Aging in Place: How to Protect Assets and Stay at Home (NWL)

Did you know that Connecticut is among the top 3 states with the highest costs for nursing home and long-term care? That’s why it is so important to do your due diligence and protect everything that you have worked SO hard for – and if possible – to do so while remaining in the comfort of your home!

In this program, we will help you better understand how to avoid putting your-hard earned assets at risk in a way that can best position you to stay in your own home and age in place. Specifically, you’ll learn about Medicaid and other public benefit programs the state has to offer as well as strategies that married or single people can use to protect their assets.

Balancing everyday responsibilities and expectations can be challenging when you are caring for a loved one living with a disability. Add estate or special needs planning for the future into the mix, and it may feel utterly overwhelming. Attorney Colleen Masse understands what you are feeling and can guide you through your planning process in a straightforward and compassionate manner.

As Chair of our Special Needs Planning department and the Fiduciary Services department, Colleen can help you with a wide array of planning needs. She can partner with you on creating your comprehensive estate plan or laying out long-term care planning techniques that will protect your assets.

She can also show you how to use a Special Needs Trust to maintain and improve your quality of life, and to protect your money so you can afford the care you need for the long run. Colleen knows public benefits inside and out and can guide you through the eligibility process in a way that won’t jeopardize your eligibility for government benefits.

Before joining us, Colleen was with PLAN of CT where she worked with families and their attorneys to determine the appropriate trust type for the families’ given situation. She also worked with the Connecticut State Department of Education where she represented students in the care of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this role, she advocated for children with special education needs – filing complaints, performing record reviews, and communicating with various agencies and providers.

In her spare time, Colleen enjoys the outdoors and often hikes and camps. She’s an avid reader and runner. In fact, she has completed multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon!