Ruth and Earl Linderkamp, parents of Dawn Herrmann and Elden, Louis, Carl, Gene, and Dennis Linderkamp, resided in Four Seasons Healthcare, a nursing home in Forman, ND from 2006 until they died in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In August 2006, two months before the parents entered the nursing home, they signed a contract selling the […]

Q. My mother, Rose, is a Medicaid recipient who has been in a nursing home for the past eight months due to Alzheimer’s. My father, William, has been living in the home where he and my mother lived for over 25 years in Fredericksburg, Virginia. They bought the house together when they moved from Stafford, […]

When it comes to retirement, many Americans expect that they will never be able to afford to retire fully. In fact, a new Wells Fargo study cited in USA today found that 37% of people expect to work until they are too sick or die, despite the world economy returning to health. The annual Wells […]

Mary, who is 65, listens to classical music every day and does Sudoku and crossword puzzles. She is familiar with these things and hopes they will help to keep her mind sharp as she gets older. While these activities are certainly enjoyable for Mary, a new study found that continuous and prolonged mental challenge rather […]

Most people will need some kind of help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or moving around, in their lifetime. The need for such help can result from a natural decline of hearing, eyesight, strength, balance, and mobility that comes with aging, or can stem from a chronic illness. It is […]

This month, residents of nursing homes and other long- term care facilities, along with family members, facility staff, and others are honoring the rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Long-Term Care (LTC) Residents’ Rights Month. The theme for LTC Residents’ Rights Month 2013 is, “Speak Out Against Elder Abuse,” with the goal of encouraging […]

Medicare Open Enrollment began yesterday and will last until December 7, 2013. During this six-week period, Medicare beneficiaries have the option to make any changes to their plan that will take effect on January 1st, 2014. View a CMS video about Medicare Open Enrollment. Below are a few things you should do to prepare and […]

Every 68 seconds there is another person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States.  Since there is no single definitive medical test for identifying Alzheimer’s disease, arriving at the correct diagnosis can take time and patience.  To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, a doctor will look for symptoms, such as memory problems, difficulty identifying familiar items […]

Q. How can I update the Will that I established when I was in the military approximately 10 years ago? Asked on AVVO by a resident of Springfield, VA A. Just as a car needs regular maintenance, your estate planning documents need to be updated or redone, especially if it has been 10 years since […]

This month, we celebrate National Special Needs Law and Down Syndrome Awareness months. One in 691 children are born with Down Syndrome and there are more than 400,000 people currently living with the condition in the U.S.  Although the genetic disorder has been recognized for decades, scientists still know very little about the cause.  During […]

Planning for your family’s immediate and long term future is something most parents think about. Because your home is likely the largest purchase you will make during your lifetime, deciding what to do with it is among the most important decisions you can make.  In some situations, parents desire to leave their residence to their […]

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has designated October as National Special Needs Law Month. This awareness month is a grassroots effort to educate people with disabilities and their families about their legal options in dealing with guardianship and conservatorship, Medicare, Medicaid, special education, and other important issues. Many people with disabilities need […]

Three years ago, Congress wrote the law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to maintain Americans’ current health coverage as much as possible, to boost consumer protections in the health insurance market for individuals, and to cover the uninsured. Today, October 1, the U.S. government launched the centerpiece of the ACA, opening new insurance […]

In the early fall, taxes are probably the last thing you want to think about. But this is one year in which it may pay for you to get both your income tax planning and estate planning done early. There are a couple of provisions in the tax code that resulted in higher rates on […]