Senior Planning Services Reviews

Scam. They are out to protect the nursing homes best interest instead of the people who pay the $6500 for their medicaid planning.

After my grandmothers fall, she was sent to Carmel Richmond Rehabilitation Center we knew there was no way she would be able to come back home and take care of herself. We wanted her to remain at Carmel in their long-term care facility. Without Medicaid we could never afford to keep her there. We didn t know where to begin to start the Medicaid process. Luckily we were referred to Senior Planning Services.

My grandmothers case was a little difficult as we were missing several of her important documents and her bank was in Florida and we are in New York. That was not an issue for our case manager Esther Heber. Esther instantly made us feel comfortable about our concerns and vigorously worked on our case, keeping us apprised during the process. She was just an email away, quickly responding to our many questions and concerns. Including explaining the necessary insurances my grandmother should have.

What a relief to our family, Esther s hard work prevailed and my grandmother was awarded Medicaid with no penalty. My grandmother is now happy in her new home, and we are happy to know that we no longer have to worry about the possibility of a financial burden because of the diligence of Esther and Senior Planning Services. We couldn t be more thankful.

Our Case Manager, Miriam, has been wonderful. She has helped us from gathering the necessary documents in the very beginning to the final approval just a few weeks ago. She is professional, friendly and explains every step in the process. She made us feel that she genuinely cared about our mother s needs. All while dealing with a pandemic and Miriam working through maternity leave, she never missed a step!

We really feel that if we had gone through the process ourselves, we would have not had a successful outcome. Thank you again for allowing us to provide a safe and comfortable future for our mother. We will be recommending Senior Planning Services to all our friends.

One of the best decisions I've ever made was hiring SPS to manage the Medicaid application process for my mother-in-law. The process can be stressful and complicated. However, SPS personnel are experts and they made our process go very smoothly. My case manager was Leah and she was a pleasure to work with. I spoke with her frequently and I was always impressed with her service. Additionally, I found their fees to be reasonable and less then what Attorneys I spoke with charge. I strongly recommend SPS for any family that is going through the Medicaid application process.

I recently had to place my mom in a nursing facility. This was a very scary time for me, because I not only had to find a facility who I felt would take good care of my mom, but also because of the expenses involved. She didn t have much money and I knew it wouldn t last long and had to worry about how to go about getting her on Medicade.

Thankfully, I picked a facility that led me to Senior Planning Consultants. It was the best thing I did when I contacted them. They guided me through the process every step of the way. They did all the leg work for me. Yes, I did have to provide information for them, but they did the bulk of the work.

I knew people who had gone through lawyers and they had to do a lot more work and pay more than I did through Senior Planning Consultants. The people at Senior Planning were very kind and helpful and I would recommend this firm to anyone that finds themselves in the same situation as I was in.

Sylvia L.
Connecticut

I highly recommend Senior Planning Services to everyone dealing with getting a family member on Medicaid. It is a laborious and daunting process, and Senior Planning Services handled every detail with professionalism and ease. I cannot say enough good things about this company or my representative, Sari Raz. Truly grateful for their help, empathy and professionalism.

Well Worth It. That was the first thing I said to my husband after my meeting with your director, Abe.

Abe conveniently met me at my residence. He explained the process to me and we went over the information needed for the medicaid application. I felt immediate relief.

I heard of Senior Planning Services from Tiffany at The Pines. My mother is a resident in the skilled nursing unit at the Pines. I knew I had to start the medicaid application process soon, but I did not know how or where to start. I had heard applying for medicaid was complicated, time consuming and how very easy it was to make a mistake, which would cause a delay in the process. Tiffany gave me some information concerning the medicaid planning services offered.

During my first phone call to Senior Planning Services, I was put at ease with their knowledge and courtesy. They explained the process and timeline for me.

I am so thankful to Hannah, who was my case manager. She was professional, efficient, courteous and very knowledgeable in this complicated process. She always answered my questions in a timely manner. I felt very comfortable asking her even what I felt might be a dumb question. Hannah reviewed all the information. She promptly let me know if there was a need for clarification. I was always kept in the loop as the application was proceeding. Hannah was there for me from the start to the medicaid approval.

I highly recommend using Senior Planning Services. They have the knowledge of the complicated medicaid process. It was a relief for me to utilize such a reliable, efficient, caring company. The fee for Senior Planning Services is an approved medicaid spend down expense.
It certainly was well worth it for my peace of mind to use Senior Planning Services, knowing that the medicaid application would be handled correctly and efficiently.

Robert T. Gribbin
65 Lincoln Place
Waldwick, NJ 07463
15 August, 2017

Ms. Tova Stratton
Senior Planning Services
100 Blvd of the Americas
Lakewood, NJ 08701

Re: Gretchen Gribbin

Dear Tova:

When it became obvious in August of 2016 that my mom, referenced above, would not be coming home from the sub-acute facility, Atrium at Wayne View, and would have to be institutionalized there, my sister, Kathy (who lives clear across the country in Seattle) and I faced the task of preparing to qualify her for Medicaid. The hospital had provided us with a checklist of the requirements which was alarming in its detail and length. So it was with great relief that I got a call from long-time friends, Cary & Maureen Hirschfield to advise that an organization such as yours existed, and that Cary had employed your firm to get him through the process with his mom less than a year earlier. He told me that you fee was considered an allowable expense and could be used to help pay down her bank balance to within the Medicaid mandate of $2,000.

I met with your representative in early September, 2016 and provided him with the first round of documents that I was able to secure quickly. Our case worker, Sari Jeremias, was assigned in short order. Over the next several months, Kathy and I peppered her with many questions, and her responses were quick, polite, and never hinted at a lack of patience. In fact, more than once she encouraged us to ask even more questions. Once we provided all the required documents, Sari marched them into the appropriate Medicaid office, and we went Medicaid-pending on December 1, 2016. The Medicaid officer made two minor requests for additional information (due to that office having taken so long to review our case). Finally, in June, 2017, Gretchen was approved with an effective date back to December 1st.

