All of us can be lulled into believing we’ve got plenty of time, until something unexpected happens. Whether it’s a car accident, a heart attack, a fire, or a stroke, those who procrastinated and didn’t plan in advance often kick themselves for not taking action sooner. Let’s take, for example, Michelle Singletary, a Washington Post […]
If You Don’t Visit Your Parents, It Could Affect Your Credit Score
Imagine you were really busy with your job, your children, and your everyday life (which is the case for many of us!). Your parents are in their 80’s and, although you love them very much, you rarely get to visit them, let alone call them. Then, you go to buy a car or refinance your […]
Laser Shoes, Magic Carpets, & More: Technology to Combat Falls
Q. My parents are snowbirds. Every spring, I pick them up at the Lorton Auto Train and drop them off at their home, and in November, they go back to Florida for the winter. My father has had Parkinson’s for almost 20 years now, and the debilitating disease is taking its toll. Yesterday, when I arrived at the station, I noticed that it was extra hard to move my dad from his wheelchair to […]
Military Caregivers: Challenges and Strategies
Q. My father, Steve, is a retired Marine who is recently widowed. My mother used to provide care for him full-time until she passed away suddenly. My brothers and sister live far away, and my father needs assistance now. He has Parkinson’s Disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and is depressed over the loss of my mom. […]
The Most Important Awareness Day of the Year (and only 20- 30% realize it!)
Anne is 71 years old, and her health is rapidly declining. When her time comes, she is confident that she wants to donate her organs to help someone else live a longer and healthier life. She also wants to be buried next to her second husband, Joseph. Anne has three children — two from her […]
April 29 Marks the End of a Major Social Security Loophole
Q. I remember reading an article that you published last fall about The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, where you mentioned that the end of file-and-suspend would be happening in six months. I am concerned about the impending deadline. Can you explain exactly when it is and what it means for those who would still […]
Have You Hugged Your Certified Elder Law Attorney Today?
. . . well, if you haven’t, then maybe you should. Why? Because, today is “Be Kind to Lawyers Day.” “Be Kind to Lawyers Day” falls on the second Tuesday of April every year. This was the date of choice, ironically, because it is strategically sandwiched in between April Fool’s day and Tax Day, […]
How Caregivers Can Collect Social Security Benefits and Reduce Work Hours
Q. My mother had a stroke and really needs my help until we can find other arrangements. I’m afraid I’ll lose my job and wind up unemployed if I take time off work to care for her. Do you know if I have any rights under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? A. Millions of […]
Is it Dementia or Adult ADHD?
Ginny is a 58-year-old widow who struggles each day with where she puts her keys, her cell phone, her purse, and even sometimes her coffee cup after she fills it with coffee. She often has trouble following conversations, and after about 15 minutes, she doesn’t remember much of what was said at all. After observing […]
Now You Can Clone Grandma — April Fool’s Joke . . . or Not?
Q. I am very close with my 100-year-old grandmother, Emily. She is a remarkable, accomplished woman who went to college (which was rare in her time) and became a successful brain surgeon. She is also a very talented artist. I visit her every week and we talk for hours. Despite the fact that she is […]
Take Your Emotional Support Animal with you ANYWHERE!
Q. Since my wife, Linda, and I retired, we travel a lot. A few weeks ago, when we flew to San Diego, we saw someone with a dog in the cabin of the plane, sitting on the owner’s lap, and the flight attendant didn’t say anything about it. The dog was small enough to fit […]
Alzheimer’s Lost Memories May Be Recoverable
Jennifer was 42 years-old when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. She was heartbroken at first, wondering if she would remember the details of her first love, her child’s wobbly first steps, her overseas travels, or her 20-year career as a pediatric nurse. These things were all significant to the fabric of her life so […]
Long-Term Care Insurance: Yes or No?
Q. Long-term care is a subject we’ve been avoiding for years, but as we are getting older and less able to do things for ourselves due to physical ailments, my wife and I finally sat down to talk about it. At first, long-term care insurance policies that help pay the costs of extended nursing care […]
Is There a Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Option?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am 58 and still working. I understand that long-term care insurance through insurance companies is expensive, and that there are risks involved. I was wondering if there is government solution to long-term care insurance. I remember reading something about the CLASS act, which was part of Obamacare, and was signed into a law. Do you know […]
What Aging Parents Really Want from Their Adult Children
Ellen, 75, was thrilled at first when her daughter, Samantha, moved back to Northern Virginia with her family. She loved seeing her grandchildren and enjoyed being there for their concerts, soccer games, and birthday parties. Her feelings began to change, however, when Samantha began dropping by, acting overly critical, and assessing everything from the cleanliness […]
New, Overlooked, and Odd Tax Deductions for Seniors
Q. With tax season upon us, I am preparing for the grueling task of filing my taxes. I am aware that every year, the IRS makes a litany of changes to the tax code and Congress often weighs in with its own alterations as well. Of course, like most seniors on a fixed income, I want to deduct all I can. Are you aware of […]
I’m Not Dead Yet!
Q. When my Aunt Barbara died in 2002, my cousins had to rely on the legal system to help negotiate with their half-brother over her estate. To sell her personal possessions, the family had a large auction. They all agreed to keep a few things, but it was the real estate that caused a […]
On Pins and Needles: Caring for Those with Mental Illness
As many as 8.4 million Americans are providing care to an adult with an emotional or mental health issue. Often, these family caregivers feel the impact of the disease as they struggle to care for their loved ones and to bridge health care systems, mental health providers, and community supports. The National Alliance for Caregiving […]
Her Hospital Bracelet Said She Was “Admitted.” But We Found Out After Her Discharge That She Wasn’t.
This question was sent in by J.R., in response to my article about observation status in the March 2016 Golden Gazette. See also our recent blog posting on this topic: https://www.farrlawfirm.com/is-it-the-end-for-observation-status Q. My 89-year old mother (in PA) recently fell injuring her hip and was taken to a local hospital. After being assessed by her […]
Guess What! I’m Getting Married!
When you see a subject line like this one, you may have several different reactions. The first one that comes to mind is happiness for the couple who is planning to share their life together. The second may be shock or even suspicion, because it seemed to have come out of nowhere, or because the […]
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