Jeff Regan received a shocking phone call from Atria Assisted Living to inform him that his aunt, Marilou Jones, 94, who has dementia, was being evicted. The family was informed by the nurse who phoned them that Marilou can’t transfer into memory care as the family had planned; and that she would be kicked out […]
Falls Aren’t Just a Normal Part of Aging — They Are Preventable!
It’s fall — an ideal time to put on a light sweater, take a walk in the crisp air, and watch the green leaves being replaced by dazzling amber, maroon, gold, and bronze hues. Besides the rustic colors, crunchy leaves beneath your feet, and pumpkin-flavored everything, the first week of fall each year holds special […]
Changes to Veterans Pension Rules Are Looming — Plan Now!
Q. I’ve been an avid reader of your newsletter for many years. A couple of years ago, you published an article indicating that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was proposing significant changes to needs-based benefit programs, such as the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance pension. You mentioned that the new rules were going to include […]
Can Your Spouse Get Paid for Being Your Caregiver?
Joseph quit his full-time job to provide full-time care for his wife, Stephanie, who is suffering from early-onset dementia. He bathes and dresses her, prepares her meals, takes her blood pressure, gives her prescribed medications twice a day, and takes her to all of her medical appointments. Joseph had to quit his job to fulfill […]
Navigating an End-of-Life Rally
Michael, an advanced Alzheimer’s patient, was in hospice care and didn’t have much time. He was experiencing what some believe to be precursors to death, such as loss of appetite, changes in breathing, and more confusion than usual, and his organs were shutting down. His family all flew in to spend his remaining time with […]
Imagine Paying College Tuition for the Rest of Your Life . . .
Q. I recently read an article in CNBC that’s states that, “It can take millions to care for your special needs child.” The article describes how one family needed $3 million to cover the cost of lifetime care for their 23-year-old son who has autism. We have a son with autism who is currently 7. […]
The “Queen of Soul” and Other Celebrities Who Died Without a Will
Aretha Franklin, “the Queen of Soul” died on August 16, at the age of 76, from pancreatic cancer. Similar to many other celebrities as we will describe in more detail in this article, a recent court filing revealed that Franklin didn’t have a will (i.e., that she died intestate). Franklin reportedly had amassed a fortune […]
How to Find the Best Nursing Home for Your Loved One
Q. We are looking for the right nursing home for my mother, but I’m having trouble knowing whether to trust the ratings I see online on the federal government’s Nursing Home Compare website. For instance, there’s a nursing home close to my house that would be convenient, but the ratings are perplexing. Nine reviewers have […]
Edible Water to Combat Dehydration in Dementia
It’s the end of August and it’s almost Labor Day weekend. Many of us celebrate the holiday with barbecues, pool parties, and picnics in the park, enjoying the last hurrah of 90-degree weather. Unfortunately, for people with dementia, the warmer weather can cause discomfort, dehydration, and distress. Dehydration and Dementia Dehydration is a common challenge […]
New Resource Will Help Consumers Connect With LTC Insurers
Since 1990, nearly 10 million Americans have purchased a long-term care insurance policy. Unfortunately, when the policies were needed 15-20 years later, many of these people (or their adult children) couldn’t find the copies of them. Until now, no single resource listing phone numbers for the Claims Departments of long-term care insurers has existed. A […]
How to Prepare for Retirement When a Recession is Looming
The current bull market is the second longest in history. However, the excitement over tax reform is beginning to fade somewhat. Someday our long run of economic growth could end in a damaging recession, and the way things are going, it could be in the next two years. When this happens, jobs will disappear, paychecks […]
Should Doctors Ask Older People If They Have Guns at Home?
Q. I took my father for his routine physical appointment last week. The doctor asked him all kinds of questions, but didn’t inquire about whether he owns a gun. He actually owns three guns, and I’m concerned about it because he is losing his memory. In my opinion, physicians should inquire about […]
Recent Law Expands Coverage of Chronic Care Through Medicare
Q. My wife and I are considering moving to a home in a more rural part of the area, with more land and less traffic. It has been her dream to live away from the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia for quite a while, but to still be close to the grandchildren. Among my […]
Does High Blood Pressure Cause Dementia?
Each day, Dr. Walter Koroshetz, 65, takes a pill as part of his effort to help keep his brain healthy and sharp. The medicine isn’t some miracle drug or a vitamin to stave off memory loss. The pill is his blood pressure medication. He also keeps his blood pressure down by exercising and maintaining a […]
What’s my REAL Risk of Needing Long-term Care?
Q. I just turned 65, but I don’t feel a day over 50! Although I feel much younger than I am, I decided not to fight everything that comes with aging, but to embrace it and plan for it, so I am ready for whatever life has in store for me. I am on Facebook […]
Dealing with the Emotions of Caregiving
Dear Ribbit, I recently became a caregiver for my mother after she had a stroke. I am completely new at this, being a single woman in my 40’s. Many emotions are beginning to surface, such as anger, anxiety, irritability, frustration, and even disgust. I’m not sure what to do about all these emotions, and how […]
Long-Term Care Insurance: That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen!
Q. When my mom was in her 50’s, long-term care insurance seemed like a great idea. She bought a policy while she and my father were still relatively healthy, paid their monthly premiums on time every month, and in return they thought they’d be able to afford a nursing home, assisted-living facility, or personal home […]
Is Medicare Going Broke?
Q. I was reading the news online, as I do every morning, and saw the headline, “Medicare to go broke three years earlier than expected, trustees say”. This is alarming to me. Is it true? A. Earlier this month, the Medicare Board of Trustees issued its annual financial review of the program. Since its release, […]
What Does the 2018 Medicare Trustees Report Say About Social Security?
Dear Magic, I read that the 2018 Medicare Trustees Report was recently released. There have been some alarming headlines about the future of Medicare, but I haven’t seen anything about Social Security. Based on the findings in the report, what does the future look like for Social Security? Thanks, Nada D. Pleated —- Dear Nada, […]
Am I a Helicopter Child, and If So, Why is That a Bad Thing?
Q. I heard my sister and brother talking about my mother’s care the other day when they thought I couldn’t hear them. I distinctly remember them mentioning the term “helicopter child,” and they were referring to me! I have heard the term “helicopter” parent, and I know that it refers to someone who has the […]
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