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Erratic Behavior and Memory Loss

A recent article in The Elder Law Report by John Roberts discusses the erratic behavior among people with dementia and the challenges it brings to their loved ones and caregivers. Nursing homes often resort to powerful antipsychotic medications to control the behavior of residents with memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. A national survey found that […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

New Estate and Gift Tax Laws…For Awhile

For 2011 and 2012, we have an estate tax with a 35% rate and a $5 million unified-credit exemption equivalent. That means that if you have an estate of under $5 million, there will be no federal estate tax. For all wills and trusts that have been drafted with any type of formula clause, whether […]

Senior Sweethearts

For many people, the month of February centers around Valentine’s Day (thank you Hallmark). It is a time for couples, both young and old, to reconnect and share memories together. However, for many elderly couples, dementia and Alzheimer’s make the trip down memory lane difficult. Many elderly end up in nursing homes or other care […]

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