This weekend, I was excited to watch the new Happy Gilmore sequel on Netflix. This film was promoted heavily through Subway so I knew there was no way I could miss this viewing experience. I was 14 when the first film was released. I’ve never been big on golf, but this film was on constantly in my house as a child. That being said, it had been a while since I viewed the original. So, to prepare for the sequel, I decided to revisit the first film. It’s still as funny as ever, but watching it as an adult, I had a new realization. Well, two, really. Happy’s grandma didn’t have an estate plan in place, and Happy really could have used our Care Navigation services.
In case you’re not aware of the plot of Happy Gilmore…
I could go on about why Happy’s Grandma needed a trust or a will, but her failing to pay the IRS for decades meant that she had far worse problems going on than lacking proper estate planning. Happy’s situation, however, was a bit more cut and dry. He had an older loved one who needed care, but he didn’t have the time or the resources to take care of her. After his grandma was displaced from her home, Happy quickly needed to find care for his grandmother, and he didn’t do a lot of research for the assisted living facility. This caused his grandmother to suffer, and she didn’t receive the care she deserved.
In this blog, we’re going to look at the ways in which a Care Navigator would have helped Happy Gilmore take better care of his grandmother. Granted, Happy and his grandmother didn’t live in Ohio or West Virginia, but we will use these fictional characters as an example.
Facility Placement
I can easily argue that the vast majority of the US Population isn’t well-versed in the nuances of senior care. There aren’t any fun and sexy reality shows about it, there aren’t many TikTok accounts dedicated to elder care, and it’s not something any of us are taught in school. For the most part, if you’re not working in the world of elder care every day, you are likely going to feel overwhelmed by finding the right facility for your loved ones. This is obvious with Happy Gilmore. He was in his late 20s, he was an out-of-work Hockey Player, and he didn’t have any other family to help him. In the film, we learned that Happy’s dad had passed, and his mother left when he was young. His grandmother was his primary caretaker. We don’t learn of any other siblings, so it’s safe to say that Happy was an only child. When he was suddenly forced to find care for his grandmother, he chose a poor facility.
This film takes place in 1996. There were not a lot of attorneys focusing on Elder Law at the time, and it’s safe to assume that Care Navigation wasn’t utilized at all. Add to that the lack of modern internet infrastructure, and we see why Happy was so misinformed. Let’s argue that it’s taking place in 2025. What could the Care Navigators at Jarvis Law Office have done to help Happy Gilmore?
Think of a Care Navigator as a professional member of your family who happens to have vast knowledge of Elder Care. Our Care Navigators are Licensed Social Workers who have dedicated their lives to helping families get the best care for their loved ones. They are in and out of Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, and Memory Care Facilities weekly. They have impressive knowledge of each facility in their area, and they have good relationships with the staff. They also know which facility is right for your loved one based on the type of care they need. In our example, a Care Navigator could have explained to Happy that Shady Acres Retirement Community does not have the best reputation, and that Hal L is abusive to the residents.
It’s fun to use a hypothetical. The reality is, though, this type of poor placement happens in real life. Just the other day, Brenda Lash, one of our Care Navigators, explained a situation to me in which she helped one of our families move their loved one from a facility that was not providing the best care to a new location that helped him thrive. The family came to Brenda when they noticed their loved one was not happy. He was often tired, not engaging, and just overall unhappy with the environment he was in. Brenda met with the family and learned about their loved one’s health needs and goals, investigated facilities in the area, and was able to help. Brenda helped facilitate the move to a better Assisted Living Facility. Now he is happy, engaging, and, most importantly, enjoying his time with his family when they visit.
Better Care, Better Decisions
Happy Gilmore didn’t go to medical school. He was a failed hockey goon who ended up making it big in the world of professional golf. While his love for his grandmother was clear, he was not equipped to take care of her. The fact that Happy’s grandmother didn’t pay taxes on her house for years is a good sign that she may have had some sort of memory issue. Since Happy was not living with her, and he had no medical training, not to mention that he was rather young, he likely would not have seen the issues with his grandmother.
We can’t fault Happy for not noticing this, though. Most of us don’t have a medical background. Even those who do may not recognize the signs of a memory impairment. That’s another way in which our care navigation services can be very helpful. Our team knows the signs and symptoms of conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and so much more. If you are concerned that your loved one has one of these conditions, our team can help you find the right care. It starts with helping you get a diagnosis from your primary care provider, and then, if a specialist is needed, our Care Navigators can help you find one, especially if your primary care provider does not have one to recommend.
