Last month, many of us received stimulus checks in the mail. In fact, according to USA Today, 88% of Americans aged 18 and older were eligible for them. The check distribution started after the government passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help those facing financial setbacks amid the […]
How to Meaningfully Reconnect with Someone Who Has Dementia
Thirty years ago, Dr. Anne Basting, a gerontologist and a professor, had an experience that would change her life forever. Dr. Basting, who currently teaches theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was researching aging and memory for her PhD, and she felt she genuinely connected with a room of seniors who suffered from dementia. At […]
Should Nursing Homes Reopen to Visitors?
Q. My mother, Betty, is in a nursing home in Richmond. Although she has advanced dementia, I could tell that she always enjoyed our family’s visits. Her face always brightened when she saw me, my wife, and her grandchildren. She would smile when we looked through old photo albums, listened to her favorite songs, or […]
Is Driving Cessation a Risk Factor for Long-Term Care?
Olivia has always enjoyed driving. She loves the wind in her hair as she drives on Main Street with the top down on her convertible, a retirement present she bought for herself. She enjoys the independence she feels when she gets behind the wheel and can go where ever she wants, whenever she wants. Unfortunately, […]
Does a Loved One Have Undiagnosed Dementia?
For the past five years, Barry has been going for his regular yearly checkups at his primary care doctor’s office. Two years ago, he began complaining about memory lapses. He would forget names and sometimes faces, and he’d often forget things that happened that day, such as what he had for breakfast and even a […]
Are They Moving Coronavirus Patients into Nursing Homes?
Q. My mother, Phyllis, is in a nursing home in Northern Virginia. I heard that across the country, they are moving coronavirus patients into nursing homes. I understand that my mom is quarantined to her room, but I still think that this a bad idea given that seniors (particularly nursing home patients) are among the […]
Why Long-Term Care Planning is Even More Important During a Pandemic (Part 2 of a 3-part Series)
Suzanne is a family caregiver for her 75-year-old mother who has dementia and for her two young children. She is most concerned about her mother, who has a weakened immune system, and her infant son, being only 2 months old. With no vaccine at the moment, the best thing caregivers similar to Suzanne can do […]
When Healthcare is Not Accessible
Q. I grew up in Northern Virginia and still live here with my wife and two children. Five years ago, my parents sold their home and moved to a more rural part of the state to get away from the traffic and congestion. My mother passed away since then and my father developed an illness […]
When Medical Aid in Dying Is Legal, But Still Not Accessible
Q. I recently attended my 50th high school reunion and connected with several teammates with whom I played varsity basketball. I heard about a teammate who had terminal cancer who wanted to die on his own terms. Although death with dignity is legal in his state, he still had a rough time finding a doctor […]
Bait and Switch: When You’re Not Getting the Care You Were Promised in Assisted Living
Q. When my friend, Vicki, was shopping around for assisted living facilities for her mother, one in particular stood out to her. The lovely marketing materials showed beautiful landscaping, rooms that resemble those at a classy Marriott hotel, and lively group activities. The facility boasted that they had 24/7 licensed nurses on-site and promised a […]
Part D Donut Hole is Closed, But Does That Mean It’s Going Away?
Rosanna (68) takes more than a dozen medications regularly to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, acid reflux, and other chronic problems. She signed up for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage a few years ago, hoping to keep her costs down as much as possible. She knew then that there would be no avoiding […]
A Major Change to Therapy/Rehabilitation Coverage for Medicare Patients
Q. At age 62, my father, Paul, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He can’t walk, get out of bed, or breathe on his own (he’s on a ventilator). He can’t use the toilet, bathe, or dress himself, either. After a recent hospitalization and short-term stay in a nursing home for rehab, in-home therapists […]
Loving Someone with Dementia
Q. Valentine’s Day has always been special for my husband, Charlie, and I. It’s our wedding anniversary and we used to go all out every year celebrating it. Charlie wasn’t much of a romantic until he met me. He’s learned over the years that I love chocolate, flowers, and sappy Hallmark cards. One year, on […]
Can You Still Live Alone if You Have Early-Stage Alzheimer’s?
When Kimberly was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she took it as a devastating blow. She experienced the gamut of emotions anyone would feel after such a shocking discovery about oneself, including shock, denial, and depression. It took Kimberly more than a year to accept what the doctor had said— that she does in fact […]
Top 19 Articles of 2019
Those who read our newsletter or follow our blog know that we covered a lot of ground in 2019. This past year, the Federal Tax Act increased the federal estate and gift tax exemption from $11.18 million dollars per person to $11.4 million dollars per person ($22.8 million dollars per couple). On the gift tax […]
2020 Key Elder Law Dollar Amounts
Every year we release the key dollar amounts that are frequently used in elder law, including Medicaid figures, Medicare premiums, Social Security Disability, and Supplemental Security Income. Since most of these figures have been released, we are happy to provide details on what has changed for the coming year. Be sure to check back here […]
The Risks of Dementia Denial
Pete’s father, Frank, has always been a positive, happy person. He lives for the moment, doesn’t take many things too seriously, and when it comes to something potentially stressful, he subscribes to the notion that “ignorance is bliss.” Everyone who knows Frank loves his positive attitude and his optimistic outlook on life. Sounds like a […]
Is Care Getting More Expensive or Has it Hit its Peak?
Q. My mother has lived alone for the past three years since my father passed away. She is starting to get lonely and needs more help these days. I recently started looking into in-home care as an option. I knew it would be expensive, but decided it was time to spend the money and get […]
A Major Shift in Autism Research
Q. My son, Tyler, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is verbal but he prefers to be alone and he avoids social situations whenever he can. My neighbor’s son, Christopher, who is also on the spectrum, is completely non-verbal and has severe sensory issues. I heard that the president signed the Autism CARES Act this […]
Is DICE the Key to Managing Dementia Without Medication?
Karl Sieloff, 56, had been an engineer at General Motors for more than three decades. Each day he arrived at work on-time and always had a good attitude. He went home to his loving wife, Kate, and was proud of their son, Kurt, who became a neurologist at the University of Michigan’s Medical Center. That […]
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