Q. When I was a child, my parents took me to see my grandmother. I was very upset when she didn’t remember me or my sister and when she thought my dad (her son) was my older brother. Now I am faced with the same situation with my own children. My wife would like for […]

From the sticker shock of long-term care to court cases involving filial responsibility, we covered a lot of ground in 2013. It was a year that included a 5.2 percent sequester and the release of a new DSM-5 manual that changed the definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder and eliminated the bereavement exclusion. We also saw […]

Patients in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility are often limited in their mobility as well as in their contact with the outside world, which can often cause feelings of isolation or depression. Spending long days watching television or waiting for the next meal can be a mundane and boring existence for them.  However, family members (even those who are […]

Mental and emotional well-being is essential to overall health. Positive mental health enables people to cope with the stresses of life, to live life to the fullest with a positive attitude, and to feel active and connected. This January, during Mental Wellness Month, is a good time to recognize and address some of the daily […]

Q. My 71-year old father, Joe, had a stroke and was hospitalized for a week and a half. When he was discharged, he was moved to a rehabilitation facility for therapy, and Medicare has been paying for his therapy there for 2 weeks. When it comes to his in-patient therapy, what is covered and when […]

  All taxpayers in Jersey (not New Jersey, and not any U.S. state) will soon be contributing towards the high costs of residential nursing facility and home-based care, after a vote by politicians. Ideally, this means that home owners in Jersey (part of the Channel Islands) will not have to sell their property or use […]

In an effort to show support for veterans and honor their families this holiday season, the Farr Law Firm participated in the 5th Annual Wreaths Across America. Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization best known for its annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and 850 other military cemeteries across the nation and overseas. […]

Filial responsibility laws obligate adult children to pay for their indigent parents’ food, clothing, shelter and medical needs. When the children fail to do so, nursing homes and government agencies can bring legal action to recover the cost of caring for the parents. Not only can they sue you for the money, but in some […]

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a six-week online workshop at no-cost, called Building Better Caregivers™, for family caregivers of veterans. This comprehensive online workshop addresses specific needs of caregivers who care for Veterans with dementia, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, or any other serious injury or illness. The program, developed at […]

Q. I have a question about Medicaid eligibility and need elder law and/or divorce advice in order to protect our modest assets. My husband and I reside in Virginia. I am in my late 60s and work full time. My husband is 80 and has Parkinson’s disease and early signs of dementia. His only income […]

According to a recent Pew survey, the share of the total U.S. population that is age 65 and older has more than tripled over the last century, from roughly 4% in 1900 to 14% in 2012.  Recently, the Pew Research Center interviewed a subset of the aging population (nearly 2,000 adults), providing a glimpse into […]

Ted was a hard-working plumber who died from an unexpected heart attack at the age of 53. He was very chatty and often talked to his clients about what was on his mind while he worked. One of his clients, Rachel, recalls that he mentioned his desire to donate his organs, should anything happen to him, to help others […]

Mr. Garcia is a 73 year old Vietnam Veteran who served in the Marines. He lives at home with his wife and was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He feels disoriented in his neighborhood and has forgotten his way home a few times. His wife worries about his safety. Luckily, the United States Department of […]

You just enjoyed turkey and all the fixins’ with family and friends. Before the tryptophan starts kicking in and making you sleepy, why not take a walk? You may feel like sitting on the couch after the big meal, but if I told you that physical activity helps stave off depression, dementia and other health […]

As we get older, simple things like tying our shoes become challenging and that quick memory we took for granted when we were younger suddenly evades us. It is easy to get caught up in what we have lost, but let’s not forget about all that we have now, and what we have to look […]

Nearly 44 million adult caregivers (21 percent of the U.S. adult population) provide care to seniors or adults with disabilities. On average, these caregivers provide 21 hours of care a week; and the average length of time spent providing care is 4.3 years (source: AARP). Many caregivers have to balance their family duties with their […]