While I am sure that two people holding masters degrees could have worked our way through this process without outside help, I must say that we were both tremendously relieved that we had your help. I have recommended you to a few of the newbee s relatives at the Atrium, and would not hesitate to recommend your service to anyone who would inquire.

Very truly yours,
Robert T. (Terry) Gribbin
Kathleen G. Schoenbaum

I wanted to take a moment and thank the team at Senior Planning Services for all you ve done to organize, complete and ultimately receive approval on behalf of my mother s Medicaid application.

When we realized that my mother was going to exhaust all of her funds and still needed care, I started to work on her Medicaid application on my own. I was completely overwhelmed by the process! I didn t understand all the specific information that was required or the complicated process of applying for Medicaid. While I am my mother s POA and Legal Representative, it was further complicated because while my mother lives in Connecticut, I live out of state so I was trying to figure it out while being long-distance! I was so thankful when Ben Schiano, Executive Director of Wesley Heights Transitions where my mother was living, suggested I contact Senior Planning Services. I was skeptical at first because of the cost of SPS services, but when we realized it was an acceptable and legitimate expense allowed under Medicaid rules, it was an easy decision to make. It turned out to be the best call I made!

Miri Kreiser was the case manager assigned to my Mother s application. Any time I had a question or concern, Miri was quick to respond and always with a thorough explanation. I appreciate her patience, kindness and communication skills throughout the entire process, and ultimately that she was able to obtain approval from Medicaid. Having Miri handle the application process allowed me to focus on my mother s care when I would visit instead of worrying about what I needed to handle next. Overall, SPS, and specifically Miri, made sure the process was efficient, done properly and we received approval from Medicaid promptly.

In the end, it was well worth the cost of using Senior Planning Services and we are very happy we made the decision to do so. Knowing that my Mother is in a safe and caring nursing facility covered by Medicaid is a gift, and we have SPS to thank for that. I honestly don t think we would have come to the same conclusion had we attempted to go through the process ourselves.

Dear Tova,

My family was dreading the process of gaining Medicaid approval for my Aunt. I want to thank all of you at Senior Planning Services for making this process so simple. Your persistence and attention to detail resulted in a final approval.

It was obvious that my Aunt s pension and social security would not be enough to sustain her residence at Care One Livingston. We were concerned that she would have to be moved, but thanks to your help she is able to stay indefinitely. I d also like to thank the Administration at Care One for recommending your services - truly invaluable!

Becky Weinstein was extremely thorough and patient during the entire process. Being that my Aunt still had ultimate control of her finances it was important that she understood every step of the Medicaid process. Senior Planning Services, with the cooperation of Care One, guided us through the process with positive results.

I would strongly recommend that anyone having to apply for Medicaid give serious
consideration to using Senior Planning Services. They are highly effective and allow the family
to focus on their loved ones rather than the Medicaid submission process.

Sincerely,

Jeff B.

I am forwarding this letter to compliment efforts, dedication and empathy of your staff during a difficult, yet important process. My mother transitioned quickly from an Assisted Living Residence to needing full time care in a skilled Nursing facility. Miri, from the Sheepshead Nursing and Rehabilitation Center recommended that I contact Senior Planning to education me on the process to apply for Medicaid. Upon my first meeting with your representative, it was clear that this was not something I can do myself from both the time required and the expertise on navigating the process. I had been my mothers POA and had managed her finances, but never expected the level of details that were required. It was clear to me that Senior Planning offered the services I needed and appeared to have the knowledge to manage and guide me through the process. At first the cost was a bit alarming, but ultimately it was worth every cent for peace of mind and a partner through the process. I learned many lessons of what I need to do different for myself and other family members as years progress to manage the level of details that are later required.
I was assigned Sandra Uhr as my caseworker. She was fabulous to work with. Sandra was very knowledgeable about what was needed and communicated with me through out the information gather stages. There were things I needed to acquire, but Sandra and the staff at Senior Planning did most of the detailed acquisition of information and evaluation of any questions that would arise throughout the application process. Contrary to what I thought would happen, Senior planning did most of the acquisition of banking information, which saved me a tremendous amount of time. Sandra was thorough and guided me through the best way to present my mothers financial history. This was very important, as it is difficult to look at banking information from years ago and have clear recollection of all transactions. Sandra was also empathetic throughout the application process and I felt she was truly partnered with me until completion.
Sandra also maintained communication with Miri at the Nursing facility to keep them updated on the process and intentions. This was very helpful to me, as it alleviated the need to worry about accurate transfer of knowledge. There were multiple occasions that the 2 of them coordinated what was needed. This communication was ongoing from the beginning of the process until approval and finalization of the details.
My mother was considered Medicaid eligible after she completed her spend down and the application was submitted. This took a huge mental burden away as I was confident mom would be taken care of properly. Sandra gave me the confidence that everything we worked on would be complete, and it was just a matter of time to work through the review at Medicaid. The review ended up taking longer than expected, but she was ultimately approved. Unfortunately 2 months later mom passed, but I had comfort knowing I did not need to worry about her care and she received whatever support was necessary.
Thank you again to Sandra and the staff at Senior Planning, as I know this past year would have been much different without their support and expertise. I would be happy to receive any communication from perspective clients if they wanted to discuss the process or my experiences.

We are so grateful to Senior Planning Services for assisting us with our Medicaid Title XIX application. Essy Friedman was our SPS Case Manager, and we could not be more grateful to her and her team for successfully navigating the application. She let us know clearly in advance what our timeline was and what documents and information she would need. She helped keep us on track, asked clear direct questions when clarification was needed, and was always patient, kind, and respectful.

