Music has been found to connect people with Alzheimer’s to memories, enabling them to open up to loved ones and even enhancing their quality of life. Sometimes, the response is immediate and shocking. In fact, according to Geri Hall, a clinical nurse specialist at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, “music activates a part of the brain that stays active despite the dementia, calming those who are distressed, […]

Michelle Singletary, who writes a financial column for the Washington Post, often shares personal stories to spare others from making financial mistakes. In a recent column and interview on WBUR, she wrote about the importance of estate planning, and emphasized the need to “take action today.” In the article, Ms. Singletary described how her mother […]

Q. I recently read a sad article in the Washington Post about an Alexandria woman named Anne Bailey Farr (not sure if she is a relative of yours?), who is facing charges in connection with the death of her 98-year-old mother, who was found by police on her bedroom floor. When questioned, Farr stated that […]

What would happen if you were in an accident, or had a stroke, or for another reason you suddenly became incapacitated or comatose, and were unable to make decisions for yourself? It is difficult to think about, but if this happens, some people want to be kept alive at all costs; while others would prefer […]

Certain websites, including Yahoo, USMagazine.com, Pinterest, among others, were recently exposed to a major security bug called Heartbleed. The bug has the potential to expose private information to cybercriminals, including passwords and access to credit card information that users enter into websites, applications, email, and even instant messaging services. Heartbleed could be one of the […]

Last October, the President signed HR 2167 – “The Reverse Mortgage Stabilization Act of 2013”. As a result, changes have been made to make it harder to qualify for a reverse mortgage. To be eligible for a reverse mortgage you must be at least 62 years old, own your own home (or owe a relatively […]

Q. This year, Grandma Pearl will be joining us for Easter dinner. She has Alzheimer’s and her caregiver will be joining us, as well. We are concerned that the dinner could present challenges for her, since she is on a regimented meal time schedule each day. Can you suggest any tips to make the meal […]

If you are one of those people who waited until the very last minute to complete and send in your taxes, you want to make sure you take all of the deductions you’re entitled to. Last month, I wrote a blog post with some often overlooked deductions. Today, I will share some of the wackiest […]

Q. My next door neighbor is a retired financial planner. We walk every morning to stay in shape and maintain good health. This morning, I brought up the topic of whether my father’s IRA would be countable if he applies for Medicaid. Due to the complexity of Medicaid, she suggested that I ask an experienced […]

Q. My sister, Peggy, recently became a full-time caregiver for our 72-year old father, Joe. Since he served during the Vietnam War, he has had flashbacks that still affect him and keep him up at night. He suffered at least one stroke in the last 5 years, has trouble walking, seeing, and hearing. My sister […]

Over the past several weeks, hundreds of Fairfax County residents have received phone calls from scammers who tell them “Your driver’s license has been suspended. You will be arrested. You will be deported. We are on our way to your home right now.” These are just a few of the many threats that scammers are […]

John’s mother, Elizabeth, was always close with John’s 10-year old daughter, Anna. Before she Elizabeth diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she lived in John’s home and watched Anna for years while John was at work. As Elizabeth’s disease progressed, spending time with her became difficult for Anna. There was no easy way to explain to Anna how […]

Mt. Vernon at Home Village Residents Playing Pool Q. I grew up in Northern Virginia and raised three children here. Now, they’re spread out across the world – one in Florida, one in Oregon, and one in Texas. All three children have invited me to move closer to them, but I prefer to remain in […]

Q. My mother, Sheila, and my father, Tim, always lived in the moment and steered clear of discussions about getting older, retirement, and planning for the future. They lived in a rural part of Virginia and were convinced that Social Security and Medicare would be enough for them to get by on when they retired. […]

Q. My 6-year-old son, Jackson, was recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To better his chances for a productive life, I signed him up for play therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, as the developmental pediatrician suggested. However, despite all of the help and suggestions from the therapists, it is often hard to understand his perplexing and often difficult behaviors. Honestly, […]

An estimated 5.4 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, and 70% are cared for in the community by family members and friends. Unfortunately, most people with dementia who live at home have multiple unmet health needs, any number of which could jeopardize their ability to remain home […]

The Medicaid program is our country’s largest health and long-term care insurer, covering one in six Americans, including two-thirds of nursing home residents and one in five persons under 65 with chronic disabilities. A look at the facts about Medicaid uncovers many common misconceptions about the program that are simply myths. Today, we will take […]

As tax time draws near, you want to make sure you file all the proper forms and take all deductions you’re entitled to. The following are some helpful but often overlooked deductions to keep in mind as you prepare your 2013 taxes: Estate Planning Attorney Fees: If you met with an estate planning attorney within […]

Joyce Griffen, a retired anthropology professor at Dartmouth University, spends many hours a week rehearsing and playing different roles. She’s not involved in theater and hasn’t been since college. However, in a week’s time, she can assume the role of someone with dementia, Parkinson’s, chronic pain, and other age-related disorders. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 90% of Americans who need long term care get it […]