Q. My husband and I have been working for nearly 35 years each and are due to retire in the next few years, but things seem uncertain for everyone now. My understanding is that the pandemic has added new challenges to the retirement plans of many people, putting some out of work and pushing some […]
How Nursing Homes are Planning for a Third Surge of COVID-19
When it comes to COVID-19, the news from around the country isn’t encouraging. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, said he is concerned that the United States is facing “exponential growth” of COVID-19 cases. Doctors Believe that Personal Behaviors are Driving the Projections Up Some people in their fatigue from […]
Boo! Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2020 (A Very Scary Year!)
2020 has been a scary year! Since we’re so close to Halloween, it’s a perfect time to catch up on some of the scariest elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning articles until now. Exposing everything from dementia at 30 to coronavirus patients being moved to nursing homes, our subject matter can get pretty […]
How Virginia, Maryland, and DC are Using Strike Teams to Combat COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
As of August 31, 2020, there are over 6 million cases of COVID-19 in the US and 183,000 people have died. There are many horrific tragedies that have occurred over the past six months, but one of the worst is how coronavirus decimated many nursing homes across the country. More than 70,000 people who were […]
More Caregivers are Experiencing Increased Burnout During Coronavirus Pandemic
Q. I have been the primary caregiver for my father with dementia for three years now. It was stressful before, but now even more so because of the pandemic. My new emotions deal with fear and anxiety over the virus and guilt about going out with friends or going shopping for fear of bringing home […]
Choosing a Nursing Home for a Loved One During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Q. My mother has dementia and seems to be declining rapidly. Her needs are becoming more than my father and I, and a nurse’s aide, can handle at home. We’ve decided the time has come to consider nursing home care. All of the news stories I have read about long-term care facilities during the coronavirus […]
Virginia’s Nursing Homes Prepare for New Testing Requirement
Dear Angel, My father is in a nursing home in Spotsylvania County. I am concerned about his safety during the coronavirus pandemic. One concern is staff coming to work sick or asymptomatic, which happened in a nursing home where his friend resides. How often are Virginia nursing homes supposed to conduct testing of staff? Thanks […]
Extra Financial Assistance for Caregivers at This Time
Dear Oakley, I am a caregiver for my aunt who has dementia, and who is also a veteran. I used to work part-time in addition to caregiving, but lost my job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you know of any extra financial assistance programs during this time? Thanks for your help! Keir Giver — Dear […]
Now May Be a Good Time to withdraw $100K from Your Retirement Accounts, Penalty-Free!
Q. My wife, Patty, and I are in our late 50’s and have been hit hard by COVID-19. Luckily, neither of us got the virus, but financially, we have been struggling. I got furloughed from my job and Patty teaches yoga, and the yoga studio where she teaches, like so many others during this pandemic, […]
Virginia Allocates $246 million to Help Long-term Care Facilities After COVID-19 Pandemic
At a retirement community in Springfield, the last scheduled event that Lea (88) attended was a Valentine’s Day dance in February. Since then, there have been no more potluck dinners, card games, special outings, or other social activities scheduled at Lea’s complex. And even as Virginia enters phase 3, it’s unclear to her when things […]
Futuristic Post-Pandemic Changes Coming to Senior Living?
Dear Angel, With the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the danger it poses to residents, some things need to change now and for the future. What changes are being implemented and/or planned? Thanks! Chan Jess — Dear Chan, While it’s uncertain how or when the COVID-19 pandemic will end, […]
Helping Veterans with PTSD During COVID-19
Q. I’m a new caregiver for my father, Ted. Since I began a few months ago, most of my caregiving has been at a distance, due to the coronavirus. Dad has Post-traumatic Stress Disorder from his time in the Vietnam War. What can I expect, as far as typical symptoms for PTSD? What can be […]
Resources for Veterans (and others) with PTSD During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Hayek, My father is a veteran with PTSD who is being cared for at home by my mother. I know the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on them, having to stay at home all time and not being able to see their grandchildren in person. What can my mom do to help my dad […]
New Fairfax County Grocery Shopping and Pharmacy Pick-up Service for Older Adults
Dear Magic, My 85-year-old neighbor, Ruth, goes to the supermarket, but not often. Even with her facemask and rubber gloves, she doesn’t want to risk anything. She is not technologically savvy, so she cannot order online. I’ve helped a few times by picking her up some essentials, but I am so busy with my job […]
How the CARES Act Helps Older Adults
Q. My husband owns a small business and recently the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established by the CARES Act helped provide his business with funds to pay 10 weeks of payroll costs. This act pretty much saved his business. I also heard that through the CARES Act, nearly a billion dollars is going towards senior […]
How the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Helps Feed Seniors in Need
Dear Angel, I heard about the CARES Act and how it helps seniors, as well as small businesses, and others during the coronavirus pandemic. Are there any other laws to help seniors with nutrition services? They are needed now more than ever, since it’s safer for seniors to remain in their homes to protect themselves […]
If You Needed a Ventilator, Would You Really Want One?
Q. My niece, Rebecca, was hospitalized with coronavirus last month and was placed on a ventilator. When her temperature was quite high and her oxygen levels were low and she needed life-saving measures, she didn’t have an advance medical directive in place to indicate her preferences, so they just went ahead and hooked her up […]
Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Affect Social Security?
Mike is 58 and hopes to retire from the government in seven years. His wife Diane will be 56 in the spring and plans to retire when Mike does. Similar to most people these days, they are staying at home and have had some time to think about their future and their retirement. Mike and […]
Should I Update My Incapacity Planning Preferences Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, I have seen friends and family fall ill with coronavirus. Luckily, they all survived. It got me to thinking that I need to review and update my advance directives at this time to make sure what I wanted before is still relevant if I should get coronavirus. I did my planning […]
How a 104-year-old Survived Coronavirus
William “Bill” Lapschies, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, has recovered from coronavirus, making him the oldest survivor of the pandemic in the United States. Two others in their 100’s also survived–one in Italy and one in China. Bill, who also survived the Spanish flu, reportedly recovered from coronavirus just in time for his 104th […]