Few people are fully comfortable thinking about getting older. Whether we are contemplating ourselves getting older or our loved ones, most would prefer not to think about the aging process and the various physical and cognitive deteriorations that tend to accompany that process. As life expectancy has increased over time, the portion of people who […]
Teenager Kenneth Shinozuka knew that he wanted to find a way to alleviate the fear his family felt when his grandfather wandered away from his home. His grandfather lives with Alzheimer’s disease and wandering is a behavior affecting many patients in all stages of the disease. Statistics cited by the Alzheimer’s Association reveal that 45% […]
A 79 year old woman named Kay was afflicted with some arthritis in her knees, but was generally in good health and enjoyed her daily walks and traveling. On a recent trip overseas last year, she missed a step and lost her footing. She could no longer stand; and with that misstep, Kay suffered multiple […]
Fatal falls and injuries suffered by older Americans are increasing at an alarming rate. This poses a challenge at retirement and assisted living communities as well as nursing homes and private residences. Older adults are fiercely holding on to as much of their independence as possible. But how to keep older adults safe when their […]
When applying for Medicaid benefits to help pay for long-term care, the applicant must list the value of all of their assets that are “countable” under the eligibility rules of the program, as administered in this state by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (“DSS”). Some assets are fully exempt and we will describe those […]
Congress is currently considering legislation that would implement a number of significant changes to the rules for eligibility for VA’s “Aid and Attendance” benefit. Those changes include – among others – an attempt to establish a clear maximum allowed net worth; a change in how income will be treated compared to assets; and an attempt […]
When people think about estate planning, and specifically about who they would like to receive their assets when they are gone, they tend to concentrate on the things that have a high monetary value, like bank accounts, investments, or real estate. But dividing up cash or other liquid assets is the easy part. What is […]
Sometimes people consider estate planning to be a fairly simple thing to do themselves without the need to consult an attorney. After all, estate planning documents are merely paper, right? Well, although estate planning documents are indeed merely paper with printed words, there is an important thought process behind what should or should not be […]
Elder Care Lawyers CTThe more socially active the elderly are, the less likely they are to become depressed. Depression, stress, and isolation can lead to health issues. This can happen easily to seniors living away from family. Whether seniors are living alone, or receiving home care, or living in some type of senior housing, a […]
The Good News and the Bad News Prior to January 2013, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) required recipients of non-service connected benefits to make a mandatory annual filing in order to maintain benefits eligibility. By filing of its so-called Eligibility Verification Renewal forms, beneficiaries provided VA with updated information on the amount […]