Elderly parents generally prefer to remain living in their own homes as long as possible. However, remaining in their homes becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down or starting to have trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. This is the time to evaluate the home to make it safe […]
Putting Home Care in Perspective
The Evolution of Home Care In the first century of our country’s history there was no such thing as nursing homes or assisted living. Society was mostly rural and people lived in their own homes. Families cared for their loved ones at home till death took them. In the latter part of the 1800’s because […]
Update on Virginia Life Estate Law
In June of last year, I wrote that “in the near future, life estates will no longer be considered exempt assets when applying for Medicaid.” This was due to the fact that the Virginia General Assembly had recently passed legislation instructing DMAS (the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the agency that oversees the Virginia Medicaid […]
Government Program Pays Family Members for Taking Care of Mom and Dad
Looking for a way to help Mom and Dad pay for Home care or assisted living? Perhaps you are their caregiver. Wouldn’t it be nice to receive some extra income to help you provide their care? There is financial help available for senior Veterans and their spouses. For Veterans who served during a time of […]
Too Soon Old
A very touching poem has been winging its way across the Internet for a couple of years now, but I just recently read it for the first time. Often entitled “Crabby Old Man,” you may have already seen it, but it’s worth another read. As the story goes . . . when an old man […]
Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 3)
In Part 1 of this series I outlined the necessity to create a good Long Term Care Plan and in Part 2 I discussed the three most essential documents found in that plan. The first essential document is a General Power of Attorney (POA) containing Asset Protection Powers. This document authorizes your “Agent” to act […]
A Roundup of Key Elder Law Numbers for 2009
Below are figures for 2009 that are frequently used in the elder law practice, including the new Medicaid spousal impoverishment figures and the long-term care insurance deductibility limits. Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Figures for 2009 The minimum community spouse resource allowances (CSRA) is $21,912 and the new maximum is $109,560. The new maximum monthly maintenance needs […]
Elder Mediation Resolves Family Conflicts
“My daughter is insisting I move in with her,” complains Martha. “She just wants to control my life and take away my freedom,” she continues. Jenny, Martha’s daughter, worries that her mother keeps falling, and fears one day she will break her hip or hit her head. “I’ll take my sister to court before I […]
Medicaid Asset Protection
What is Medicaid Asset Protection? Medicaid Asset Protection is the process of protecting assets from having to be completely spent to pay for the devastating expenses of long-term care, while helping to ensure that you (or your loved one) get the best possible long-term care and maintain the highest possible quality of life, whether at […]
Aging is Not a Disease
It is natural that health care providers such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses will have the same attitude towards aging as other Americans. Without proper geriatric care training, these people can fall into the same trap of treating the elderly differently from younger people. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, “In recent years evidence […]
Life Estate Law Changing Soon
See update on this article here. In Virginia, a life estate in real estate has always been treated as an exempt asset for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility. Unfortunately, the Virginia General Assembly recently passed legislation that instructs DMAS (the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the agency that oversees the Virginia Medicaid program) to amend […]
What is Alzheimer’s Planning?
Persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their families face special legal and financial needs. Controlling the high costs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, and navigating the emotionally and physically demanding requirements of caregiving, require the assistance of a highly skilled and specialized expert in the field of Alzheimer’s Planning. Alzheimer’s Planning is a […]
New LTC Insurance Premium Deductibility Limits
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the 2007 limitations on the deductibility of long-term care insurance premiums from taxes. Premiums for “qualified” (see explanation below) long-term care policies are treated as an unreimbursed medical expense. These premiums – what the policyholder pays the insurance company to keep the policy in force – are deductible to […]
Average Nursing Home Room Tops $90,000 a Year
The average daily cost of a private room in a nursing home in Northern Virginia is $91,615 a year, or $251 a day, according to the 2006 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and Home Care Costs. The average daily cost of a private room in a nursing home in the United States is $75,190 a […]
How Will the New Congress Affect Key Elder Law Issues?
The Democratic Party’s takeover of both houses of Congress is likely to have financial implications for the elderly and their families, although how profound these changes will be remains to be seen. Of greatest interest to elder law attorneys and their clients is what the change in leadership on Capitol Hill will mean for the […]
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