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Have Your Needs Taken the Back-Burner to the Needs of a Loved One?

The beginning of summer is a great time to take a step back, and remind yourself that while caring for your loved one is very important, caring for yourself is equally important. The National Family Caregivers Association published the following tips for family caregivers: Choose to take charge of your life. Don’t let your loved […]

Heart Failure Increase

Currently, 36.9 percent of Americans are impacted by some form of heart disease, including heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease and other conditions. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 17% of U.S. health expenditures and is the leading cause of death. According to new projections from the American Heart Association, the cost to […]

Are You A Senior Thinking About Remarriage?

It is common in our society for senior individuals to contemplate second marriages. Many times one of the people will have a higher Social Security earnings record from a prospective spouse from an earlier marriage. So, consider before remarriage, how will your earnings record and Social Security benefits be calculated? If you remarry prior to […]

Tax Tips for Caregivers

According to IRS Publication 502, caregivers are entitled to the following benefits: Dependents – You can claim your parent or other loved one as a dependent if you provide more than half the support for a relative. This includes nursing home and assisted living expenses if you are helping with financial support. Wheelchair – If […]

The Elderly Caregiver Emotions

Most family caregivers are familiar with the range of emotions that result from the all encompassing task. Consider the following very common emotions that most caregivers experience. 1. Caregivers may get angry for reasons both direct (a balky loved one, unfair criticism, one too may mishaps in one day) and indirect (lack of sleep, frustration over […]

How to Finance for Longevity and Aging in Place

According to an AARP survey, 70-80% of respondents say they would prefer to live out their days in their own homes. It is understandable that people would want to be in their own home rather than re-locating to a nursing home or assisted living facility. Sometimes, the option is simply too expensive if you or […]

Estate Planning and Retirement Plans

Couples in second (or more) marriages, especially those with children from previous marriages, should review their retirement plans. Certain qualified retirement plans are required to be paid as joint and survivor benefits unless the spouse has properly waived the right to receive survivor benefits. A waiver of this right prior to marriage (e.g., in a […]

How to Draft and Use DRA Compliant Promissory Notes

One area where the elder law bar considered there to be an expanded planning opportunity was in promissory note planning. Then along came the DRA, with provisions that seemed to revive the use of notes in the planning process by setting clear guidelines, which, if followed, deemed the use of a note not to be […]

Fall Prevention

Falls are one of the most significant reasons the elderly begin significant health decline. Care providers and families should be mindful of this and consider fall prevention. Complete a fall prevention checklist and consider changes to help prevent falls as well as devices such as a personal emergency response system in case you face an […]

Alzheimer’s and other Dementia Communication Skills

Experts provide the following tips for communication with a person who has Alzheimer’s. The tips may or may not apply to an individual depending on the severity of the client’s Alzheimer’s: Use familiar words and short, simple sentences. Look directly at the person when talking to him or her. Speak slowly. Be patient – give […]

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