Upcoming Program on Continuing Care and Life Plan Communities

The Senior Lawyers Division, through the Financial Services and Retirement Planning Committee, has presented numerous programs on the many issues and opportunities that arise in later life and the retirement years. Other groups within the ABA have also provided valuable insights for lawyers planning their futures. One important issue that most lawyers will face is where to live in later years. Last year, the Committee, through the Lawyer Transition and Retirement Series, presented a program titled “Issues in Senior Communities,” an excellent program in which several real estate experts discussed what life is like in senior living communities. On March 27, 2025, another program on that topic will be presented, focusing on a particular type of senior living arrangement. Professor Katherine Pearson, from the Penn State Dickinson Law School, will present “Resident Rights (and Obligations) in Continuing Care and Life Plan Communities.” Communities of this type have grown in popularity in recent years. However, there are issues related to joining such communities. Moving to continuing care and life plan communities requires signing a detailed agreement, setting forth costs, benefits, and obligations for the new resident. What these agreements offer and do not offer can have a significant effect on the quality of life and the financial pressures residents experience in later years. In addition, there are issues relating to the financial health of these communities, which can also affect the well-being of the residents. No one should enter into agreements for these communities without professional oversight and advice on the agreements and the financial aspects of living there.

This highlights a reason why lawyers should consider enrolling in this webinar even if they are not considering moving to such communities: this can be a lucrative area of practice for real estate and trusts and estates lawyers. The agreements are complicated, far more so than an agreement to buy a house, for example, and a knowledge of what to look for and what to look out for when joining one of these communities is a valuable resource to offer to clients. Professor Pearson is one of the leading experts in the US on continuing care and life plan communities, and her presentation on March 27 will offer an excellent grounding on the topic. Sign up for this webinar on the ABA website here.