ElderAdvocate.law — NC Elder Care Resources for Families
You're in the right place.
If you're helping an aging parent navigate North Carolina's elder care system — or trying to protect someone you love from a situation that's gotten complicated — this site is for you.
ElderAdvocate.law is a free resource for North Carolina families. Plain language. Legally grounded. Written by a licensed NC attorney who has been exactly where you are.
What Are You Dealing With?
Guardianship
Someone you love can no longer make decisions for themselves. There's no power of attorney, or the one that exists isn't working. You need to know how to file, what the process looks like, and what happens at a hearing.
Start with the NC Guardianship Guide →
Power of Attorney
You're concerned about how someone is using their authority — or you need to understand what a POA agent is legally required to do, and what your options are if they're not doing it.
Read the NC Power of Attorney Guide →
Care Transitions
Your parent's assisted living facility is recommending a move to skilled nursing. Or you're trying to figure out whether care at home is still sustainable. Or you need to understand what a care facility is actually required to provide.
Medicaid Planning
Long-term care is expensive. Medicaid covers nursing home care for people who qualify — but the rules are complex, the lookback period is five years, and the time to plan is before you need it.
Read the Medicaid Planning Overview →
Find Local Resources
Every North Carolina county has a DSS office, an Adult Protective Services unit, a Clerk of Superior Court, and an Area Agency on Aging. Find the specific contacts for your county.
About This Site
ElderAdvocate.law was built by Ginny Allen — a licensed North Carolina attorney who navigated her own family's guardianship case and came out the other side wishing this resource had existed.
Everything here is:
- NC-specific. North Carolina has its own statutes, courts, and procedures. This isn't generic information.
- Plain language. Written for families, not lawyers.
- Legally cited. Statutes and cases are referenced specifically so you can verify them.
- Honest about its limits. This is educational information, not legal advice. When you need an attorney, we'll help you find one.
Learn more about this site and its author →
Need to Talk Through Your Situation?
Sometimes you don't need an attorney — you need someone who understands the system to help you figure out what kind of help you actually need.
Ginny offers 30-minute consulting calls for NC families navigating elder care — $150 per session. Not legal representation. Not a substitute for an attorney when you need one. A conversation with someone who has been there.
Recent Articles
- How to file for emergency guardianship in NC
- What a POA agent must do in NC — and what they can't
- When your parent's assisted living recommends skilled nursing
- Are NC assisted living facilities required to have care plans?
- When does APS get involved? A guide for NC families
- Red flags that a POA agent is misusing their authority
The information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this site. Please consult a licensed North Carolina attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Learn more →