Dear Magic, Our daughter, Rachael, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Since she was a toddler, we have been taking her for every early intervention therapy there is, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), speech, and occupational therapy. We are thankful that these are mostly covered by insurance, or we’d likely be broke. Rachael is in middle […]
Fospice Care for Senior Pets in Fairfax
Dear Angel, I know when humans are in their last months of life, their families may opt for hospice care. What happens to animals in their last months of life if they don’t have a loving home? Karen Forpetz — Dear Karen, Some pets may be elderly with cancer, limited mobility, or no teeth, but […]
Tips and Resources for Fall Prevention
Dear Hayek, My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years ago. I know that loss of mobility is one of the unfortunate symptoms of the debilitating disease, which often results in falls. Do you have any tips and resources you can recommend to help me read ahead about fall prevention? Thanks! Mo Bilitee — […]
Making Your Legacy Letter Meaningful
Dear Magic, I hope to pass down my values and beliefs to future generations as part of my Estate Planning documents. I heard about a Legacy Letter as a way to do so. I want to be prepared before I embark on my planning and I want it to be more meaningful than just a […]
What is a POLST Form and Does it Replace an Advance Directive?
Dear Hayek, When reading about Advance Medical Directives, I saw something about a POLST form. What exactly is that, and if we have one, do we need an Advance Directive also? Thanks! Paul Stuh — Dear Paul, A POLST (Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a medical order for the specific medical treatments you […]
New Virginia Law Helps Seniors Who are Victims of Financial Exploitation
Dear Magic, I have heard about many instances of financial exploitation of aged or incapacitated adults, including my uncle who suffers from mild cognitive impairment and doesn’t always make the best financial decisions. Are there any state laws to help protect them? Thanks! Hal Pimm — Dear Hal, Virginia recently passed legislation to help protect […]
How Much Should an Agent Under a Power of Attorney Be Paid?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, Both my parents signed Power of Attorney documents naming my sister as their financial agent. They now both have dementia and live in an assisted living facility. My sister wants to pay herself to do things like take them to the doctor, pick up their prescriptions, do some occasional shopping, and […]
What Can Go Wrong if You Handwrite Your Own Will?
Dear Angel, My husband insists on us writing our own Wills. He said that handwritten Wills are legal in Virginia and that we don’t need help from an attorney. Is this correct, and if so, can you tell me some of the things that can go wrong if you write your own Will by hand, […]
Choosing a Guardian for Our Children
Dear Hayek, We have young children and are considering doing a Child Protection Plan for each of them. We know we need to name guardians for our children, should we die or become incapacitated. The problem is that I cannot think of anyone who would be right to assume the role. Our parents on both […]
How to Make a Smart Phone Easier to Read for a Senior
Dear Bebe, I recently bought my mother a smart phone for her birthday. I figured it would be a great way for her to communicate with the grandchildren, and to have in case of an emergency. There are also some great apps to challenge her brain, to track medication intake, and to keep better […]
Why Am I No Longer Getting My Social Security Benefits Statement?
Dear Hayek, I used to receive a document in the mail from the Social Security Administration every year that explained my benefits. I haven’t seen one in a long-time. Is this something that they eliminated, and if so, how can I access this information? I am 56 years old and planning for early retirement. Thanks […]
Can an Eye Exam Predict Alzheimer’s?
Dear Ernie and Janette, I read somewhere that a simple eye exam can predict whether or not someone will get Alzheimer’s. Is this true? Thanks! Cici Cleary — Dear Cici, You are correct. It may be possible to accurately screen patients for Alzheimer’s using a simple eye exam in the not-so-distant future, according to new […]
Has Mom’s Social Security Number Been Suspended or Cancelled?
Dear Magic, The phone rings a lot at my mother’s house (she has quite the social life for a 90-year old woman!) One call she received the other day sounded official to her, she explained to me, but she couldn’t get to the phone in time. A person from the “Judiciary Department” left a message […]
What Happens When a Person with Autism Becomes an Adult?
Dear Bebe, My niece, Amelia, has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but is high-functioning. What happens to most children with ASD when they transition to adulthood? Thanks! Will Shebeokay — Dear Will, The US Department of Health and Human Services recently released a comprehensive report, titled “Young Adults and Transitioning Youth […]
Can You Get Social Security Benefits if You Never Worked?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, I am a recent divorcee who is getting ready to drop my last kid off at college next year, which, in essence, means that I am retired. The thing is, as a lifelong homemaker who raised five children, I never worked a paying job in my life (unless you count a […]
How to Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud
Dear Magic, Our neighbor was a victim of Medicare Fraud. I would hate for the same thing to happen to me or a loved one. What should I look out for and how can I protect myself? Pratekt Yorselff — Dear Pratekt, Even though Medicare cards no longer contain Social Security numbers, there is still […]
End-of-Life Conversation Resources
Dear Angel, I was hoping to talk about end-of-life wishes with my parents over the holidays. Do you know of any resources that would be helpful to guide me in starting the conversation? Thanks for your help! Weir Tobeegin — Dear Weir, You are doing a wise thing in initiating the end-of-life conversation with your […]
Should new Virginia residents Update their Out-of-State Estate Planning Documents?
Dear Ernie and Janette, I recently moved to Northern Virginia from Florida to be near my children and grandchildren. Although I really miss the warmer weather, I adore having family close by. I went to an estate planning attorney when I was in Florida and got all my documents done. Do I need to update […]
Technology to Help Alzheimer’s Patients Age-in-Place Longer
According to the World Health Organization, 50 million people world-wide are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As researchers continue their tireless efforts to find a cure, technology for Alzheimer’s is helping people affected by the disease who wish to stay in their homes as long as possible, and their caregivers, address safety, quality of life, […]
Taxes in the DMV Area For Retirees
Dear Bebe, My husband and I live in our family home in Northern Virginia, and are both recently retired. What state exemptions and deductions are available for retirees? Could you also tell me about Maryland and DC, since we have family and friends in both places. Thanks for your help! Virginia Seenyor —- Dear Virginia, […]
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