Jane and Ron are both veterans in their 70’s who live at home, and unfortunately, both are experiencing serious health issues. In addition to their health problems, Jane and Ron are struggling financially and contemplating bankruptcy. To complicate things even further, both of their children live more than six hours away. Jane and Ron are […]
Understanding Common End-of-Life Signs and Ensuring Appropriate Estate Planning Is in Place
Understanding the common signs that a loved one is nearing the end of life can provide comfort and help families prepare for the inevitable. Recognizing these signs allows for meaningful interactions and ensures that appropriate care is provided during this critical time. Common Signs Indicating Approaching Death 1. Changes in Breathing Patterns Irregular breathing, known […]
What to Do When You Can No Longer Care for an Elderly Parent
Dear Hayek, I am a caregiver for my mother, and I’m beginning to realize that I don’t think I can do it anymore and that she may need more help than I can provide. I feel guilty for having these thoughts and wanting to find alternatives, as she has been a great mother to me […]
Can Caring for a Loved One Be Harmful?
I met with an adult child of a client earlier this week. When the family first came to me about a year ago, the wife had late-stage Parkinson’s and the husband had been her primary caregiver for many years. The husband was clearly experiencing the stress and fatigue of caregiver burnout. He realized he could […]
“All Through the Night” Teaches Important Lessons About Alzheimer’s
“All Through the Night” is a short film starring actor Tim Daly as a father living with Alzheimer’s and Luke Slattery playing his son. Writer/director Graham Marvin, 35, wrote this film about his relationship with his own father, who at 83 is nearly 50 years older than him and suffers from memory loss. Graham’s father […]
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 […]
Navigating the Complexity of Medicaid and Medicare Dual Eligibility
Q. I am aware that many people are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. How does dual eligibility work? It seems like anything involving Medicaid and/or Medicare can be pretty complicated. Can you tell me more about it and if/how these two programs are somehow integrated? Thanks for your help! A. Please note that this […]
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,” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Our Top 10 Spookiest Articles of 2022
2022 has been a bit of a frightening year, but not nearly as scary as recent years past! Since Halloween is in less than a week, it’s an ideal time to catch up on some of the scariest elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning articles of the year. From loved ones helping their […]
The Biggest Misconception About Medicaid
Q. I recently came across an article on CNBC.com where I saw you were quoted as an expert. I’m confused about something in the article, and I’m hoping you can clear it up. It’s an article about the expenses of long-term care and the importance of planning in advance for long-term care, and it only […]
Your House Is NOT Protected from Medicaid
Q. My mom and dad built our family home in Arlington 35 years ago. It’s been remodeled twice and expanded to enlarge the kitchen and add a master bedroom suite. Our family still hosts frequent gatherings in the home for holidays and birthdays. Mom and Dad had paid off the mortgage before Dad retired. So […]
Should My Mother Let Her Life Insurance Policy Lapse?
Q. My mother, Sandra, is considering letting her life insurance policy lapse. She claims that she is low on funds and that it is difficult to make the monthly payments. She is also concerned about Medicaid eligibility. Do you have any advice on this matter? Also, I’d like to buy life insurance and long-term care […]
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