From the 50th birthday of Medicaid and Medicare and the 80th birthday of Social Security to the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging, we covered a lot of ground in 2015. It was a year that included a new act being passed in Virginia to help special needs families, overtime pay for caregivers, and amazing new technological innovations to help seniors age-in-place. At the Farr Law Firm, […]
Don’t Become a Victim of Phishing
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I was baking cookies with my mother the other day, when she took a break to check her email. She told me that one of her emails from the bank seemed really important and she thought she should answer it right away. I observed her providing all kinds of personal information for what seemed […]
Holiday Gifts for a Loved One with Dementia
Dear Baxter, I would like to buy a holiday gift for my grandmother with dementia. Do you have any ideas about what I should get for her, that she could appreciate. Thanks, Aggie Ift-Forgrama — Dear Aggie, Shopping for holiday gifts for loved ones can be challenging, especially if the person has dementia. You may be unsure about […]
Cats for Seniors Who are Allergic
Dear Angel, My mother loves pets, especially cuddly cats like you. She enjoys coming to Mr. Farr’s office to see you, but she needs to take an allergy pill every time. She is lonely and would really like a cat of her own, but is unwilling to take allergy pills every day or get allergy […]
Multigenerational Playgrounds
Dear Commander Bun Bun, Last time my daughter, Katie, visited her grandmother, she mentioned that they went to a “playground for grandma.” I can’t imagine my 70- year old mother on the swings or climbing on the monkey bars. Katie reiterated that “it was a playground for grandmas and grandpas, and kids.” I never heard of such […]
Why Take Advantage of End-of-life Care Talks?
Dear Baxter, I just read that Medicare will fund end-of-life planning discussions with doctors, as of Jan. 1, 2016. Why is this important? My doctor already does this for free. And why should seniors take advantage of these talks? I personally don’t want to talk about death and dying. Thanks in advance for your thoughts! […]
Halloween Tips for When a Loved One has Dementia
Dear Commander Bun Bun, My mother has dementia and recently moved into our home. Before she was diagnosed, she loved Halloween, especially all the decorations, seeing the grandchildren dressed up in costumes, and eating the chocolate. This year, I am concerned about the stress that the doorbell ringing, the costumes, and the decorations may cause […]
I Am A Caregiver Whose Friends Are Deserting Me!
Dear Angel, My mother needs full-time care, so I quit my job and moved in with her. Before doing so, I had a core group of friends that I went to lunch with, to the movies etc. Now, they are not including me anymore. And, it seems they feel uncomfortable coming to mom’s house. What […]
New iPhone App Could Transform How We Diagnose Autism
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I heard somewhere that a new app has been developed by Apple that can be used to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using facial expressions. Since you are attuned to what’s going on with technology, have you heard anything about this and how it works? Thanks, Di Agnosis —- Dear Di, […]
When it Comes to Social Security, what does “File and Suspend” Mean?
Dear Baxter, My neighbor mentioned something about a “file and suspend” strategy for Social Security to boost retirement income? Can you explain what that means? Thanks! Clay Min Stratagees — Dear Clay, For married couples, a Social Security claiming strategy known as “file and suspend” may help to boost their retirement income. How it works: A person […]
Is Estate Planning Needed for Cohabitating Couples?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I live with my boyfriend, Rich, in a house we own together. For a number of reasons, we have decided not to get married, but will continue to cohabitate for the foreseeable future. Why would people in our situation need to do estate planning? Thanks! Liv Togeth-Herr — Dear Liv, Even though cohabitation may be […]
Self Care for a Special Needs Parent
Dear Angel, My daughter, Valerie, has autism spectrum disorder (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome, but now under the ASD umbrella). She is very bright, and for the most part is in an inclusive environment at school. However, when she gets home, she has panic attacks often, and needs constant attention. I spend all of my […]
How Can The ABLE Act Help My Special Needs Daughter?
Dear Baxter, My daughter has intellectual disabilities. I read in one of your newsletters that Virginia was the first state to enact the ABLE Act. I don’t know much about it, but it may be something that can help my daughter with her education expenses, without jeopardizing her benefits. Can you explain more? Also, who […]
Learning to “Speak Alzheimer’s”
Dear Angel, My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a couple of years ago. She used to be a college professor and is a brilliant woman. I began noticing that when someone hears of her Alzheimer’s, they ask me questions that she could very well still answer for herself. How can I convey to others that […]
What Does CELA and CAP mean after Mr. Farr’s Name?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I noticed that Mr. Farr has the letters “CELA” and “CAP” after his name. What do they mean? Thanks, Aubrey Veations —- Dear Aubrey, Good question. I used to ponder the same thing myself. I found the answers online on the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the National […]
New IRA Rules Close the Loopholes
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I heard that there are some new rules that were proposed by President Obama that IRA owners should know before planning their estate or transferring money between IRAs. Do you know about them and, if so, can you explain? Thanks for your help! Ira Nurooles —- Dear Ira, Under President Obama’s […]
When Should I Hire Home Care for a Parent?
Dear Angel, My parents live in a condominium in a senior community, 100 miles away from me. My father had a stroke last year, and is having trouble getting around, bathing, and dressing. My mother has her own issues, having had both knee and hip surgery in the past couple of years. Yet, she is a caregiver […]
I Am Single With No Children. Why Should I Bother Planning?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am a free-spirited single person who has never been married or had any children. I don’t even have brothers or sisters. Yesterday, my neighbor told me about her estate planning during our morning walk. She suggested I call Evan’s office and make an appointment. I disagree. Dying is the last […]
What is the NOTICE Act?
Dear Baxter, I read that the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act passed the US Senate earlier this week. Can you explain what observation care means, and what this new law would entail? Thanks, Inda Hospitalle —- Dear Inda, Observation care is a hospital classification used when patients are not […]
Why Do Women Get Alzheimer’s More than Men?
Dear Angel, I read that women get Alzheimer’s more often than men. Do you know of any scientific reasons why this happens? Thanks in advance, Alice Heimersen-Wemmen —- Dear Alice, Among people who are 71 and older, an estimated 16 percent of women have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, compared with 11 percent of men, according […]