Q. My father passed away last year, and my mother has lived alone ever since. Her colonial-style home is becoming difficult to navigate due to her mobility issues. She has fallen several times and we are worried about her. She would like to continue to live in her home and age-in-place, but some major modifications […]
First Federally-funded Study on LGBTQ Aging Released
Marsha Wetzel lost her life partner of 30 years to colon cancer, as well as her home. Finding a tiny room in a senior living community seemed like a lifesaver. When she mentioned to other residents that she had raised a son with her partner, Judy Kahn, they seemed shocked that her partner was a […]
What Medicare Covers
Dear Angel, I am a little confused about what Medicare actually covers. Can you provide details for me about this? Does Medicare pay for long-term care, at all? Thanks for your help! Metta Kayer —— Dear Metta, Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older and for certain people with […]
Spreading the Love: Dementia Patients Find Comfort in Pets and Family Visits
Renee Eder, our public relations director, has a history of dementia in her family, including her paternal grandmother, uncles, and aunts, and she knows about the love and compassion those with the disease need. During the holidays this past year, Renee and her daughter, Emma, led Emma’s second grade class in making gingerbread houses, and […]
Cost of Long-Term Care Insurance is Increasing. . . Even More than Before!
Q. Our neighbors are both retired Federal employees. Recently, when we had dinner with them, the topic of long-term care insurance came up, and they told us about a huge rate increase last year. Now, they are paying MORE THAN DOUBLE the cost of their 2016 premium to keep their same benefits — a lot of […]
The Brain’s GPS: Why Alzheimer’s Patients Wander
Janet, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, lives at the Juniper House Memory Care unit in Oregon. She is among her unit’s 16 residents who have exhibited the symptoms of Sundown Syndrome, where individuals with Alzheimer’s get agitated, disoriented, and restless late in the day. Residents, including Janet, have attempted to get through the door of the […]
Advance Directives Mean Less Costly Care
Q. My aunt died ten years ago without an advance directive. I will never forget the fight between her husband and the rest of the family about life saving measures before she died. He insisted that she would have wanted them, when the rest of the family said she would not. There is tension to […]
Could You Get Alzheimer’s at 40?
Q. My older brother, Chris, just turned 40. He is a successful businessman, and the father of three. My family sees him and his wife often, as we are very close and they live nearby. Five years ago, I began seeing memory slips from Chris. For instance, he couldn’t remember our families going skiing, when […]
How Does a Doctor Test for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Dear Angel, My husband is becoming quite forgetful lately, and wants to get tested for Alzheimer’s Disease since he has a history of it in his family. He is becoming anxious about the testing, because he isn’t sure what’s involved. What types of tests do doctors conduct to determine if someone has Alzheimer’s? Thanks! Tess […]
CMS Issues Final Rules for Home Health Agencies and Patients’ Rights
Bill is considering bringing in a home health aide to help with his mother, Nancy, who has limited mobility from Parkinson’s disease. He was a little hesitant at first, because he was concerned about quality of care. He has been the one who has been solely caring for her for years, and was worried […]
Major Changes to Social Security Are Happening This Year
Q. I am turning 62 this year, and I am trying to figure out Social Security. Should I take it now, or wait until later? Besides figuring out this important detail, I heard that there are some major changes that are happening this year, that could help me make my decision. Can you tell me more about what is expected? A. Social Security is […]
Social Security Ends Annual Mailings
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I heard that Social Security will no longer be sending statements in the mail? Is that true, and if so, how can we find out about our benefits? Thanks! Nomar Statemenz —-Dear Nomar, As of this year, Social Security will end its annual mailings that detail how much […]
ABLEnow is Open for Enrollment in Virginia
Millions of individuals with disabilities and their families depend on a wide variety of public benefits for income, health care, food, and housing assistance. Many of these benefits require meeting a means or resource test that limits the eligibility of individuals who report more than $2,000 in cash savings, retirement funds, and other items of […]
Training for Unpaid Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Q. My father is an 80-year-old widower who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I live close by, and will assume the role of his full-time live-in caregiver. By trade, I am an auto mechanic, and am single with no children. I don’t know the first thing about caregiving, but I am all that my father […]
New Technology for Seniors Who Are Aging-in-Place
Dear Commander Bun Bun, My mother insists on staying in her home as long as she can. I live 100 miles away, and can’t be there as often as I would like, and I worry about her safety and security. Is there any new technology out there to help her? Thanks! Hal Pinma —- Dear […]
New Nursing Home Rules Offer Residents More Control of Their Care
Mark has been a loving caregiver for his mother, Roberta, who has had Alzheimer’s for over five years. Roberta now needs more care than Mark can provide. Mark has spent lots of time and energy seeking quality options in long-term skilled nursing facilities, with “person-centered” care being of utmost importance to him. Person-centered care is […]
Implications of ACA Repeal for Seniors
Q. It is clear that the Republican congesss wants to pass a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) outright. In my view, the ACA has been good for seniors because it eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions, keeps children on parents’ policies to age 26, eliminates gender discrimination in pricing, and provides significantly more preventive […]
Top 16 Articles of 2016
From the presidential candidates’ views on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to a new president being elected, we covered a lot of ground in 2016. It was a year that included the passing of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act to help special needs individuals, overtime pay for caregivers being instated and subsequently shut down […]
Charitable Giving: The Risks of Generosity
Q. My granddaughter, Abigail, recently got married and my husband and I would like to give her a gift of $14,000 before the end of the year to put towards a down payment on their first home. To be fair, we also want to give the same amount to our grandson, Robert, for some remodeling […]
Special Needs Trust Fairness Act Becomes Law
Carolyn is physically disabled, but has full mental capacity. Her parents and grandparents are no longer around. She would like to set up a Special Needs Trust for herself, to ensure that she is protected against the risk of impoverishment. In the past she couldn’t do so, and had to rely on a family member […]
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