Q. I’ve been reading your newsletter for a while now and I’m always very impressed with all of your articles, including the many informative articles about the latest scams that seem to keep being targeted at the older population, and how to spot these scams so we don’t become another victim. I forward your articles […]
Beware of “Forgotten Assets” When Applying for Medicaid. And Beware of Bankers Trying to be Helpful.
We received two similar questions this week and will address them both. Q1. My aunt opened a savings account at her local bank for her son (my cousin) in the late 1980’s when my cousin was in college. When she opened the account for him, the bank representative, trying to be helpful, suggested that the […]
Should You Ever Prepay a Hospital Bill?
A week before she was due to have knee replacement surgery, Jennifer got a call from the surgeon’s office. She was told that she had not met her annual deductible, so she would owe $700 up-front. Jennifer paid because she thought she had to. Later, when she got an explanation of benefits statement from her […]
A Screening Tool Exists that Accurately Predicts End-of-Life
Q. I read somewhere that there is a screening tool that was developed to more accurately predict someone’s risk of dying based on different factors. Do you know more about this or other screening tools that are out there and how they work? Is this too much information, or can people use this information to […]
Misinformation about Medicaid in Popular Media and Journalists Getting Legal Information from Non-Lawyers
Medicaid turns 59 in July 2024! In the summer of 1965, President Johnson addressed a joint session of Congress asking that we honor a basic commitment to our seniors. He asked that the later years of their lives not be filled with “despondency and drift, or fear of financial hardship in the event of illness,” […]
Happy Birthday Medicare!
Dear Kiwi and Mango, I understand that July 30 marks the 59th birthday of Medicare. I will be 65 early next year. What should I do and what resources can I count on for more information before I sign up? Thanks for your help! Cella Brate — Dear Cella, You are correct! Next month marks […]
Prescribing Art: Can Art Be Used to Treat Conditions Affecting Seniors?
Two years ago, I wrote a three-part series that shared the wisdom of Katya De Luisa, a dementia educator and author of “Journey through the Infinite Mind–the Science and Spirituality of Dementia.” Besides being a dementia educator, caregiver coach, and author, Katya De Luisa is an art therapist. She describes art as “a window into […]
Are You a Super-Ager?
Are you someone in your 80s or older whose memory recall seems to be as good or even better than people decades younger than you? If you are, you’re in a relatively rare category of people known as “super-agers” — people who can easily recall things from many years ago with exceptional clarity along with […]
Say Goodbye to the Burdens of Timeshare Ownership
Q. I recently read in your article “Top Ten Things Your Children Want You to Leave Them and the Top Ten Things They Don’t Want” that the number one thing not to leave to a child or grandchild is a timeshare. You refer to a time-share as “the gift that keeps on taking.” I couldn’t […]
Leaving a Legacy for Your Children and Grandchildren
Dear Raider, I read Mr. Farr’s article about things to leave and not to leave your children and grandchildren this past Tuesday. Nothing was mentioned about leaving a legacy. I remember Legacy Stories used to be a service that the Farr Law Firm offered to clients, but I believe they are not as widely used […]
Top 10 Things Your Children Want You to Leave Them and the Top 10 Things They Don’t Want
When considering what to leave your children or grandchildren, many of you hope to pass on love, wisdom, financial abundance, and maybe a few precious family heirlooms. However, despite your best intentions, while there are some things your children would be happy to inherit, there are others that they hope not to be burdened with. […]
Comparing a Certified Medicaid Planner with a Certified Elder Law Attorney
Q. My sister-in-law and my husband have recently been discussing Medicaid Planning for my husband’s mother, who is in an early stage of dementia. You and your law firm represented my parents several years ago when we needed to protect their assets and get my mom on Medicaid. Thank you again for that! My siblings […]
Can Alzheimer’s Symptoms Be Reversed? Sanjay Gupta Explains in Newest Documentary
Dear Angel, I recently read about “The Last Alzheimer’s Patient,” starring Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The documentary describes Alzheimer’s patient Cici Zerbe, who claims that her early Alzheimer’s symptoms have been reversed. This was after she participated in Dr. Dean Ornish’s clinical trial on how intensive lifestyle changes can halt the progression of early Alzheimer’s. Do […]
What Are the Top Eight Questions to Ask a Medicaid Asset Protection Attorney?
May is National Elder Law Month! Elder Law Attorneys across the country, including those at the Farr Law Firm, are taking the opportunity to educate seniors about their legal options in the communities we serve. Now is the perfect time to talk about one of our practice areas: Medicaid Asset Protection, also known as Medicaid […]
Is Alzheimer’s Disease Genetic?
Years of research has found that the most common gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease is a risk gene called apolipoprotein E (APOE). Recent research built upon what was already known about APOE, finding that people with two copies of the gene variant APOE4 are almost certain to get Alzheimer’s. This new information could result in […]
Comparing Financial Powers of Attorney: Badly Drafted DIY vs. Well-Drafted Documents
Q. My husband is a handy DIYer, and it has saved us lots money, in many instances. Now, he is insisting on doing our Estate Planning documents, including our Wills and our Financial Powers of Attorney, on his own. I am glad he wants to take the initiative, but I am thinking that this is […]
How Can a Power of Attorney Protect You from Exploitation?
Dear Angel, I was recently listening to a true crime podcast and heard an alarming episode. A woman, Caroline, created a power of attorney for an older man, Charles, and moved into his California home. Charles died shortly after, although authorities do not know the cause of death. Caroline had used the fraudulent power of […]
New Federal Rule Sets Minimum Staffing Requirements for Nursing Homes — the Biggest Reform in Nursing Home Policy in Decades
A federal mandate that sets minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes was finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last week. Three final rules were issued to “fulfill President Biden’s commitment to support family caregivers, boost compensation and job quality for care workers, expand and improve care options, and improve the safety […]
Check-in Services to Keep Seniors Who Are Aging in Place Safe
Many of us have loved ones who are aging in place, who may have mobility issues and who are at risk for falls. We may not live nearby, and we may find ourselves staying up at night worrying about what would happen if our loved one had a bad fall or a medical emergency. What […]
Does Estate Planning Include Financial Planning, and Should Your Estate Planning Attorney Also Be a Financial Planner?
When you go through the legal process of Estate Planning, this includes you deciding: (1) who you want to receive any real estate, savings/investments, tangible personal property, and other assets of yours after your death; (2) who you want to put in control of making decisions and handling your legal and financial affairs after your […]
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