Medi-Cal is the California Medi-Cal program that will pay for a stay in a nursing home or an assisted living community if you can qualify. Because there is a small upper resource limit of $2,000, your first thought may be that there is no way that you can qualify for the program because you are a homeowner who has some savings. In fact, it is possible to qualify for Medi-Cal while keeping assets in the family. The Kaiser Family Foundation tells us that seven out of every 10 individuals who are … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Planning: Will I Lose My Home?
Alzheimer’s Sufferer Loses Court Case
Estate and retirement planning attorneys will always advise clients to take pause before entering into contracts they may not fully understand. This is true when you are purchasing insurance policies, and many senior citizens are taking out long-term care insurance to pay for living assistance if it becomes necessary. Long-term care insurance can be a viable solution to a challenge that many seniors will face at some point in time. The majority of people who are fortunate enough to reach the … [Read more...] about Alzheimer’s Sufferer Loses Court Case
Nursing Home Expenses: Are You Fully Informed?
If you knew you were likely to incur a large expense in the future, you would start making preparations to be able to handle this challenge as soon as possible. With this in mind, you would do well to understand the fact that most senior citizens are going to need long-term care at some point in time. There are those who go forward with an underlying sense of security because they are under the impression that Medicare will provide the safety net that they need during their senior years. While … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Expenses: Are You Fully Informed?
Study Raises Elder Law Eyebrows
Northwestern University recently gathered some data to get a handle on the hiring practices of private agencies that provide people with in-home caregivers. The data gathered is very useful to those in the elder law community. Clearly, elders who need assistance with their day-to-day needs have ongoing medical issues in most cases. An individual who is being sent out to help a senior with his or her daily routine would logically have some basic understanding of fundamental medical … [Read more...] about Study Raises Elder Law Eyebrows
Veterans may have to Contend with Look-Back Period
Given the extraordinarily high cost of long-term care, you have to take advantage of any benefit that may be available to you that would defray your assisted living expenses. Veterans of the United States Armed Forces who served for even a single day during a time of war may be entitled to just such a benefit. The Veterans Aid & Attendance special pension is available to veterans who have served for at least 90 days, with a minimum of one of these days taking place during wartime. You are … [Read more...] about Veterans may have to Contend with Look-Back Period
Late Academy Award Winner had Rocky Relationship with Sons
It is important to address the possibility of a reduction in your cognitive abilities when you are making preparations for the latter stages of your life. People are living longer than ever, and once you reach your 80's you may suffer from a diminished capacity to make sound decisions. With the above in mind, we would like to highlight the rocky relationship that existed between the recently deceased Academy Award-winning actress Celeste Holm and her two sons. Holm was 95 when she died in July … [Read more...] about Late Academy Award Winner had Rocky Relationship with Sons
Shorter Strides, Slower Gait may be Alzheimer’s Indicators
Given the fact that dementia strikes upwards of half of all Americans who are 85 years of age and older, incapacity planning is really a must for serious minded individuals. If you fail to take action in advance and become incapacitated, a conservatorship proceeding could take place and your affairs could wind up being conducted by an individual who is not of your choosing. On the other hand, if you are proactive about executing the appropriate documents, your own hand-picked decision-makers … [Read more...] about Shorter Strides, Slower Gait may be Alzheimer’s Indicators
Seniors – Thinking of Downsizing? Some Tips to Think About
Are you thinking of downsizing and not sure where to go? Are you unsure about what type of home you would like (independent living, assisted care or skilled nursing)? Are housing choice conversations taking up a lot of time with your family? I often help clients search for the perfect living situation. Following is some basic information on the different types of senior living available in our area, and some questions to ask when thinking of downsizing. Independent living is ideal for someone … [Read more...] about Seniors – Thinking of Downsizing? Some Tips to Think About
Seniors Face Significant Out of Pocket Medical Expenses
If you are thinking that Medicare is going to cover all of your expenses when you need health care as a senior citizen, you may want to reevaluate your expectations. The fact is that there are expenses that you must pay as a Medicare recipient, and they are significant, especially when you consider how they would erode the typical monthly Social Security benefit. The Medicare program is broken down into four different parts. There is Medicare Part A, which is the component that is used to … [Read more...] about Seniors Face Significant Out of Pocket Medical Expenses
Elder Law Concerns: A Little Communication Goes a Long Way
Planning for the inevitable and making sure that your financial resources are properly prepared for distribution to your heirs after your death is an important pragmatic endeavor. If you want to be comprehensively prepared, you must also consider some of the contingencies that may present themselves as you reach an advanced age. The elder law concern that we would like to look at here is the possibility that you may need living assistance in the future. It is not wise to cross your fingers and … [Read more...] about Elder Law Concerns: A Little Communication Goes a Long Way
