockton University, and a Certificate of Gerontology from Rutgers University.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: Caregivers, Conversations of Your Life, COYL, elder attorney, elder care planning, elder law, elder lawyer, Essex County, Essex County COYL, Great Goodbyes, Lori Kayne, Shana Siegel, Social Workers

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will present “When It Comes To Aging, It’s Important Not To Go It Alone” for the Long Term Living Association’s (LTLA) Educational Consumer Seminar series. The seminar will be held Thursday, April 11, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park.

The presentation is for seniors and their families who would like to learn more about topics related to aging and longevity. Siegel will cover topics including the financial costs associated with aging, asset protection, government benefits, and common setbacks families may face when they plan alone. For more information and to register, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Siegel was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: Elder Care, Elder Care and Special Needs Law, Elder Care Attorney, Elder Care Law, elder law, Long Term Living Association, Longevity, LTLA, Shana Siegel

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A. and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, and Lori Kayne, the group’s Geriatric Social Worker, will present “Can Your Client Decide? The Ethical and Legal Issues of Medical Decision Making.” The free CEU program for social workers will take place Wednesday, April 10, 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., at CareOne at Livingston.

Siegel and Kayne will address the social work code of ethics in relation to medical ethics and how federal and state laws relate to medical decision-making. They will define decision-making capacity and informed consent, analyze case examples, and more. For more information, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Siegel was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Kayne has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years. In collaboration with client’s attorneys, she conducts Geriatric Assessments and develops detailed Life Care Plans to address any care, legal, or financial issues the client may have.

Prior to joining the firm, Kayne was an Elder Care Coordinator at WanderPolo & Siegel. Kayne earned her M.S.S. from Bryn Mawr College in 1983, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Bucknell University. She holds a Certificate in Elder Care from Stockton University and a Certificate of Gerontology from Rutgers University.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: CEU, Elder Care, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, Informed Consent, Lori Kayne, Medical Decision-Making, Medical Ethics, NJ CEU, Shana Siegel, Social Work, Social Workers, Special Needs Law

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will present “Just Do It: Planning for a Good Life and Death,” focusing on advance care planning. Sponsored by the Bergen County Conversations of Your Life Task Force and North Jersey Villages, Inc., the free event will take place Thursday, April 4, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., at Berkeley College in Paramus.

The program will focus on health care decision-making and include personal stories and discussion of the 5 Wishes document with Judith Migliaccio, Paramus Health Office; Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi; Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hach; and Health Officer Dawn Cetrulo. Siegel will be joined by Shari Haber, founder of Great Goodbyes, who will discuss burial options and plans. The presentation will feature a Q&A session. Caregivers, social workers, doctors, and family members are strongly encouraged to attend. To register, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Shana was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: Bergen County, Bergen County COYL, Caregivers, Conversations of Your Life, COYL, elder attorney, elder care planning, elder law, elder lawyer, Great Goodbyes, Shana Siegel, Social Workers

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will present “The Legal and Planning Issues Older Adults Need to Consider,” Monday, April 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., at the Montclair Public Library. The presentation, sponsored by AARP, will focus on planning for older adults. Topics will include health care decision making, estate planning goals, long-term care, power of attorney, and more. The event is open to the public and no registration is needed.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Shana was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and its clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: AARP, elder care. special needs, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, estate planning, long-term care, Montclair Public Libarary, Shana Siegel

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will be a co-presenter for the Long Term Living Association’s (LTLA) Educational Consumer Seminar, “The Five Pillars of Longevity: What You Need to Know.” The seminar will be held Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park.

The presentation is for seniors and their families who would like to learn more about topics related to aging and longevity. Siegel, along with four other presenters, will cover topics including how to generate a consistent income; the pros and cons of legal documents and trusts; the differences between Power of Attorney, a Living Will, and a Healthcare Proxy; and more. For more information and to register, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Siegel was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: Aging, Elder Care, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, elder law lawyer, legal documents, living will, Long Term Living Association, Longevity, Power of Attorney, Shana Siegel

Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, and Lori Kayne, the group’s Geriatric Social Worker, will present “Can Your Client Decide? The Ethical and Legal Issues of Medical Decision Making.” The free CEU program for social workers will take place Wednesday, March 27, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m., at Harmony Village at CareOne Paramus.

Siegel and Kayne will address the social work code of ethics in relation to medical ethics and how federal and state laws relate to medical decision-making. They will define decision-making capacity and informed consent, analyze case examples, and more. For more information, please click here.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Siegel was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

Kayne has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years. In collaboration with client’s attorneys, she conducts Geriatric Assessments and develops detailed Life Care Plans to address any care, legal, or financial issues the client may have.

Prior to joining the firm, Kayne was an Elder Care Coordinator at WanderPolo & Siegel. Kayne earned her M.S.S. from Bryn Mawr College in 1983, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Bucknell University. She holds a Certificate in Elder Care from Stockton University and a Certificate of Gerontology from Rutgers University.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: CEU, Elder Care, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, Informed Consent, Lori Kayne, Medical Decision-Making, Medical Ethics, Shana Siegel, Social Work, Social Workers, Special Needs Law

The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to welcome Shana Siegel, as a Member of the firm’s Elder Law Group. Siegel, along with her team, Lori Kayne, Geriatric Social Worker, and Laura Ocskay, Medicaid Specialist, join Norris McLaughlin from WanderPolo & Siegel. Siegel will be based out of the firm’s Bridgewater office, but will also be available at 28 Valley Road, Suite 1, Montclair, NJ, 07042, to continue serving her clients in that area.

“As the chapter of WanderPolo & Siegel comes to a close, I am excited to be bringing my innovative elder law and life care planning practice to Norris McLaughlin. This will be the best of both worlds for my clients as they will continue to receive the same level of personal attention they have come to expect, and I will also have the resources at Norris to better serve the full range of my clients’ needs,” said Siegel.

Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of Elder Law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Shana was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

Siegel earned her J.D. in 1994 from Georgetown University, honors, and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

“Shana’s practice will compliment and expand our Estate Planning & Administration practice, as elder care has become a big industry topic with the Baby Boomer generation. Shana has the client focus we value here at Norris McLaughlin, and we are pleased to welcome her and her team to the firm,” said John N. Vanarthos, Chairman of Norris McLaughlin, P.A.

Kayne has been working in the healthcare field for over 20 years. In collaboration with client’s attorneys, she conducts Geriatric Assessments and develops detailed Life Care Plans to address any care, legal, or financial issues the client may have.

Prior to joining the firm, Kayne was an Elder Care Coordinator at WanderPolo & Siegel. Kayne earned her M.S.S. from Bryn Mawr College in 1983, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Bucknell University. She holds a Certificate in Elder Care from Stockton University, and a Certificate of Gerontology from Rutgers University.

Ocskay specializes in preparing Medicaid applications, and acts as a coordinator and liaison between the attorney, client, and caseworker with regard to the Medicaid application process to ensure compliance with Medicaid rules and regulations. Prior to joining the firm, Ocskay served as a Medicaid Specialist at WanderPolo & Siegel. Before that, she was as a legal assistant for 12 years. She received her B.A. from Notre Dame College.

Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, Estate Planning & Administration, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: Asset Preservation, Elder Care Law, elder law, Elder Law Attorney, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Life Care Planning, Long-term Care Advocacy, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Elder Law Foundation, Public Benefits, Shana Siegel, Trust and Estate Planning