The day that our Medicaid Title XIX application was approved, we were incredibly relieved and thrilled. Mom's safety and comfort were now guaranteed. We have Ms. Friedman and her team at SPS to thank. We would highly recommend Senior Planning Services to anyone seeking assistance with their loved one's future.

Getting the phone number for Senior Planning Services and being introduced to this company is the best thing that happened to me and my family! The company has gone above and beyond in holding our hand while we navigated the difficult path of placing mom in an assisted living facility and having it covered by Medicaid. My siblings and I did not know where to begin nor could we afford the exorbitant cost. Senior Planning helped make the Medicaid process simple for us and mom is now happily settled in the Allendale Community for Senior Living in Allendale, NJ not far from where my sister and I live. Thanks!

Very disappointing. You pay about $4000.00 in advance. In my case, my mother's financial affairs came to nowhere near the medicaid stage when she passed away. there was enough of her money left for another year and a half. They did advance paperwork, most of which I did myself, and were nowhere near the application stage. Their policy is full payment up front and not even partial refund if they do not do the Medicaid process. BEWARE and shop around!

We were lucky enough to be have Senior Planning Services recommended to us when my I was planning on moving my parents into senior living. Their money was not going to last long for private pay and Medicaid was going to be their option for payment. This was a very daunting thing. The process is extremely complicated and very comprehensive. We were lucky enough to have EstherKupfer as our case worker for SPS. She was professional, knowledgeable, compassionate and extremely efficient. I would have been lost without her. She managed to complete everything needed for their Medicaid application and we got a quick approval. I know this would not have been the case if I had to tackle it on my own
I would very highly recommend Senior Planning Services to anyone that is facing the same task.
Thank you Senior Planning Services and a very warm, special thank you to Esther Kupfer!

Late last year, Michelle Olson of Jewish Home Services recommended that I call Senior Planning Services to assist with my mom s Medicaid Application. At first I was somewhat skeptical that I needed help, but decided to pay the fee and hope for the best. Four months later after working closely with Devorah Kanarek SPS regional manager for Connecticut, my mom s application was approved.



Devorah was exemplary in her ability to keep me focused on the next priority. She was also a great problem solver. In addition to being superb at her job, she stayed pleasant and caring throughout our work together. I also felt I could trust her implicitly with personal financial information. I m certain Devorah saved me innumerable headaches during the Medicaid application process. I m also sure the fee paid to SPS was more than recouped by saving me from the mistakes I would inevitably have made.

I wholeheartedly recommend using Senior Planning Services for help with the Medicaid application of your loved one. It is a difficult enough time without having to go through this process alone.

February 16, 2020

Tova Stratton
Project Coordinator
Senior Planning Services
100 Blvd of the Americas
Lakewood, NJ 08701

Dear Tova,
I want to say Thank You! to you and Senior Planning Services (SPS) for all the assistance provided with the submission process for Medicaid approval from my aunt.
She is a resident of Connecticut and she was in need for nursing home care. I saw the Medicaid approval process as a daunting task. I searched for some support online and found information about SPS and few other firms located in Connecticut.
Before I contacted SPS, I had my doubts about dealing with a group headquartered in New Jersey for a Medicaid approval for a resident of Connecticut!
My first meeting was with Aaron Hoberman. He was great. He took time to listen and to understand the situation. He explained what I could expect from SPS and what they would need from me in order to get the process moving quickly. After the meeting, I was convinced that SPS was the organization that could and would help me. I was not wrong! The submission was approved by Medicaid very quickly.
Special thanks to Rita Zygmund and Rivka Coken, the two people who handled this case. Rivka contacted me within days after I signed with SPS. She explained all the information she would need from me and the steps needed to get the Medicaid approval. She took ownership of the process and she communicated often about the status of the submission: information gathering, issues, etc.
In addition, I visited a number of nursing homes and all of them made very positive statements about SPS. I felt they took me more seriously after I informed them that SPS was coordinating the Medicaid submission.
I am very happy that I choose Senior Planning Services and I hold the members of the team who helped me in high regards,
Sincerely,
Lyne Nicolas

Senior Planning Services came strongly recommended by my social worker at my mother s long term care facility, Hunterdon Care Center. From the initial contact and throughout the entire process, I found Senior Planning Services to be highly professional, very informative, very knowledgeable and very accommodating. I know from previous discussions with others that have tried to do this alone, the Medicaid application process can be daunting and frustrating, to say the least. Senior Planning Services helped me navigate through this potentially overwhelming process with relative ease.

My case worker, Miriam Abramson, was exemplary. She patiently explained the process, the requirements, and all the things that needed to be considered along the way. She left nothing unexplained and patiently revisited topics with me over and over, demonstrating a clear client-centered approach to this task. As my anxiety peaked during this process, Miriam remained calm and comforting, keeping me focused on what I needed to do and following up with me on a regular basis. Together we got this done. It takes a special person to work with clients in this area. They need to be knowledgeable, comforting, calm and supportive while clearly articulating what is needed to keep the process moving forward. Miriam is all that.

Although initially surprised by the cost of the service, I now feel that it was worth every penny. In fact, the service provided by Senior Planning Services in the preparation of the Medicaid Application for my mother, resulted in a significant financial net gain for me and my family as the Medicaid penalty was much less than had been anticipated.

I found Senior Planning Services to be highly effective and would strongly recommend this service for anyone entering the Medicaid process.

I feel very fortunate to have used Senior Planning for my mother. Mom s Alzheimer s was progressing and it became necessary to find a nursing home for her. Avi Hoffman (Senior Planning Medicaid Specialist) performed the initial review of Mom s finances with our family. I want to thank Avi for his advice.

