After staying the same for five years, the amount you can give away to any one individual in a particular year without reporting the gift will increase in 2018.The annual gift tax exclusion for 2018 is rising from $14,000 to $15,000. This means that any person who gives away $15,000 or less to any one individual (anyone […]
Patients looking for hospice care can now get help from Medicare’s website. The agency’s new Hospice Compare site allows patients to evaluate hospice providers according to several criteria. The site is a good start, but there is room for improvement, experts say.Medicare’s comprehensive hospice benefit covers any care that is reasonable and necessary for easing the […]
In these winter months, physical health is sometimes overshadowed by dropping temperatures and impending holidays. Fitness at any age is a vital part of living a healthy life. Older adults often experience challenges that occur during the aging process that impede fitness goals. Stress, isolation, and mobility issues can prevent older adults from participating in […]
Not everyone may experience a crisis or injury that might lead them to a skilled nursing facility for long-term care or rehabilitation. Being outside of your own home can be uncomfortable, especially when you are dependent on nursing staff for your care. However, your rights as a resident in a skilled nursing facility are protected […]
When someone gets ready to move into an assisted living facility there will inevitably be a lot of paperwork involved. Much of that paperwork is fairly straightforward and need not be a cause for concern. However, amid the big stack of needed signatures, there is one document you must review carefully before signing. That document […]
Unfortunately, financial exploitation of older individuals is an all too common occurrence in our country. The National Council on Aging estimates that as many as 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 has experienced some sort of elder abuse. And what many people don’t realize is that a large portion of those incidents […]
One of the primary goals of the life care planning we provide to our clients is trying to keep our older clients out of the nursing home if at all possible. Nonetheless, that is not always possible. And when it looks like a loved one will need to move into a skilled nursing facility, we […]
Many seniors and their families don’t use a lawyer to plan for long-term care or Medicaid, often because they’re afraid of the cost. But an attorney can help you save money in the long run as well as make sure you are getting the best care for your loved one.Instead of taking steps based on […]
Grandparents may be tempted to leave an IRA to a grandchild because children have a low tax rate, but the “kiddie tax” could make doing this less beneficial.An IRA can be a great gift for a grandchild. A young person who inherits an IRA has to take minimum distributions, but because the distributions are based on the […]
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced changes to the federal reverse mortgage program. Citing the need to put the program on better financial footing, HUD will raise reverse mortgage fees for some borrowers and lower the amount homeowners can borrow.A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner who is at least 62 years old […]