Michelle recently had a discussion with her mother, Rose, about ways to make Rose’s house more comfortable and easier-to-navigate. Rose’s mobility isn’t what it used to be and she can no longer walk, and is unable to drive herself to the supermarket or to doctor’s appointments. Michelle wants to help her mom improve her quality […]
Paying for Long-Term Care . . . through Payroll?
Laurie Jinkins, a state representative in Washington state, has a mother-in-law who is 92, and who has dementia. She recently needed nursing home care, and qualified for Medicaid. Norm Johnson, also a state representative in Washington, used up much of his savings paying for in-home aides for his mother. His father spent so much on […]
Are Filial Responsibility Laws Preempted by the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act?
In October 2010, Doris Pike was admitted to Corry Manor, a nursing home in Pennsylvania. At that time, her husband, Levere, signed an agreement with the facility, promising to use his wife’s assets to pay for nursing home care provided to her. The agreement also required Mr. Pike to assert that he had legal access […]
But I Promised I Wouldn’t Put her in a Nursing Home
Click Here to Read Magic’s to “My Dad Doesn’t Recognize Me – Is It Still Worth Visiting?” Q. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. My mom, who had Parkinson’s for ten years at the time, was sitting at my kitchen table. I saw how challenging it was for her to get her wheelchair from the living room into the kitchen, to chew and […]
Long-Distance Caregivers: Making the Most of Your Role
Kate is concerned about her mother, a recent widow who lives alone in Kate’s childhood home in Fairfax County. Although Kate lives in Massachusetts, she grew up in Northern Virginia and it’s where her mother feels most comfortable. Kate’s mother’s decline in health since her father died requires Kate’s help and attention, but due to […]
Bill to Support 40 Million Caregivers Becomes Law
Q. My friend, Molly, is the primary caregiver for her mother, Anne. Anne suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, among other things. After a hospital stay for an infected gall bladder, she came home and the responsibility of caring for Anne fell completely on Molly. According to Molly, her daily routine includes preparing Anne’s […]
Simplifying the Medicare Process
Q. I am a few months away from my 65th birthday, and I am aware that it is time to begin thinking about enrolling in Medicare. I started researching Medicare online, and I realized that enrollment is much more confusing than I anticipated. I’m not sure where to begin, who to contact, and which plan is best, […]
Does Medicare Really Not Care About Long-Term Care?
Dear Bebe, I read in a couple of Mr. Farr’s blogs that Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care. I thought that it did cover some long-term care services. Can you clarify? Thanks! Metta Caire —- Dear Metta, Medicare pays for health care for people age 65 years and older, people under age 65 with certain disabilities, […]
Has In-home Care Gotten a Lot More Expensive this Year?
Q. I’ve been a full-time caregiver for my mother for the past few years. Last year, when I noticed that my role was becoming more than I could handle myself, I started looking into in-home care. At the time, I decided against it because it was too expensive. This year has been particularly hard on me, and I […]
Underestimating the Cost of Long-Term Care
Q. My husband has Alzheimer’s, and needs more care than I can provide. It’s getting harder and harder to take care of him at home, but I’m not sure we can afford long-term care. I recently read something saying that nursing homes now average more than $100,000 a year across the U.S. If nursing homes cost THAT MUCH, then almost nobody […]
When a Loved One is Alone and in Danger
Last weekend, Randy was walking his dog, when he ran into his friend, Jenny. Jenny seemed really nervous and upset. She explained how her father with dementia was living in a nursing home in Florida, and how he was located in an area where Hurricane Irma was projected to be a category 4. Jenny spoke […]
What Happens When a Long-Term Care Insurer Goes Belly Up?
Q. My husband and I are seriously considering long-term care insurance. I read recently, however, that Penn Treaty is facing liquidation, and health insurers across the country are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars because of this. If the liquidation of one long-term care insurance company has such an effect on health […]
My Wife is in a Nursing Home- Now What Do I Do with All This Free Time?
Q. My wife has dementia, and your firm recently helped us qualify for Medicaid. At first, I never thought it would be possible, but it was, and I am forever grateful for your assistance. She is now in a nursing home, and seems content and I am happy with the services she is being […]
Medicare Doesn’t Care About Home Care
Jane’s mother, Anne, suffered a stroke and a broken pelvis, and will be leaving the rehabilitation center she was staying in this week. When she returns home, she desperately needs a health aide to assist with bathing, transferring from bed to chair with a lift, and changing a bandage from a deep wound, among other things. Anne has a Medicare plan that states that she can get […]
Family Caregivers in 35 States Now Get More Support from Hospital to Home
A few years ago, Gwen’s mother, Emily, was discharged from the hospital after a short stay. When Emily was ready to go home, Gwen arrived to find her mother dressed and sitting in a wheelchair with a list of medications on her lap. Gwen was never given instructions on her mother’s new prescriptions, and assumed […]
“Confusion Over Medicare Improvement Standard Persists”- Case Reintroduced and New Settlement Reached
Q. My father had a pretty major stroke several weeks ago. After being hospitalized for about 4 days, he was sent to a nursing home for rehab and has been receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. He is still unable to swallow on his own, so he is hooked up to a feeding […]
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 […]
U.S. Life Expectancy Has Declined for the First Time Since 1993
Last Wednesday, The Economist’s “Business of Longevity” conference took place, attracting world-renowned experts in aging. One of the main themes of the conference was the need to change the way we think about longevity, as we are living longer, more productive lives. Coincidentally, on the same day the conference began, a study was released that […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2016 (If You Dare)
With Halloween upon us, now is the time when we present you with this year’s scariest stories. From one typo costing you your computer to loved ones with Alzheimer’s owning guns, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
Recently, Gina’s mother told her the devastating news that her Uncle Jack had been diagnosed with dementia. When Gina’s husband got home from work, she quickly told him about her uncle’s “Alzheimer’s” diagnosis. Gina, her mother, and her husband began using the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” interchangeably, as if they meant the same thing, where […]