Our case manager was Mandy Skorski. The Medicaid process can be confusing but Mandy was there to help navigate me through each step. She validated that all the necessary documents were in place, advised on spending down, and kept the communication open at all times. Once the Medicaid application was submitted, it took only two and a half weeks for Mom to be approved! Thank you Mandy for making a complicated process go so smoothly. I am grateful that you were always available to me throughout the process.

They are professional and make sure things get done.

Dear Tova,

I am sending you this letter as a show of gratitude and thanks, to Senior Planning Services for assisting me through the process of obtaining Medicaid for my mother Sallie. Her ordeal started the day after Mothers day May 16th 2017, when she suffered a mild stroke leaving her with partial paralysis in her left arm. Due to this medical condition, she was no longer able to live the independent life she has lived for 76 years.

After a brief stay at Kessler Rehabilitation Center, she was moved to Care One at Wellington in Hackensack. Where her case worker, Victoria Melillo recommended applying for Medicaid thru the services of Senior Planning Services. When I made the call Max Fleischman met me, my mother and my wife to help us get the ball rolling. With Senior Planning s helpful guide, I had all the necessary paperwork for Max to get things started.

Within a week I was contacted by Naomi Steinmetz my case manager where she reviewed some questions on the application to make sure everything was correct, and she stayed in contact with me whether via E-mail or a phone call to keep me in the loop during the process. Timing started to become a factor but Naomi didn t waver in her search for a nursing home for my mother and she found one.

Becoming a senior citizen is a part of life, you hope to stay as healthy as you can but life happens and we find ourselves in predicaments we would have never thought would happen. So is the case for my mother and me, and with the assistance and professionalism of Senior Planning Services life is a little less stressful. I would highly recommend this company to anyone having to navigate the Medicaid process.

Thanks to Naomi Steinmetz, case manager and Rita Zygmund.

Sincerely,

Monty Brown

February 26, 2020
Dear Tova:
I wanted to reach out and thank you all at Senior Planning Services for your help and guidance throughout this process of applying for Medicaid for my Mother, Joan Barone.
I never imagined a year ago that I would be in this position. My Mom, while getting on in age, was bright and energetic and excited to move back to Connecticut to be closer to family. She moved into a wonderful assisted living home in November, 2018. By the following September, she would need more help on a daily basis than the assisted living environment could offer.
She was placed in Newington Rapid Recovery Rehab Center of Newington, CT for rehab services. Roseanna D'Anna of the Admissions Office referred us to you. I was hesitant at first, thinking the cost was too much but we went ahead and met with Aaron Hoberman. He was understanding and informative as he explained your services and answered our questions.
Rivka Cohen was assigned as my case worker. Rivka was so patient and kind. She responded when I called or emailed. She stayed connected and she explained over and over again when I didn't quite understand something. She became my life line to SPS - a good, positive person who never forgot that it was my Mother's life we were dealing with.
As time went on, I understood this process would take months to complete. I cannot imagine having done this without Rivka's guidance. Well worth the cost - she took away my fears of the unknown and kept me afloat. It is easy to forget the family member applying for Medicaid is trying to handle this paperwork while also trying to deal with the reality that our loved one is failing. That they don't remember our conversation we had yesterday. That our time with them now is more precious than ever.
I can't thank Rivka enough for her professionalism, her experience, her knowledge and her kindness. We need more Rivka's in our lives.
From the start to the end, this has been a smooth process and I am very appreciative of that.
Thank you all.
Sincerely,
Lynn Coady, Daughter of Joan Barone

This place is a scam. I spoke with three different people gave them all of my mother's documentation for a pooled trust. And have not heard from anyone. No one picks up their phone no matter the time of day. And all of their locations have the same number. I reported them to Social Security afraid they will steal my mother's money.

My experience overall was completely positive with Senior Planning Services(SPS). The Medicaid process is daunting but SPS is more than capable to navigate the ins and outs in order to reach the ultimate destination. Esther is great she helped me through some rather unique circumstances based on a Golden Handshake my Mom s employer provided her over 30 years ago. We were up against a short timeframe to obtain residency in a great assisted living facility and Esther faced the challenge straight on. As far as the cost it was worth it and the fee went towards the spend down which is truly a plus especially when spend down isn t as easy as it sounds based on the rules of the Medicaid process. Additionally when you compare the cost to a possible attorney s fee it s amazingly different. I wholeheartedly recommend SPS I have not one single regret.

I would just like to take a few minutes to thank Senior Planning Services for obtaining my mothers Medicaid approval in such a timely manner. Dealing with an elderly parent is stressful enough so taking this daunting government application process out of the equation provided some peace of mind.

At the time we began this process my mother was in Care One Wellington and we thought she would need a long term care facility. Victoria recommended contacting Senior Planning and are we ever happy she did!

I was hesitant making the decision to hire Senior Planning Services due to the cost involved but since this counted towards my mothers spend down why not hire a company that could assist with the Medicaid process and leave us open to care for her needs.

For our first phone call, Senior Planning, along with our case manager, Naomi Steinmetz, performed in an extremely calm, courteous and professional manner. Naomi was always responsive to our questions and extremely easy to contact. We had her direct phone number and usually received an email response within hours, even minutes on some occasions.

I strongly recommend Senior Planning Services. I know I could never have completed this process without you.

Sincerely,

Barbara F.

...had previously been denied Medicaid benefit due to the difficulty in understanding the process and submitting a complete application. Once we put our trust in your competent hands to gather all the information needed and submit everything in a timely manner, the application was approved for the benefits that were so desperately needed.
Senior Planning Services is well worth the the expense. They ensured that the county received our Medicaid application fully completed and well-prepared, making eligibility determination easier and faster.
Thank you again, SPS, for helping us get through a daunting, sometimes overwhelming process. Speaking from experience, I know that your team has made a difference for the better for my family.

