by Robert Stall MD, Geriatrician If you’re fortunate enough to have one or both parents still living, you may have noticed a role reversal taking place in your relationship. Remember the days when Mom shuttled you to the doctor whenever you were sick? Now, it may be you who’s driving her to her medical appointments. Perhaps […]
Erickson CCRCs Bankruptcy Filing
Did you catch last Sunday’s Washington Post article by David Hilzenrath, about the October bankruptcy filing of Erickson Retirement Communities? My phone has been ringing all week with people concerned about this news, because Erickson is a major developer and manager of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) for senior citizens. In the Washington area, Erickson […]
What Does the Bible Teach us About Estate Planning?
Sorry for the last minute notice, but I just found out that my church, Fairfax United Methodist Church (10300 Stratford Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22030), has space left for a course I’m teaching tomorrow evening entitled What Does the Bible Teach us About Estate Planning?This is a brand-new two part course seminar that I’ve just put together as part of my […]
Evan Farr Teaches Course for Elder Law Attorneys Natonwide
~You Can Sign Up for a Similar Course for Consumers~ Last Thursday, Evan Farr conducted a national, attorney-only teleconference sponsored by the National Business Institute (NBI) on the topic of the Income Only Trust — an asset protection trust which, though very similar to a revocable living trust, when done properly protects assets transferred to […]
Keeping Mom and Dad Safe at Home
Elderly parents generally prefer to remain living in their own homes as long as possible. However, remaining in their homes becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down or starting to have trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. This is the time to evaluate the home to make it safe […]
Myths about Obama’s Health Plan
Lots of clients have been asking my opinion on Obama’s new health care reform plan. I’m not at all a political pundit, and I have not read the entire Bill, but I have seen and heard what appears to be a great deal of misinformation out there in the popular press. Here’s a slightly left-of-center […]
Putting Home Care in Perspective
The Evolution of Home Care In the first century of our country’s history there was no such thing as nursing homes or assisted living. Society was mostly rural and people lived in their own homes. Families cared for their loved ones at home till death took them. In the latter part of the 1800’s because […]
Update on Virginia Life Estate Law
In June of last year, I wrote that “in the near future, life estates will no longer be considered exempt assets when applying for Medicaid.” This was due to the fact that the Virginia General Assembly had recently passed legislation instructing DMAS (the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the agency that oversees the Virginia Medicaid […]
Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 3)
In Part 1 of this series I outlined the necessity to create a good Long Term Care Plan and in Part 2 I discussed the three most essential documents found in that plan. The first essential document is a General Power of Attorney (POA) containing Asset Protection Powers. This document authorizes your “Agent” to act […]
Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 2)
“Long-Term Care” refers to the broad spectrum of medical and support services provided to persons who have lost some or all capacity to function on their own due to a chronic illness or disabling condition, and who are expected to need such services over a prolonged period of time. Long-term care can consist of care […]
Ten Affordable Gifts for Elderly Parents
Finding the right gifts for family members is an annual challenge, especially this year when everyone is feeling economic uncertainty. Gift giving is more meaningful when you know that the item you’ve chosen will have personal significance to the recipient. What many elderly parents want more than material goods is the physical presence of their […]
Holiday Blues: Depression in the Elderly
The holiday season is quickly coming upon us. If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may notice a change in your loved one’s mood as the holidays approach. Perhaps you are one of many who live a distance away and visit elderly parents and family during the holidays. When you visit, […]
Celebrating Our Family Caregivers
November is National Family Caregiver’s Month. Most family members who help their older loved ones don’t see themselves as caregivers. Yet a caregiver is anyone who helps an older person with household chores, errands, personal care, or finances. Most caregivers also don’t realize that caring for themselves is an important part of providing care for […]
Transportation Options for Seniors in Fairfax County
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990 and since then has improved transportation options for seniors and disabled persons living in Fairfax County and beyond. The ADA is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities in a wide range of categories, one being transportation. Before the ADA, many […]
Aging is Not a Disease
It is natural that health care providers such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses will have the same attitude towards aging as other Americans. Without proper geriatric care training, these people can fall into the same trap of treating the elderly differently from younger people. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, “In recent years evidence […]
Care Management for Your Child With Special Needs
When establishing a special needs trust (SNT) for your child, it’s important to consider how much care the child may need in the future and who will oversee any arrangements related to that care. In many cases, either a family member or the SNT trustee can assume responsibility for care management. But when care needs […]
Federal Nursing Home Site Now Notes Troubled Facilities
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently that its Web site comparing nursing homes will now identify listed facilities that have a history of poor performance.From now on, the CMS Nursing Home Compare site will label nursing homes it calls Special Focus Facilities — those that have repeatedly violated state and federal health and […]
Understanding a Caregiver’s Stress
A 2003 study of caregivers has proven that the off-repeated adage “stress can kill you” is true. The focus of the investigation was the effect the stress of caregiving had on caregivers. A team of researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center has found a chemical marker in the blood that shows a significant increase […]
Connectedness: a Key Factor in Wanting to Remain Home
One of the common myths is that a majority of the 60+ population pack up their belongings and moves to warmer climates as they age. According to AARP’s 2006 report, “Aging, Migration, and Local Communities: The Views of 60+ Residents and Community Leaders,” only about nine percent, or 4.4 million people age 60+, moved beyond […]
Caregivers Take Care
Caregiving can be very stressful and demanding. In the case of a healthy spouse or a child living with a disabled person at home, caregiving can be a 24 hour, 7 day a week commitment. But even for the caregiver not living in the home, looking after a loved-one or friend can consume all of […]