Last year, Marie turned 65 and she retired from work. Since then, she’s felt alive and free. She now enjoys traveling, taking classes, and checking items off her bucket list, including ziplining. One thing has been on her mind, and it’s not her fear of heights. Marie finds anything having to do with Medicare to […]
Is Suicide a “Rational” Option for Seniors?
Robert Shoots was a retired house painter who was happily remarried and enjoyed good health. He went fishing and played golf often, showing no signs of depression or other mental illness. Yet, Shoots took his own life, and he planned for it for a while. According to Shoots’ daughter, “All the people he knew were […]
Can They Kick Her Out of Assisted Living?
Jeff Regan received a shocking phone call from Atria Assisted Living to inform him that his aunt, Marilou Jones, 94, who has dementia, was being evicted. The family was informed by the nurse who phoned them that Marilou can’t transfer into memory care as the family had planned; and that she would be kicked out […]
Falls Aren’t Just a Normal Part of Aging — They Are Preventable!
It’s fall — an ideal time to put on a light sweater, take a walk in the crisp air, and watch the green leaves being replaced by dazzling amber, maroon, gold, and bronze hues. Besides the rustic colors, crunchy leaves beneath your feet, and pumpkin-flavored everything, the first week of fall each year holds special […]
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 […]
Can Your Spouse Get Paid for Being Your Caregiver?
Joseph quit his full-time job to provide full-time care for his wife, Stephanie, who is suffering from early-onset dementia. He bathes and dresses her, prepares her meals, takes her blood pressure, gives her prescribed medications twice a day, and takes her to all of her medical appointments. Joseph had to quit his job to fulfill […]
With the New Tax Law and Life Changes, it’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan
Q. Throughout the last decade, I have gone through so many changes in my life. Nine years ago, my wife passed away. A few years later our daughter got married, followed by my other daughter, followed by me getting remarried. Now I have a new wife, two son-in-laws, and five grandchildren. I heard as major […]
Navigating an End-of-Life Rally
Michael, an advanced Alzheimer’s patient, was in hospice care and didn’t have much time. He was experiencing what some believe to be precursors to death, such as loss of appetite, changes in breathing, and more confusion than usual, and his organs were shutting down. His family all flew in to spend his remaining time with […]
Imagine Paying College Tuition for the Rest of Your Life . . .
Q. I recently read an article in CNBC that’s states that, “It can take millions to care for your special needs child.” The article describes how one family needed $3 million to cover the cost of lifetime care for their 23-year-old son who has autism. We have a son with autism who is currently 7. […]
The “Queen of Soul” and Other Celebrities Who Died Without a Will
Aretha Franklin, “the Queen of Soul” died on August 16, at the age of 76, from pancreatic cancer. Similar to many other celebrities as we will describe in more detail in this article, a recent court filing revealed that Franklin didn’t have a will (i.e., that she died intestate). Franklin reportedly had amassed a fortune […]
How to Find the Best Nursing Home for Your Loved One
Q. We are looking for the right nursing home for my mother, but I’m having trouble knowing whether to trust the ratings I see online on the federal government’s Nursing Home Compare website. For instance, there’s a nursing home close to my house that would be convenient, but the ratings are perplexing. Nine reviewers have […]
Edible Water to Combat Dehydration in Dementia
It’s the end of August and it’s almost Labor Day weekend. Many of us celebrate the holiday with barbecues, pool parties, and picnics in the park, enjoying the last hurrah of 90-degree weather. Unfortunately, for people with dementia, the warmer weather can cause discomfort, dehydration, and distress. Dehydration and Dementia Dehydration is a common challenge […]
Social Security is 83! How to Get the Most Out of the Program
Q. My husband and I are approaching 62 years old, the year when we both first qualify for Social Security. Now that we’ve reached this point, I have a few questions about the program. I was wondering what the advantages are of taking the benefits earlier rather than later, or vice versa. Will I even […]
New Resource Will Help Consumers Connect With LTC Insurers
Since 1990, nearly 10 million Americans have purchased a long-term care insurance policy. Unfortunately, when the policies were needed 15-20 years later, many of these people (or their adult children) couldn’t find the copies of them. Until now, no single resource listing phone numbers for the Claims Departments of long-term care insurers has existed. A […]
How to Prepare for Retirement When a Recession is Looming
The current bull market is the second longest in history. However, the excitement over tax reform is beginning to fade somewhat. Someday our long run of economic growth could end in a damaging recession, and the way things are going, it could be in the next two years. When this happens, jobs will disappear, paychecks […]
Should Doctors Ask Older People If They Have Guns at Home?
Q. I took my father for his routine physical appointment last week. The doctor asked him all kinds of questions, but didn’t inquire about whether he owns a gun. He actually owns three guns, and I’m concerned about it because he is losing his memory. In my opinion, physicians should inquire about […]
Adult Children Seek Guardianship of Their Astronaut Dad, Buzz Aldrin
In July 1969, the first person to set foot on the moon’s surface was Neil Armstrong. Nine minutes later, Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. touched down. History was made! On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 next year, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 88, seeks to remain an influential voice on our country’s space exploration policy. Just […]
The Biggest Misconceptions About A Power of Attorney
Q. My lifelong friend, Peter, has an aunt who was never married and never had children of her own. Peter was the closest family member she had, but she was not a very trusting person, and didn’t trust Peter or anyone, especially when it came to money. When she was beginning to experience memory loss, […]
Does High Blood Pressure Cause Dementia?
Each day, Dr. Walter Koroshetz, 65, takes a pill as part of his effort to help keep his brain healthy and sharp. The medicine isn’t some miracle drug or a vitamin to stave off memory loss. The pill is his blood pressure medication. He also keeps his blood pressure down by exercising and maintaining a […]
Can Caregiving Lead to PTSD?
Q. I was a caregiver for my father-in-law two decades ago, and I experienced a terrible scare. I took him into my home when he developed fronto-temporal dementia and he lived with my family. He would get angry at me a lot and sometimes even violent, and it terrified me to be around him. I […]
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