I sat down to write this letter to extend our gratitude to the people at Senior Planning Services for navigating the very complex and exhausting Medicaid application process for us.

Our nightmare started on the day that we had to rush mom to the hospital. Within the next 10 days we were faced with the reality that she needed long term nursing care. We had to make decisions on which facility could best care for patients with Alzheimer s and how we were going to pay for it.

We decided that the best facility for her needs was the Boro Park Center for Rehabilitation in Brooklyn NY. The social service s department at Boro Park gave us literature about companies that specialized in financial and Medicaid matters. One of those booklets was from Senior Planning Service of Howell New Jersey.

That night I went online to a website from the Alzheimer s association of Staten Island. They had a presentation about Medicaid given by a gentleman from Senior Planning Services. He went on to explain the difficulties, mistakes and consequences of those mistakes made by families that try to go it alone. He urged the audience to give Senior Planning Services a call for a no obligation consultation.

Instead of a telephone consultation, my wife and I made an appointment to meet with Mr. Abe Jankelovits at the Senior Planning s Services office in N.J. Mr. Jankelovits explained the whole process, gave us advice about what assets could be protected and took us thru the application process, instructed us about the spend down process and after we decided that we needed Senior Planning s help, he introduced us to our case worker Mrs.Sandra Uhr.

Mrs. Uhr was available to us every step of the way in complying 5 years of financial records, tax forms, bank statements, IRA annuity statements, death certificates, divorce papers and everything else that was needed to complete the application. Once the application was filed we had a nail biting 12 months of waiting for Medicaid to finally approve it but fortunately, Mrs. Uhr was there for us with reassurance during our frustration with the waiting process.

The work of Senior Planning services did not stop once our application was approved. Our case worker Mrs. Uhr reviewed the approved application and found that the Medicaid case worker made a calculation error that would have cost us an additional month in out of pocket payment to the Nursing Rehab center. Just that error alone, saved us more than double the cost of what Senior Planning services fees were.

If anyone is faced with the task of helping a family member get qualify for Medicaid. I urge you to call Senior Planning Services of Howell New Jersey.

Thank You
Vincent and Renee Recchio

I recently used this facility to file my stepmothers Medicaid application. We had a case manager by the name of Noa Miller, who was very professional and informative. She helped expedite the application and get it quickly approved. I do not believe I could have gotten the same results in the same amount of time without her help. I would highly recommend them to anyone taking on the task of a Medicaid filing. These people do this for a living and know much more than the average person about getting the job done. It is absolutely worth contacting them for their help, as the process of filing the application was very complicated and stressful for me. Hope this helps.

We were very happy with the help provided by SPS and the outcome that was achieved.

We contacted SPS on behalf of my cousin, a resident at a center for Alzheimer s care. Her brother, who had been paying her bills, had recently died, and we needed to apply for Medicaid for her. SPS was recommended by the business manager at the center.

At first we were unsure we would need assistance with the Medicaid process. We had begun to fill out the forms ourselves, using their website. But we quickly ran into questions, and the questions led to more questions.

An initial conversation with our SPS case manager convinced us that your experience and deep bench of professionals could get us through the process better. And that s exactly how it worked out. The cost was well worth it in ensuring a positive outcome in an unexpectedly short time.

She walked us through the initial application and supporting documents, letting us know what we needed to worry about providing upfront and what could wait for later. When the inevitable questions came back from Medicaid, she interpreted them as to what they were really looking for, and she was invariably right. There were some fairly complicated financial-eligibility issues involved, and she drew on the expertise of her colleagues to get them quickly resolved.

We were surprised and pleased at how little time was required for our cousin s approval, which was clearly due to the help we got from SPS in anticipating issues in advance and responding correctly when they arose.

Throughout the whole process, the case manager was a pleasure to work with. She was prompt, upbeat, encouraging, and professional at all times.

I hve personally never visited Senior Planning Services. My situation us that I communicated from the my residence in Kennedale Tx. via Becky Weinstein . Whiom I may highly praise for her expertise in guiding, working with me in the placement of my Mom in a facility in N. J. (and at times a link between the facility and myself). She started, walked me thru and stayed with me ( Mother hen wise) thru a Medicare/Medicaid situation I had not the foggiest notion existed, let alone could even attempt to navigate. I believe she was that God-sent angel to get me thru. All this was done by e-mails ,texts ,fax# and long distance phone conversations till the process was successfully completed. Being a native of N.J. I am impressed. I believe that as she represents the Services,it speaks volumes of competency. Highly recommend them. ... .... Lloyd Williams

I am writing today to thank Senior Planning Services for the wonderful job that was performed on behalf
of my elderly mother. We had the most pleasant case manager imaginable; Naomi Roberts was
fantastic!
We were recommended by the facility my mother was in to move forward with the process to insure
she would be taken care of.
Although the process was long and tedious Naomi was exceptional in assisting me along the way. We
worked well together to finally get the desired result. I can not say enough wonderful things about
Naomi, she was patient, considerate, helpful and most of all extremely professional. With out her I
would have never been able to do this process on my own.
I have recommended the Senior Planning Service to several friends who were in a similar situation.
Unfortunately, we all have aging parents and when we arrive at this point in life, we need services like
Senior Planning to assist us.
I am grateful for the services you provide and so happy that we went with your organization. From our
first meeting I have not looked back.
Thank you for being there and helping us.

I had the privilege of acting as conservator, health care representative and held power of attorney for an old friend. Once he became unable to live normally, even with a live-in aide, he was accepted as a resident in a long-term care facility. I had been advised concerning his need to secure Medicaid coverage for the cost of the nursing home, and had also got a recommendation to hire Senior Planning Services to get help with the complications of applying for that aid, and with the stack of paperwork that needed to be submitted.

