The new Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which makes broad changes to the income and estate tax codes, will have a significant impact on many taxpayers. Because it is so new and so complex, it will be some time before tax professionals fully understand those impacts. Fortunately, most of the law does not take effect […]
The new year brings some of the coldest days we will endure and members of the elderly population are particularly vulnerable during these days. The physical changes that occur during the aging process, coupled with weather-related events like snow and ice, can make winter a potentially dangerous season for the elderly. Care.com published an article […]
You may be afraid of losing your home if you have to enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid. While this fear is well-founded, transferring the home to your children is usually not the best way to protect it.Although you generally do not have to sell your home in order to qualify for Medicaid […]
The announcement of the 2018 Medicare premium is good news for some beneficiaries and bad news for many others. The good news is that the standard monthly Part B premium, which about 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries pay, will again be $134 next year, unchanged from 2017.But most Medicare recipients pay a lower premium because they have […]
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 […]