Elder law is an area of legal practice that specializes on issues that affect the aging population. The purpose of elder law planning is to prepare the elderly person for financial freedom and autonomy through proper financial planning and long-term care options and issues related to health care, guardianship, retirement, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid.

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Many elderly people rely entirely on their children, family members or other trusted individuals to help them. This dependence upon caregivers or family members makes an older person more vulnerable to abuse and financial exploitation. Sometimes, legal arrangements and protective actions by family may be necessary to shield loved ones from making bad decisions or from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous people .