Today’s women are decision makers. For some couples, the woman is THE decision maker, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For example, in nearly 8 out of 10 cases where married couples purchase a vehicle, it is the woman who makes the final decision. And because women outlive men by 5.4 years on average, women […]
Sign placed over a patient’s bed reads, “I Am Somebody’s Sweetheart”
The month of February and Valentines Day brings a celebration of love and stirs couples to rekindle feelings of romance and devotion. Not so different from young couples are aging seniors, celebrating memories of sweethearts and romance in days gone by. Sit a while with a senior couple and they will soon be telling you […]
Elder mediation: is it right for your family?
“My daughter is insisting I move in with her,” complains Martha. “She just wants to control my life and take away my freedom,” she continues. Jenny, Martha’s daughter worries that her mother keeps falling, and fears one day she will break her hip or hit her head. “I’ll take my sister to court before I […]
No More Reverse Mortgages, Announces Bank of America
“[E]ven if you are paying your payments on time, you could still have a clouded title to your home because your mortgage and deed of trust were never properly recorded by any of the major banks that used this system.”
Parents of Special Needs Kids: Getting Help From Others Without Forfeiting Federal Benefits
Did you know that in the U.S. alone, about 200,000 people under the age of 65 require long term care? In the D.C. Metro area, about 40,000 children are considered “Special Needs.” Many families are unsure how to plan financially when they first are faced with news that a child with special needs is on […]
Premarital Issues in Second Marriages
A client who is considering a second (or third or more) marriage often has more complicated estate planning needs than a single client or a client who has been married only once. A premarital agreement can be key to protecting a client’s assets, but the attorney must make sure the agreement is integrated with the […]
The most affordable, healthy foods for adults
Maybe your New Year’s resolution for 2011 was to shave off a few pounds, cholesterol points or both — but one thing is for sure — gyms across the country never seem quite as populated in February as early January. Some struggle to workout; others find it difficult to eat well-balanced meals. The old saying […]
New Hope for Diagnosing Alzheimer’s: Plus, Unlikely Team of Players Unite to Battle Disease
Don’t overlook the quality of life and dignity that can be preserved through Alzheimer’s Planning. Until there is a cure or vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease, the focus for many families is on ensuring the quality of life and dignity of those suffering with this disease. For more on Alzheimer’s Planning, please visit us at https://web.archive.org/web/20160110044450/http://alzheimersplanning.com/.
Who was supposed to be watching Grandma?
There is a popular tune you may have over the last couple of months called “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer” which relates that Grandma — after drinking too much eggnog — went out into the winter cold to get her medication and was run over by a reindeer. The question is, “Who was […]
Could ‘biomarkers’ be the key to predicting Alzheimer’s?
What is a biomarker?? Perhaps a useful tool to diagnose and predict dementia and cognitive decline, studies suggest. AstraZeneca defines the term as “a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention.” Because Alzheimer’s disease is complicated to assess or […]
Why did Obama reverse course on Medicare end-of-life counseling legislation?
Earlier this month, we reported on legislation taking effect in 2011 that would promote end-of-life counseling through Medicare reimbursements to doctors. Now just days into the new year, the legislation appears to be dead in the water. ElderLawAnswers has reported that the legislation is being withdrawn: A provision in the House version of the health […]
New tax laws should prompt families to review documents
For the next two years, the federal estate tax will be restored. The Bush-era tax cuts included a sunset provision that temporarily eradicated the estate tax for 2010. The tax is back, but the exemption has increased. It was a surprise to many following this issue when President Obama not only extended the Bush-era tax […]
Dolphins and dogs may help soldiers with PTSD decrease heart disease risk
According to Health.com, Veterans who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be at an increased risk for heart disease and early death. “[PTSD] is a disorder that occurs after a life-threatening event, such as personal assault, natural disaster, or military combat…affects can be debilitating with symptoms ranging from severe nightmares and flashbacks to insomnia […]
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Obama signs bill to benefit 9/11 survivors and first responders; but beware of other settlements
President Obama has signed a bill that will provide benefits for survivors of the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks, including Ground Zero first responders. In August 2009, the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine published an article entitled, Multiple Myeloma in World Trade Center Responders: A Case Series. The study concluded by noting, “[we observed] […]
Obama v. GOP: Healthcare showdown
When President Obama took office two years ago, the GOP had much more than a mere inkling that a healthcare overhaul was on the horizon. Fast-forward to the final days of 2010, and an attempt at a repeal may be just around the corner. It comes as no surprise that healthcare is still a hot […]
Tips for caregivers to combat holiday stress (from CNN)
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Most likely: Supreme Court will have to decide constitutionality of mandatory insurance
The mandatory insurance debate represents an intersection (or a train wreck, depending on how you look at it) between federal powers, Congressional constitutional boundaries, and state interests. At issue is whether Americans can be required to buy medical insurance, and if so, whether penalties can be enforced for noncompliance. The states that oppose the multi-trillion […]
Easy way to explain (or understand) the cons of Probate
Why Most People Want to Avoid Probate First, it requires frustrating intrusion by the court, lawyers, and the public into a very emotional, private, family time. A judge may have to determine who is a legitimate creditor, and may have to rule on distributions to children and other beneficiaries. Your estate may have to hire […]
A Mixed Bag in Virginia: Federal Law Prohibits 2011 Social Security Increases, but Federal Agency Grants Millions to Disadvantaged Groups
As Halloween approaches this year, I can’t help but draw an analogy between the nights I spent meandering my neighborhood as a kid looking for handouts, and our current economic times. I recall my grade-school friends and I operating our minds at their collective capacities, as we planned the best streets to target and the best […]