Dear Oakley, My mother has been in assisted living for a few months. I don’t hear much about how she is doing and due to my hectic work schedule, I don’t visit as much as I would like. I am planning on going with the family this Saturday to see her. Are there any good […]
Bait and Switch: When You’re Not Getting the Care You Were Promised in Assisted Living
Q. When my friend, Vicki, was shopping around for assisted living facilities for her mother, one in particular stood out to her. The lovely marketing materials showed beautiful landscaping, rooms that resemble those at a classy Marriott hotel, and lively group activities. The facility boasted that they had 24/7 licensed nurses on-site and promised a […]
How Taxes Work if You Have a Paid In-Home Caregiver
Stacey, an only child, was an in-home caregiver for her ailing mother for several years. She lived with her mom and cared for her while she completed college and graduate school, and even after she got married. However, after three children, one of whom has special needs, caring for her mother and her children became […]
Surprise Medical Bills May Become a Thing of the Past
Freya (80) had chest pains, a hacking cough, and a high fever when she was visiting her son, Andy. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to a hospital in her health plan’s network. As she headed home after a week’s stay to continue her recovery, she took a measure of comfort that her […]
Do Caregivers Have a Higher Life-Expectancy?
Dear Magic, I read somewhere that caregivers have a higher life-expectancy than non-caregivers. With all of the stress that goes into caregiving, how can this be true? Thanks for your help! Liv Longer — Dear Liv, What you read is true! Studies show that by helping others, we’re actually helping ourselves, too. There is Great […]
When Your Adult Child Distances Themselves
Carla, age 38, is a helpful and caring adult daughter. She lives five miles from her parents and assists her mother with caregiving for her father, who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She scaled back her hours at work and made arrangements for aftercare for her children so she could stay with her father longer. […]
How Do I Know if Assisted Living is Right for My Dad?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, My father is considering assisted living. He wants me to help him choose a facility. I honestly don’t know where to begin or if assisted living is even right for him. How can I know? Thanks!Anita Knowmore—Dear Anita, Determining if assisted living is right and choosing an assisted living community for […]
What to Do When Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums are Skyrocketing
Q. Last week my friend, Patty, received notice of a substantial increase in her long-term care insurance premiums. She was so upset that she fired off an email to the Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Scott White, exclaiming how appalled she is that he gave his okay to such an egregious increase. Patty and her husband, Frank, […]
Hospitals Must Tell Medicare Patients if Care Is ‘Observation’ Only
Q. My father was in the hospital last month due to a fall in the stairwell at my parents’ split-level home. My mother wasn’t able to lift him herself, so the ambulance came to assist her. They thought he seemed weak and out of sorts, so they insisted on bringing him to the hospital to […]
Changes to Veterans Pension Rules Are Looming — Plan Now!
Q. I’ve been an avid reader of your newsletter for many years. A couple of years ago, you published an article indicating that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was proposing significant changes to needs-based benefit programs, such as the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance pension. You mentioned that the new rules were going to include […]
Do CCRCs (Life Plan Communities) Have a Capitalization Problem?
By Jack Cumming Starting a senior housing enterprise or opening a new facility requires sizable investments in real estate, planning, building, and marketing. It is capital intensive. It is also a trust business in which aging residents entrust their elder years to the care and oversight of others. Trust Responsibility Both the acceptance of advance […]
U.S. Life Expectancy Has Declined for the First Time Since 1993
Last Wednesday, The Economist’s “Business of Longevity” conference took place, attracting world-renowned experts in aging. One of the main themes of the conference was the need to change the way we think about longevity, as we are living longer, more productive lives. Coincidentally, on the same day the conference began, a study was released that […]
How to Survive Adult Sibling Conflict Over Elder Care, Inheritances, and More
Q. Last week, my sister, my brother, and I traveled with our families to visit our 82-year old mother for Thanksgiving (I didn’t have to go too far, since she lives ten minutes away!). Although mom says she is “just fine,” we noticed several memory lapses and other signals of her waning health throughout our […]