Currently, 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 (44 million people worldwide) live with Alzheimer’s disease. These numbers are staggering! Even more startling, is research cited in the Los Angeles Times that reveals that veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or a late form of […]
Military Caregivers: Challenges and Strategies
Q. My father, Steve, is a retired Marine who is recently widowed. My mother used to provide care for him full-time until she passed away suddenly. My brothers and sister live far away, and my father needs assistance now. He has Parkinson’s Disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and is depressed over the loss of my mom. […]
Burial and Memorial Benefits for Veterans
Dear Baxter, My wife and I were talking about where we would like to be buried when we die. We are both honorably-discharged veterans. Do you know about our options? Thanks for your help. Barry L. Forvetz —- Dear Barry, The Veterans Administration offers a number of burial and memorial benefits to veterans who were […]
Part 2: Where Presidential Candidates Stand on Medicaid and Veterans Issues
Q. I am having a hard time following where the candidates stand on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I watched all the debates so far, and typically vote based on the person, not the party. If you know more about their stances on these issues, can you provide an apples-to-apples view on where they […]
Top 15 Articles of 2015
From the 50th birthday of Medicaid and Medicare and the 80th birthday of Social Security to the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging, we covered a lot of ground in 2015. It was a year that included a new act being passed in Virginia to help special needs families, overtime pay for caregivers, and amazing new technological innovations to help seniors age-in-place. At the Farr Law Firm, […]
Veterans DON’T Delay (3-Year Look-Back is Imminent)
Photo from discoveryvillages.com. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helps veterans and their families by providing supplemental tax-free income through the VA Special Pension with the Aid and Attendance benefit. The Aid and Attendance benefit helps veterans to offset the high cost of medical care and access care that they otherwise might not have been able […]
Lending a Paw for Veterans
Robert Soliz, a 31-year-old former Army Specialist, participates in Paws for Purple Hearts. (Joseph Matthews, Veterans Affairs Photo) After being married for just six weeks, Mark, a U.S.Army veteran who was stationed in Iraq, sustained severe combat injuries, rendering him quadriplegic. When he arrived home, he felt despair and sadness. He could no longer do […]
Highlights from the White House Conference on Aging
Photo from Whitehouse.gov This past Monday, on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and the 80th anniversary of Social Security, the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging was held. During the conference, 200 advocates, health care workers, and government officials discussed caring for seniors, addressing topics such as […]
Ask the Expert: VA to Offer One-Stop Website for Veteran’s Benefits
Q. My father, Joe, is a Vietnam veteran. He gets frustrated and confused when he tries to navigate all the veteran’s benefits websites and figure out what he may be eligible for. Even the VA Website doesn’t have everything he needs, and he has had bad experiences calling them, sitting on hold, getting transferred to […]
VA Proposes Major Changes to Aid and Attendance Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing significant changes to needs-based benefit programs, including an asset limit, a look-back period, asset transfer penalties, and deductible medical expenses, as follows: Look-bank Period/Penalty Period: The new rules would establish a 36-month look-back period and a penalty period of up to 10 years for those who dispose […]
Veterans: Don’t Miss Out On Benefits
Q. My 72-year old father, Phil, served during the Vietnam War, and suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My mother, Ruth, is his caregiver. They live on Social Security checks and his pension. In my opinion, there have to be more benefits that they can take advantage of, especially for an […]
Amazing Pets – Saving Senior’s Lives
Q. My mother, Jessica, lives alone and is considering adopting a pet. I am all in favor, but know it is a lot of work and vet visits are often expensive. For me, these things are certainly worth it. Despite the grooming costs, the heartworm pills, and the occasional sick visit, I wouldn’t give up […]
“Ice Buckets” for Veterans
Veterans Twice as Likely to get ALS Joseph, a military veteran, noticed that he was experiencing tingling and numbness in his limbs. It didn’t take long before it progressed to difficulty walking, poor hand coordination, stumbling, and an increasingly limited range of motion. Joseph was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease because of the baseball player who made it famous. Like Joseph, […]
Helping Seniors and Veterans from Going Hungry
After working for decades and raising four children without government assistance, Carol found herself asking for help feeding herself and her husband, Richard. Faced with health problems that prevent them from working, Carol and Richard struggle to get by on their monthly Social Security check. And like millions of seniors today, by the time they […]
How Sponsoring a Phone Bank on Veterans Issues can Make Your Business Boom
Working with both veterans and seniors each and every day, we know that the veterans aid and attendance benefit is often overlooked. Elder law attorneys can help veterans understand the intersection between this pension benefit and Medicaid; this is vital to these individuals’ long-term care planning needs. To educate the public, The Farr Law Firm […]
Happy 4th of July!
Nothing says Fourth of July like beautiful weather, good food, and time spent with family and friends. We have been blessed with such gorgeous weather up here in the northern Virginia area, and I hope it continues to accommodate all of the Independence Day festivals, parades and celebrations with our loved-ones this weekend. This Independence […]