As part of my friend's "spend down" I signed up with SPS and it stands as one of the best decisions ever. While I still had to do some of the work of gathering information, the SPS rep. who helped me did all the heavy lifting, filing the required information on time and dealing with agents from Medicaid and also the institutions with which my friend had income accounts. Even so, it took months to finally secure the Medicaid coverage, but it would surely have taken much longer, with more phone calls, more reworked papers, more delays, and more difficulty getting the job done if I had tried to do it myself. I am not young any more and I find legal paperwork to be confusing and discouraging. I loved having it taken care of professionally.

I highly recommend Senior Planning Services of NJ.

When my aunt went to a nursing home for long term care, the finance department recommended that I hire Senior Planning Services to apply for Medicaid. I am so glad that I took their advice!
Karen Belmont, from Senior Planning, met me at the nursing home and had me sign necessary documents. Since she was also a notary, everything was handled in one sitting. She explained the process and was very kind, helpful and professional. The next step would be hearing from my case manager.
I understood that Medicaid required five years worth of financial information, which I did not have, since my aunt lived in Florida for many years. Sara Mordowitz, my case manager at Senior Planning, knew exactly what was needed, and how to go about getting all of the required information. She kept in contact with me and was always accessible by phone or email, to answer my questions and to keep me informed. I cannot say enough good things about Sara. She handled all communication with Medicaid and kept me updated on progress. Medicaid was approved.
I would strongly recommend that anyone having to apply for Medicaid give serious consideration to using Senior Planning Services. They are highly effective, knowledgeable and caring. The process took a major burden off of me, so I could focus on my aunt s well being, instead of dealing with the State.

We were first recommended to use Senior Planning Services by the social worker at Troy Hills Center in Parsippany New Jersey where my brother - in-law had become a resident in the December 2014. As soon as we had contacted Senior Planning we were scheduled to meet with a representative at our home and were instructed as to the paperwork needed to start the application process. Our final Case Manager was helpful far beyond my expectations. Our communications were very detailed and her knowledge of the Medicaid application process made me feel confident that we had made a good decision choosing Senior Planning Services for this. Anytime I had a question she was very responsive in answering. Even after my brother was approved for Medicaid she was answering lingering questions that I had.

Please pass along my thanks for all those who worked to bring the Medicaid process to completion for my Dad. I am a Nurse Practitioner who has worked in Hospice for many years. Through that work, I have spent time in Nursing Homes and Long Term Care Facilities, though I've never had a good understanding of the financial end of things with regard to this level of care. When it became clear that I would need to begin the Medicaid application process, I was overwhelmed and apprehensive to say the least! My Mom had passed in September of 2018 and I was stretched to the limit trying to provide emotional support for my Dad, as well as act as his Health Care Proxy and attend to the needs of my own family.

When the Nursing Home suggested contracting with Senior Planning Services, I was willing to reach out for help. From the onset, I received a warm and encouraging phone call from Tova and Debbie and was given an appointment with Dan Grappi, who came to my home and helped me to organize the needed documents. All were kind, compassionate, and understood the level of stress that goes along with caring for an aged parent.

Probably, most importantly, I was connected with an elder care attorney in my area (Peter Hainely) who was able to assist me in working through several situations with which I had been struggling. I had worked with an attorney previously but was unable to accomplish the few key tasks that were outstanding from my Mom's estate. Peter was kind, professional and to the point! He provided me with step by step instructions for each outstanding situation and I am happy to say that all has been resolved.

I could not be more pleased with the professionalism and caring demeanor of everyone I encountered! I recommend Senior Planning Services without reservation!

Thank You!

Catherine A. Benoit, APRN

I would highly recommend Senior Planning Services for preparing and applying for Medicade. Both my parents were suffering from dementia and what would have been a totally overwhelming process was handled efficiently, professionally and thouroghly. Any possible areas of concern were brought to my attention right away so that there would be no chance for a denial of coverage. Both parents were approved with no issues. Definately worth the money.
Thank you for taking on this burden so I could focus on my parents.

Tova Stratton
Senior Planning Services
100 Boulevard of the Americas
Lakewood, NJ 08710
April 30, 2020

Dear Tova,

I am writing to let you know what a great job Senior Planning Services did in assisting me with my father s Medicaid application and subsequent approval. The help I received from your entire organization was immeasurable. Beginning with a seminar at the request of Nancy Snyder, Executive Director of Brandywine Assisted Living in Bridgewater, NJ and a follow up consultation with one of your field directors, each of my experiences with your organization were professional, thorough and very helpful.

As someone with a fair amount of administrative experience, I believed I could manage the Medicaid application process for my father on my own. I spent several months trying to compile the five year look back only to realize that retrieving missing documents and organizing the materials was a far greater undertaking than I had imagined. Before long I was at my wits end, spending more time and getting fewer results than I care to admit.

When Michael Steinberg came to my home and explained what I could expect from Senior Planning Services, I realized that your ability to get this done expeditiously would save at least one month of Assisted Living fees. This savings more than offset the cost of the contract with Senior Planning Services. From my perspective, even if there had been an eventual cost, it would have been money very well spent.

My case manager, Shoshana Preis was fantastic. She was always extremely pleasant and courteous. Some things I most appreciated were as follows:
She was incredibly responsive both by phone and/or email (literally within minutes nearly every time I contacted her),
She guided me through every step of setting up a Qualified Income Trust including being on the phone while I was at the bank manager s desk.
She retrieved the myriad of documents that were outstanding despite my best efforts.
She even contacted me from home in the evening in order to explain issues related to the approval process and arranged for SPS field staff (Lev) to help my father with phone calls when I was unable to do this.
She was never frustrated with my questions or confusion, and was appreciative for whatever information I could offer.
The ultimate Medicaid approval in record time was the final proof of her competence.