Sometimes it’s the Small Things
While creating a care plan or helping to find a facility are important parts of your loved ones health, the small things are also provided with Care Navigation. It can be something as simple as recommending a smart watch to make sure your loved one does not wander at night to a special bowl for people who have had a stroke. Recently, I talked to Megan Voigt, one of our Care Navigators, and she discussed a recommendation for a family she is currently helping. They’re an older couple who live alone. The husband had a stroke and is struggling with Parkinsons as well. He’s still living at home but his wife is struggling to keep up with his meds. You likely guessed that he must take a lot of meds throughout the day. They were using one of those big pill organizers and she was struggling to open the taps. The wife has arthritis, and, as she said, “ain’t nobody got time for those little tabs.” Megan simply recommended an automated pill dispenser with an app. They fill it up once a week, program it, and the husbands pills are dispersed automatically. Now they rest easy knowing he is getting the right meds. Best of all, Medicaid paid for the device!
This example is just one way our Care Navigators can keep your loved ones at home for as long as possible.
Asset Protection and more
In Happy Gilmore, the grandma’s house is auctioned off because of unpaid taxes. However, even if this were not the case, there is a good chance that Grandma would have lost the house regardless. We are not told in the movie how they are paying for the nursing home. Maybe she is on Medicaid, maybe she is not. However, if the house had not been auctioned off, there is a good chance the Gilmore Family would be forced to sell it in order to pay for the nursing home. Medicaid only allows a maximum number of assets of $2,000. We know that his grandma was living in the house alone. Medicaid would likely put a lien on the house for any amount they paid for her care, so it likely would have been lost anyway.
Let’s talk about the real villain, Medicaid Estate Recovery. With Medicaid Estate Recovery, the state may come after assets from your loved one’s estate to repay what Medicaid spent on their care. This usually includes things like the home, vehicles, or any other property that’s still in their name when they pass. For many families, this feels like a heartbreaking blow, especially after doing everything possible to get help for a parent or spouse during a crisis.
The good news? With the right planning, Medicaid Estate Recovery isn’t something you have to fear. There are ways to protect assets and avoid or minimize what the state can claim later on. At Jarvis Law Office, we help families understand the rules, make smart choices, and put the right documents in place—often before a crisis ever happens. And even if you’re already in the middle of it, there may still be steps you can take.
If you’re caring for an aging loved one—or thinking about your own future—it’s worth having a conversation about how to protect your legacy. We’re here to help make sure your assets go where you want them to, not back to the state.
We could help, though. We see this all the time. At Jarvis Law Office, we help seniors and their families understand the different ways to keep their savings and property safe from things like nursing home costs, creditors, and legal issues.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes it’s a trust. Other times, it might be an LLC, annuities, or strategic gifting. The key is finding the right fit for your situation. We know how overwhelming all of this can feel, but you’re not in it alone. Our team takes the time to really listen, explain your options in plain language, and build a plan that gives you confidence moving forward.
With our asset protection services, you’ll have the guidance you need to protect what matters most.
If you don’t want to make cheap knock-off wallets like Happy Gilmore’s Grandma, I’ve got good news…we can help. Let’s start with a FREE Discovery Call. It only takes 15 minutes, and you can complete it by phone. Just click this link to schedule it now. If we find that we are a good fit for each other, we will have you do a vision meeting with a member of our team to start the building process of your plan. Then you will meet with an attorney to discuss your design. It’s that simple.
In total, this will take less time than playing 18 holes at your favorite course.
Jonathan E. Corra is the Marketing Manager for Jarvis Law Office. He holds a Master’s in Corporate Communication from West Virginia University, as well as an RBA from West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Jonathan has over 15 years of experience in Marketing, including nearly a decade in Legal Marketing. Having faced the profound challenges of caregiving for both of his parents, Jonathan brings a deeply personal understanding to his work at Jarvis Law Office. He is passionate about Estate Planning, Asset Protection, and Care Navigation, and is dedicated to helping families navigate long-term care with compassion and knowledge. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jonathan is known for his empathetic and understanding nature. His work is not just a career but a calling, driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Through his legal knowledge and personal insights, Jonathan strives to offer the support and peace of mind that every family deserves.
