Moviegoers and members of the motion picture academy were captivated this year by Julianne Moore’s performance as a 50-year-old college professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in the film “Still Alice.” Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by neuroscientist Lisa Genova, the film has raised awareness of the realities faced by patients […]
The growing number of older adults nationally has contributed to significant growth in the home care industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a large growth rate in the jobs of home health and personal care aides. It seems as though employer agencies of these aides are simply everywhere you turn. This blog […]
Did you know that the average amount of time a patient has with their doctor during an appointment is about 15 minutes? It is imperative that patients maximize their time with their chosen medical professionals to help ensure positive outcomes. Patients, and often their families, need to understand that they are the managers of their […]
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 […]