I would gladly recommend Senior Planning Services to anyone applying for Medicaid. They eliminated all the stress of the application process and got the results we wanted in record time. I am so grateful to them and to Nancy Snyder for introducing me to SPS.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Schwar

My mother suffered a major stroke at the end of 2016, and it soon became apparent that she would need professional care for the rest of her life. Her care center recommended that we contact Senior Planning Services for help with Medicaid approval. Leah Eichenthal, our case manager, was so knowledgeable and helpful. She was always available when I had questions.
I am not exaggerating when I say that the Medicaid approval process would have been a nightmare without the help and expertise of Senior Planning Services. My sister and I both work full time and have young
children of our own, but Leah s understanding of the process simplified everything for us.
No one likes to think about their loved ones facing declining health, but of course these issues happen. I would highly recommend Senior Planning Services to anyone who has to deal with the Medicaid application process. SPS made all the difference in simplifying a process that is riddled with paperwork and uncertainty.

Dear Tova,
Senior Planning was able to navigate me thru this complex process and successfully delivering my mother to Medicaid. Sara Landau swiftly organized the application and all the supporting documents. Sara with kindness and patience answered my questions and concerns throughout this daunting task.
When I had moved my mother from her apartment into Sunrise Assisted Living, it was Donna Z. who had recommended Senior Planning. From my initial contact, I found Senior Planning highly professional, informative and accommodating. There were no stupid questions, always responded to my calls and my emails. I felt supported and reassured that my application process was going well.
I have already recommended Senior Planning to a friend. Thank-you for assisting me and making the journey a pleasant one.

Sincerely,
CP

Dear Tova,
My mother entered an assisted living facility in 2015, and I knew eventually that she would most
likely exhaust her assets and need to apply for Medicaid. I began to look into the process early on, and
was very discouraged to see how much information was required, and felt the whole process was
specifically designed to reject most applicants.
About four years ago, the assisted living facility sponsored a seminar conducted by Senior
Planning Services explaining the process, and what kind of services they provided. I decided to call and
inquire further. I explained that it would be several years before it was necessary, but I was definitely
interested. They kept in touch every six months or so to see how things were progressing.
By January 2020, I set up an in home consultation with Sol Barrish, who was very thorough,
professional, and helpful. My questions and concerns were addressed, and he left me feeling very at
ease and confident.
Throughout the entire seven month process, I was working with Sarah Fleisher on gathering
needed information, and assuring that everything was in order. Finally, I was notified that my mother
was approved for Medicaid as of September 1.
I cannot say enough about how helpful Senior Planning Services has been during this process. I
don t think I could have gone through this successfully without them. I would definitely recommend
Senior Planning Services to anyone facing this situation. They are thorough, professional, and most of all,
comforting by taking on the entire burden of this process, allowing you to focus on whatever other
circumstances you may face in your life.
Yours truly,
Paul T.

Our case manager for Senior Planning Services, Leah Eichenthal was very supportive and compassionate. She answered all my questions and concerns very promptly. I was so appreciative for her expertise in the Medicaid submission process, which went very smoothly. The cost, which was used from the spend down monies was well worth it, as there is an
incredible amount of information to be processed. I would highly recommend the use of Senior Planning Services for the Medicaid application process, as it allows family to spend more time with their loved one. As I watched my husband go through the application process for his mother without assistance, I knew I would never have the patience to deal with the process of having to start all over again from missing deadlines. I am very grateful for Senior Planning Services for making dad s financial transition to a skilled nursing home a very positive experience.

My brother, sister and I wanted to send you a quick note to express our sincere appreciation for the high quality effort that Senior Planning Services ("SPS") put into the Medicaid application for our Mom. We feel so fortunate that Sunrise recommended SPS to us, and that Deena Teichman at SPS was assigned as our case manager.

We had heard many horror stories about the Medicaid process, and knew that our application was going to be very complicated due to our Mom's extensive health issues, the use of private caregivers, cash transactions, etc. during the five year look back required by Medicaid. We knew that we in no way had the time nor experience necessary to prepare the application, and that we really needed serious professional help if we were going to have a timely and favorable outcome.

We were initially concerned about the cost of SPS's services, but they were worth every penny, and then some, and they counted towards our Mom's paydown to qualify for Medicaid.

From the very beginning, Deena was extremely professional, very easy to work with, organized, patient and she responded in a timely fashion to all of our many questions. In addition, and not to be understated, she gave us tremendous comfort and confidence that our case was in the best hands, and she eliminated most of the anxiety that would typically come from this process.

Our application was filed on July31,2019, and we received our approval on September 16, 2019, with no follow up questions or requests being made, a true testament to the comprehensive and organized nature of Deena's application. We would never have been able to achieve this outcome on our own, and we would likely have had to personally bare the extensive financial burden of our Mom's care for years to come.

We highly recommend using SPS for the complicated and potentially stressful Medicaid application process, and hope that you are lucky enough to have Deena assigned to your case.

I want to express my appreciation to Senior Planning Services in this letter of recommendation today. Your great company came highly recommended by Atlantic Coast Rehabilitation Center in Lakewood, New Jersey. I had hit a major road block with Medicaid for my Mother who is in long term care at the above facility. She had already been put on hospice when Atlantic Coast offered me your services. I at once called and had the initial interview after which I was partnered with Sara Landau a terrific case worker.

I have Senior Planning services to thank for the great help in getting this arduous process done for my Mom and my family. I want to thank you all for your help and would recommend your services to all who need to apply for Medicaid for an elderly relative.

