Making the life-changing decision to “give up the keys” and stop driving a vehicle for the remainder of your life is certainly a difficult decision. Being able to drive is a freedom that has likely been enjoyed for a majority of an older adult’s life and taking that away can lead to isolation and dependency. […]
We often say here at the firm that change is one of the few certainties in life. Depending on our stage of life, change can be exciting, fun, relieving, and anxiety-provoking. It is safe to say that change can be hard to endure. Older adults who have established their lives and homes for many years […]
Have you ever heard of state “filial responsibility” laws? Although rarely enforced, 29 different states have laws that require children to provide financial support to their indigent parents under certain circumstances. In the context of long term care, those statutes could potentially result in adult children being liable for their parents’ sizable nursing home and […]
Many families are hesitant to discuss financial affairs together. Parents do not necessarily want their children to know how much or exactly what they have. Some do not want their loved ones to know exactly how they plan to dispose of their assets when they die. However, what we strongly recommend for each and every […]
Springtime often creates a drive to clean out your home, your desk, your car and just about everything that physically and emotionally constitutes ‘clutter’ in life. In some cases, projects can be completed more effectively when help is enlisted. Professional organizing is a growing industry which aims to serve a multitude of populations, but can […]
When discussing estate planning with our clients, we always explain the need to prepare for the possibility of requiring long-term care, and the daunting costs of such care. As Americans are living longer, more and more of us are spending a significant portion of our later life in a long-term care facility. These facilities are […]
Adult children with elderly parents often report to our firm that their concerns about their parents significantly increased following an accident at home. After a trip to the emergency room and sometimes also a short-term rehabilitation center, children observe a decline in their loved one that requires changes going forward. Taking a closer look at […]
Quite often when counseling clients we must stress the importance of documenting things in writing. One of the planning contexts where that is crucial is in the area of Medicaid eligibility. Specifically, while it usually fairly straightforward to present sufficient evidence that the amount of a claimant’s countable assets are low enough to qualify, it […]
As a long-time spouse, taking on the role of caregiver can be an extremely difficult process that many couples simply do not foresee. Journalist Tara Bahrampour highlighted the conversations held among families about future long-term care steps in her recent Washington Post article called “Promise you’ll never put me in a nursing home.” Having witnessed […]
February is National Caregivers Month. One task that can be daunting for family caregivers is identifying the assisted living community that best fits their loved one’s unique needs. It is important for caregivers to be able to identify the different assisted living options available. Sometimes a private home is no longer a safe environment. The […]