Enacted soon after the beginning of the pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act included a requirement that Medicaid programs in every state, in order to receive enhanced federal funding, keep people on Medicaid who enrolled on or after March 18, 2020, regardless of changes in their circumstances, through the end of the month in […]
Virginia, Maryland, and DC Now Allow Visitors in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Q. Last month, we had a scare when the nursing home where my mother, Marcia (85), who has dementia, resides called and said that she stopped eating and seems depressed and withdrawn. Although she doesn’t quite know who we are, my mother used to light up when we visited and brought the grandchildren. The nurse […]
Will Getting a REAL ID be a REAL problem for Seniors Who Can’t Make it to the DMV?
Q. My mother is 73, lives in Virginia and doesn’t have any immediate travel plans, but her driver’s license has expired. She is housebound for the most part due to physical ailments and doesn’t drive. I have been hearing a lot about the REAL ID and she and I are confused about it. What do […]
Supported Decision-Making Instead of Guardianship in DC
Dear Hayek, I read that once a senior is declared incapacitated and has a guardian placed on him or her, it is really hard to terminate the situation. Is that really the case? I heard about some positive change happening as far as guardianship and senior rights in DC. Can you tell me more […]
Where Not to Die This Year
Q. I own a home in Bethesda, MD, but was told I should sell it and move to another state. My 96-year old best friend Sheila insists that “it is expensive to die in Maryland” and I’m beginning to think she is right. Sheila lives in DC, and from what I gather, it is expensive […]
The Cost of Long-Term Care is On the Rise
Stanley and June Blum have been married for more than 75 years and are approaching the second century of life. Stanley is 97 and June is 96. Stanley is a retired shoe-industry executive who paints and writes poetry, while June is a psychologist who still works part-time. They own a home in the city and […]
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, […]
Hospitals are Required to Train a Family Caregiver Prior to Discharge
Q. My father, Marty, was in a serious car accident last year, where he broke several bones. During the week that followed his discharge from the hospital, my step-mother, Carolyn, struggled as she tried to get dad from the car to his wheelchair, and he ended up falling on his head and having a concussion. […]
When is it Time to Hang Up the Keys?
With years of experience behind the wheel, senior drivers are among the safest on the road. However, skills and abilities required for safe driving — such as vision, memory, physical strength, reaction time, and flexibility — may decline with advanced age, which could make continuing to drive risky. Understandably, driving is not a privilege that […]
Can Family Caregivers Get Compensated?
Q. My father, Jack, is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and has limited mobility due to other ailments. He currently lives alone at home and needs a lot of assistance. He has been a great dad, always putting my needs before his own. Now, I am doing the same for him. I recently got […]
What Happens to Your Online Data After You Are Gone?
Q. Our next door neighbor, Joseph, was shoveling snow when he collapsed and died of sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 53. Grief-stricken and shocked, his wife, Jane, not only had to plan a funeral; she also faced the daunting task of figuring out the couple’s online financial life. Unfortunately, she only knew half of […]
LGBTQ Marriage Ruling Brings New Planning Choices
LGBTQ married couples can now celebrate another important victory in their fight for equal rights. Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled to let the appeals court rulings allowing same-sex marriage in five states stand, clearing the way for same-sex marriages in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Now, same-sex couples can marry in 24 states, along […]
Evan Farr is Named to the 2015 Best Lawyers List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Evan Farr, Principal Attorney at Farr Law Firm, P.C. is Selected for Inclusion in 2015 Best Lawyers in America and 2015 Washington D.C.’s Best Lawyers Fairfax, VA – August 18, 2014 – Certified Elder Law Attorney Evan H. Farr of Farr Law Firm, P.C. (https://www.farrlawfirm.com), has been selected by his peers for […]