Ms. Tova Stratton
Senior Planning Services
100 Blvd. of the Americas
Lakewood, NJ 08701

Dear Ms. Stratton,
I want to thank all of you at Senior Planning Services for staying committed in assisting me in completing my brother Michael' Medicaid application and for obtaining the subsequent approval. This was a long process of approximately (3) years to complete, but Senior Planning Services never waivered in their commitment to see this process through and to get my brother Michael approved and on Medicaid.

My brother experienced a major Diabetes attack along with a stroke that basically left him incapacitated and unable to walk or take care of himself. From that time forward, I
had to become my brother's POA (Point of Authority) and handle all of his financial and personal matters. I realized early on that due to the severe nature of his medical condition, my brother would end up living in a health care facility for the remainder of his life. I also realized that he would eventually exhaust all of his retirement funds and investment funds after being admitted to Beacon Brook Health Center to live there for the remainder of his life.

I recommend Senior Planning Services. They understood the full scope of the process to get a person through the Medicaid application process. More importantly, they handled all communication
with Medicaid. After talking to my Case Manager, Brenda Newman, she made me feel very confident that the Medicaid approval would be granted in the minimum time possible if SPS was handling it.

Brenda Newman, my case manager worked very hard and tirelessly over these past three years working as a liaison between Medicaid, and Michael's investment company obtaining necessary financial information and to close out his accounts there. We communicated frequently and very well, usually by both via my email address and by phone calls. Brenda regularly me updated on progress and status and always answered my numerous questions very promptly. I was glad that I had Brenda working on our behalf
with her detailed knowledge of the Medicaid application process.

I originally had some concerns about the cost of using a Medicaid submission company, and not fully understanding the Medicaid application process, However, through time I came to realize that I was able to trust Brenda and SPS as it was well worth the money to be sure the application was done in a timely manner and properly. Since the cost was
a legitimate expense paid from my brother s funds on his behalf, the money was being spent was for the Medicaid submission process for him to qualify for Medicaid. The fact that Beacon Brook Health Center recommended and encouraged me in using SPS, made me realize that they really believed in the benefits of using SPS.

I would strongly recommend that anyone having to apply for Medicaid give serious consideration to using Senior Planning Services. They are highly effective and allow the family
to focus on their loved ones rather than the Medicaid submission process.

One more important item to note. I just received a confirmation letter from Medicaid through SPS that my brother Michael has been approved for Medicaid. This now means that my brother's financial needs will be taken care of and that he can remain at Beacon Brook Health Center without any worries of having to leave that facility with nowhere else to go. I also might add that he is at Beacon Brook Health Center in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and I reside with my family far away in Southern California.

Thank you again SPS for all of your good work and for giving me peace of mind that Michael will now be taken care of for the remainder of his life.

Sincerely,

William E. Brich

We did our Medicaid planning for nursing home placement with Senior Planning Services. Working with their wonderful staff has been one of the best decisions that our family has ever made. Their can do attitude and client service were truly remarkable and they were successful in securing the long term care services we required through Medicaid. The staff was extremely knowledgeable in solving the problems we faced, and they treated our entire family with empathy, dignity and respect throughout the entire Medicaid application process. I would certainly recommend Senior Planning to my friends and family!

SENIOR PLANNING SERVICES , NO NEED TO SEARCH FOR ANY OTHER AGENCY! FROM OUR FIRST MEETING ,THROUGH OUT THE MEDICAID PROCESS , WE FOUND THEM TO BE HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, VERY INFORMATIVE, AND THEY HAVE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE !! THANKS AGAIN ,

After my moms hip replacement surgery, my sister and I lunched together one Sunday afternoon and the topic of long-term care was broached.

Our mom and been quite active in the golf and dance clubs in the Freehold, NJ community where she lived and would only consider an active adult community.

After exhaustively researching our options, we were referred to Bella Terra, an adult community in Jackson, NJ where my mom would receive the care she needed while benefiting from the recreational independence she craved.

When our mom had to go into Rehabilitation, and later into long term care, my siblings and I were very concerned about mom s finances. We didn t think she would have enough to cover her expenses once she had to go into long term care.
Adrienne, at the Buckingham at Norwood (which is a wonderful rehab and long term care facility), listened to my concerns and fears and spoke with me about Senior Planning Services. I was skeptical at first and concerned at the cost, but knew I could not complete the Medicaid process without help. Thank goodness I decided to get in touch with Senior Planning. Your services were a godsend!
My case worker, Dassy Fishman was awesome, awesome, awesome!!! She handled everything for me, put my fears at bay and kept me in the loop always. She listened when I was hysterical and so afraid that mom would not be approved and have no money. She calmed me and put my mind at ease. I had all the confidence in the world with Dassy. She was always available when I needed her and answered any questions, no matter how trivial. I was very impressed with her knowledge of the Medicaid system and process. There is no way I could have done this on my own. I wouldn t know where to begin.
Dassy was as happy as I was when mom was approved for Medicaid. Even after the approval, Dassy was available to answer any questions or concerns I had. I never felt alone.
I would highly recommend Senior Planning, and definitely Dassy. If I had to it over, I would use your service without hesitation.
My family and I can t thank you enough.
Susan Cohen

Very professional and gave me peace of mind that they did all the complicated paperwork.

I am so thankful for how you came in and just took care of everything. We didn t know how you could help but we knew you did. The way everything turned out, I couldn t have asked for anything better.

Update: I spoke with the director who seemed genuinely interested in my situation, and understood where I was coming from. She explained that some financial institutions (like the ones my father used) have very strict guidelines and do need to speak directly to the power of attorney. She offered solutions and didn't just pay lip service.

I should have gone with my gut and never hire them. They sell you on saying they will do all the work, but ultimately all financial institutions want to speak with the POA. I m not sure what I paid them to do. They called me at work all the time, even after I told them my father died. They have no empathy- just want to take your loved one s hard earned money. Do yourself a favor and stay away.