Q. We are currently caring for my mother-in-law, Margaret, in our home. We enjoy having her with us, but as her needs keep becoming greater, we find that she may need more support than we can provide. I have read that when a senior has a progressive medical condition or serious health needs, assisted living […]
Is Driving Cessation a Risk Factor for Long-Term Care?
Olivia has always enjoyed driving. She loves the wind in her hair as she drives on Main Street with the top down on her convertible, a retirement present she bought for herself. She enjoys the independence she feels when she gets behind the wheel and can go where ever she wants, whenever she wants. Unfortunately, […]
When Your Loved One is in a Nursing Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Q. My husband, Bill, is currently in a nursing home with frontotemporal dementia. We are not able to visit him at this time, which is especially difficult for him and for us. He is declining quickly, so I was trying to visit at least twice a week before, but I understand that it’s for the […]
Some Uplifting Nursing Home Stories Amid Coronavirus
Dear Hayek, My grandmother is in a nursing home and I am worried about her. I write her letters and talk with her via phone and FaceTime, but I can tell she is still lonely. Are there any uplifting stories you can share about nursing homes during this difficult time? I’m hoping for some creative […]
Is Care Getting More Expensive or Has it Hit its Peak?
Q. My mother has lived alone for the past three years since my father passed away. She is starting to get lonely and needs more help these days. I recently started looking into in-home care as an option. I knew it would be expensive, but decided it was time to spend the money and get […]
Being Shamed for Your Nursing Home Decision
This past weekend, Kathryn hosted a graduation party for her daughter and was excited to spend time with the family and friends that came to celebrate. For the past few years, she hadn’t had much time to visit with friends or family with all of the caregiving duties she had for her mother, who suffers […]
Is Home Care Covered by Medicare?
Q. My sister, Betty, is 68 years old and has Parkinson’s disease. Her symptoms include tremors, impaired balance, difficulty walking and talking, anxiety, and confusion, at times. Her limited mobility makes it difficult for her to leave the home for the physical and occupational therapy services that she needs. A skilled nursing facility is not […]
The Cost of Long-Term Care is On the Rise
Stanley and June Blum have been married for more than 75 years and are approaching the second century of life. Stanley is 97 and June is 96. Stanley is a retired shoe-industry executive who paints and writes poetry, while June is a psychologist who still works part-time. They own a home in the city and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Red Flags When Choosing a Nursing Home
Dear Ribbit, We are currently looking for a nursing home for my father and we narrowed it down to two. I have made several visits and interviewed staff and residents using your Nursing Home Evaluation Tool. There were certain things I think would make both a perfect fit, and a few things that I am […]
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 […]
The Ugly Side of Hospice Care
Q. My mother is ready to transition to hospice care. She has very advanced dementia, severe arthritis, and is immobile. With all of the assistance that she needs, we can no longer care for her in my home, even with the help of nurses and aides, and we probably should have transitioned her to a […]
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 […]
Is Nursing Home Compare a Reliable Tool?
Dear Magic, My father’s Alzheimer’s is getting worse and he will likely need skilled nursing home care in the near future. I found Nursing Home Compare in a Google search. Can I rely on this resource to help me find the right nursing home for my dad? Thanks Bess Tome-Fordad —- Dear Bess, Nursing Home Compare […]
Family Caregiving is NOT Cheaper Than Professional Care. Here’s Why!
Five years ago, Karen got her PhD to teach at the college level. Upon graduating, she began her dream job, but she only was able to teach for about a year, when her mother’s Alzheimer’s began getting worse. Karen quit her job and put her dream on hold, and has been caring for her mother […]
Oscar the Cat and Other Incredible Therapy Animals
Oscar is a cat who was adopted as a kitten from an animal hospital. Sounds pretty typical, huh? Well, when it comes to cats, Oscar is anything BUT typical. What makes Oscar so extraordinary is that he is a cat with a supernatural ability to feel when people are about to die. In over 50 […]
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 […]