DESCRIPTION On Friday, January 18 from 10 a.m. until noon , Attorney Michelle Santiago from the law offices of Hopkinson and Abbondanza and Leah Bartley, Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch will be at Senior Spectrum's Coastal Community Center, 521 Main Street in Damariscotta to present a Long Term Care Planning Seminar.

On Friday, January 18 from 10 a.m. until noon , Attorney Michelle Santiago from the law offices of Hopkinson and Abbondanza and Leah Bartley, Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch will be at Senior Spectrum's Coastal Community Center, 521 Main Street in Damariscotta to present a Long Term Care Planning Seminar.

Have you done effective long term care planning? Regardless of your age and financial status, it is essential that you plan for future disability and the future of your loved ones through proper planning. At this informative workshop you will learn:

• Medicare changes as a result of the Deficit Reduction Act

• Long term care costs in Maine.

• The three most common Medicaid myths

• Medicaid eligibility criteria in Maine

• Medicaid "Spend Down" calculations;

• Explanation of the "look-back" period for asset transfers and estate recovery.

• The benefits of long term care insurance planning.

Please join Michelle and Leah on January 18 and learn the ins and outs of effective long term care planning. Seating is limited. Call 563-1363 by Wednesday, January 16 to reserve your seat at this very timely and important seminar.

The Law offices of Hopkinson and Abbondanza are located at 746 High Street in Bath. The firm's mission is to provide counseling-based real estate, business and estate planning services to individuals, families and organizations in a timely, cost-effective and collaborative manner.

Santigao holds a B.A. Political Science, Cum Laude, University of Maine, Orono, 1999 and a J.D. University of Maine School of Law, Portland, 2002. Santiago has been admitted to practice in all Maine Courts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. She was the editor of the 2006 edition of the Maine Sheriffs' Civil Process Manual.

Bartley is a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch in Portland.  She has over 10 years experience in financial services.  Her specialties include portfolio management, estate planning, and domestic partner planning.  She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and has completed advance coursework in business succession planning, retirement planning and long term care insurance. A native of Maine who has lived on and off in the Portland area since 1984, she is a board member of  L/A  Arts, Health Care Associates Committee and Development Committees for Central Maine Medical Center.