KEYSTONE ELDER LAW - Key Persons
My interest in Elder Law was not ignited in law school, which I attended in the evening as a middle-aged real estate developer, but when my parents and in-laws' physical and mental health began to decline suddenly, Elder Law issues became real and personal. My wife, Marcia, and I were the primary caregivers for our four elder parents, who collectively needed nearly constant attention over an eight year period. We experienced the systemic hell that occurs when the elder and their families are confused by the conflicting interests of hospitals, CCRCs, hospices, individual medical professionals, and the emotional needs of other family members.
After the passing of our parents, I began seeking "a better way" to serve my community with a service that would maximize the quality of independent living for elders and reduce the pain of transitioning to alternative care arrangements when needed to assist with activities of daily living. Much research led to the model of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, which Keystone Elder Law P.C. has adopted. Our team of experienced Elder Law Professionals shares a profound commitment to this service.
Prior to becoming a principal of Keystone Elder Law P.C., I was an executive of a private corporation and a real estate broker-developer who completed transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars over three decades in twelve states. I served as a national chair of the Office Condominium Forum and the Private Developers Forum of the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP), and president of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors Industrial, Commercial and Investment Council. I am a former school board member and administrator of federal and state grants on a local level. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Penn State University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law, where I also received the American Jurispudence Award for Real Estate Transactions and Education. I retain a Pennsylvania real estate broker's license and am a "Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)" of the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute. I believe in continuing professional education and have hundreds of hours of training in real estate, law, management, mediation, and leadership.
I am thrilled and professionally rejuvenated to have the opportunity to organize and be part of a team of experienced and mature professionals who believe that Life Care Planning is a fresh approach to serve elders and their families effectively. We are able to stay on top of the latest changes in law and resources of elder care through active membership with a number of national organizations including the Life Care Family Planning Law Firms Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Elder Counsel. Although I wish that my parents and in-laws could have benefited from having such a Life Care Planning service available to them, my wife and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to initiate the service in Central Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Elder Law: a Primer on Essential Terms
In June of 2013, I joined Keystone Elder Law after learning about the firm's commitment to improving the quality of life of seniors and their families. Navigating today's health care system requires a multidisciplinary approach in order to understand the services that are available and the regulations that govern those services. Sometimes, combinations of services are required to meet the increasingly complex needs experienced by seniors as they age. Through education and service coordination, we can help individuals and families meet their physical, emotional, social, and financial needs. My health care knowledge is especially beneficial.
My educational background and training includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. My experience in the care of the elderly started while I was still in school, as I worked in an extended care facility as a nursing assistant. After receiving my degree, I continued to develop my skills through positions on hospital orthopedic and respiratory units. Subsequently, I moved on to a continuing care retirement community, where I was able to work with individuals in all levels of care from independent living to personal care to skilled nursing. For me, helping the elderly move through the continuum of care reinforced the importance of compassion, communication, and organization in order to ensure smooth transitions for all involved. In my twenty plus years of providing nursing care, I was also able to experience home care both professionally and personally as a caregiver as well as extended acute care situations. My desire is to use my knowledge and abilities to help clients maintain dignity, maximize their potential, and reduce the stress of adapting to changes in their health status.
Job Titles:
- Client Engagement Specialist