While it may be true that the Supreme Court is often tasked with the daunting assignment of deciding the most controversial and divisive of issues, last Tuesday’s unanimous ruling was a little different. Most who are familiar with the facts of Henderson v. Shinseki would probably agree that the decision “felt right;” especially to the […]
3 Tips on Speaking to Parents About Long Term Care Options
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nursing home patients under 65 on the rise
Undoubtedly a challenging transition at any age, the shift to a nursing home may be even more difficult for the more than 200,000 people living in such facilities under the age of 65. Nursing homes must come to terms with this reality, because this number is on the rise, and the mental health of residents […]
Can seniors delay nursing home reality through strength training?
Over the course of the last several decades, strength training has gone from obsolete to mainstream. It has gained its due recognition and is now considered an essential element to a well-rounded fitness regimen, along with cardio and stretching. But is lifting for everyone? As lifting becomes more mainstream, some senior citizens wonder if it […]
Three Keys To Planning For Long-Term Care
Baby-Boomers and Seniors 2011 Legal Report I want to dispel two huge myths that routinely produce false security for senior citizens and their adult children: First, a revocable living trust does not protect your assets from nursing home costs or other long-term care expenses. Second, Medicaid is not just for the “poor.” “Is it time […]
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 […]
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 […]
Veteran misses filing deadline due to mental illness: Fair?
A U.S. veteran from Maine was denied veteran’s benefits, and argues he was unable to file an appeal because of a mental disability. The case was argued before the Supreme Court earlier this month. Francis M. Jackson, a veterans’ disability benefits attorney from Maine explained the case is so important “because it raises issues of […]
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 […]
How expensive will nursing homes be in 2020?
The cost of growing old is a concept Baby Boomers are beginning to wrestle with as they contemplate long term care options for both themselves and their aging parents. But in today’s age of economic uncertainty and rising care costs, more dependent adults are relying on family members for care. The Wall Street Journal recently […]
In some States, Medicaid costs are going up, coverage is going down, and lives are being snuffed short
Massachusetts’ Medicaid program enjoyed success, at least initially. Boston (.com) reported that the state’s Medicaid program enrolled about 250,000 new members since mid-2006. What’s more is that the success of Massachusetts Medicaid led to the lowest rate of uninsured individuals in the entire U.S. That was back in 2006: Since the recession started in 2008, […]
The Perfect Holiday Caregiver: It’s all a state of mind
The holidays are always a wonderful time of year for family gatherings, reflection on what we have and the spirit of giving. The television is packed with specials showing relationships and families coming together for the holidays. But the holidays can also be a time of stress and sadness for those who are caring for […]
Evan Farr quoted by Fox News on healthcare privacy
The WikiLeaks security breach has stirred much conversation…but not just regarding the leaked cables themselves. The entire ordeal is raising numerous questions ranging from national security to constitutional issues. FOX News referenced Evan Farr’s article on his Virginia Elder Law Blog. which pointed out that as a result of this massive security breach, an important […]
Bride-to-be paralyzed after prank gone wrong: Forced to choose marriage or Medicaid
Although this tragic story does not involve “elder law” per se, it does highlight the strict eligibility rules that Medicaid recipients must adhere to. Moreover, it perhaps calls into question some of the policies that may bring about unintended restraints. In this case, tragically the restriction is the ability to get married. In just an […]
Power to the Patients! New Rules Forbid Discrimination in Medicare Facilities
Patient advocates have commented by the thousands in an effort to end any real or perceived discrimination. In April, 2010, President Obama echoed these pleas…as of this week, new rules have been established and will go into full effect very soon. In a press release released yesterday by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services […]
How New Health Information Technology Will Save Money and Lives
Why is it that our most sensitive, personal data is often in an unorganized state of disarray? Most of us probably could more quickly pull a given DVD or book from our collections than proffer to a doctor a condition or illness we may have suffered 1, 2, 5, or 10 years ago! The electronic […]