Posts Tagged Elder Law

Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Cognitive Decline?

On November 12, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , , ,
Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Cognitive Decline?

According to a two-year study, healthy eating, brain training, exercise and sound medical management may prevent age-related cognitive decline and, perhaps, dementia. The study sampled 1,260 people, aged 60-77, randomly assigning one group to receive some general health advice and another group to follow a special program. The advice and training given to participants in the special program included: Diet Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, low-fat milk and meat products. Participants were also told to eat less than 50 grams of sugar a day and have at least two portions of fish a week. Cognitive training Participants received computer brain training sessions and were advised to improve mental acuity by doing puzzles, reading and other activities requiring cognition. Exercise Participants were told to do strength training one to three times a week and aerobic exercise two to five times a week. The exercise advice was tailored to

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

November is National Family Caregivers Month

On November 5, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , ,
November is National Family Caregivers Month

In 2015, President Obama officially proclaimed November as National Family Caregivers Month. It is a time to recognize the selfless efforts of caregivers across the country and rededicate ourselves to making sure our caregivers have the support they need to maintain their own well-being and that of the people they love. Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization. It is working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. If you are a caregiver, you can find an abundance of helpful information on CAN’s website, http://caregiveraction.org.

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

The Changing Landscape of Care Giving In The United States

On October 29, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , , ,
The Changing Landscape of Care Giving In The United States

With Americans living longer than ever before, many of us will eventually require long-term care. It has been estimated that at least 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point in their lives. When most people think about long-term care, and who provides it, nursing homes and assisted living facilities come to mind. However, the vast majority of long-term care in the U.S. is provided by family members. In fact, eighty percent of those receiving care obtain the care they need at home, from children, siblings and other members of the family. A recent study by the AARP suggests that this system will be undermined in the future by demographic changes. Baby Boomers are now in their fifties and sixties, and many of them provide care for aging parents. Boomers in their 50s frequently take time off from work to care for

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

A Designer Has Created Tableware To Help People With Dementia

On October 22, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , , ,
A Designer Has Created Tableware To Help People With Dementia

Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases can make even basic tasks extraordinarily difficult. Designer Sha Yao saw this firsthand when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In response, she created Eatwell, a seven-piece tableware set. It features bright, primary colors, which Yao chose based on a Boston University study that showed individuals with cognitive impairment consumed 84 percent more liquid and 24 percent more food when they were served in brightly-colored containers. Other features of the tableware set include cups and bowls with angled bases. This allows contents to shift naturally to one side and make them easier to drink or scoop up. The accompanying spoons are ergonomically designed to correspond to the contours of the bowls. In addition, the tableware set has holes with flaps at the edge of the tray where a napkin, bib or apron can be tucked to prevent spills. The set’s drink-ware features wide bases, reducing

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

Five Key Factors To Consider When Choosing A Nursing Home

On October 15, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: ,
Five Key Factors To Consider When Choosing A Nursing Home

If you have made the difficult decision that nursing home care is the best option for your loved one, you must decide on the nursing home itself. Here are some of the issues to consider when choosing a nursing home. Location, location, location. This may seem obvious, but one of the most important aspects of an individual’s quality of life in a nursing home is receiving frequent visits from members of the family. When the nursing home is nearby, it’s easier for you and the rest of your family to visit. Similarly, if the nursing home is located relatively close to where your loved one lived previously, his or her former neighbors and friends will be more likely to visit. Special services. On the most basic level, if your loved has specific physical needs, the nursing home must be able to address them. And what about emotional or spiritual needs?

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

The Financial Difficulties Faced By Widows

On October 8, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , , ,
The Financial Difficulties Faced By Widows

Losing one’s husband is difficult enough in and of itself. Unfortunately, many widows must also contend with the financial consequences of the loss of their husbands. According to government figures cited in a New York Times article, the household income for widows typically drops 37 percent after a spouse dies, far more than the 22 percent income decline experienced by men who lose their wives. The assets of widows also tend to fall substantially more than those of widowers. This is compounded by the fact that women typically live longer than men. Census figures indicate that one in four women from 65 to 74 are widows. By the age of 85, three out of four women are widows. To make matters worse, even couples with estate plans often fail to address the need for adequate income that will be faced by a surviving spouse. Talking about income, especially with regard

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

One Of The Most Important Conversations You Should Have With Your Family

On October 1, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , ,
One Of The Most Important Conversations You Should Have With Your Family

As an estate planning and elder law firm, we strive to provide all of our clients with the tools and strategies they need to prepare for whatever comes along, including wills, trusts, advanced directives, and more. While it is vitally important for you to have these documents, it is equally important to talk to your family about them. It is entirely possible that your children and other loved ones would like to know, for example, how you want to be cared for in the event of incapacity or an end of life situation. But do your loved ones know that you have made your wishes clear through advanced directives and the thinking behind the choices you made? Do they know that you have created a power of attorney that allows a person of your choosing to make medical and/or financial decisions on your behalf? Even if they understand that you

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

What You Need To Know About Financial Elder Abuse

On September 24, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: ,
What You Need To Know About Financial Elder Abuse

Let’s start with a definition. Financial elder abuse, also known as material exploitation, is the illegal or improper use of an elderly person’s funds, property, or assets. Examples of this type of abuse include, but are not limited to:   Cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization or permission Forging an older person’s signature Misuse or theft of an older person’s money or possessions Deceiving or coercing an older person into signing any document, such as a contract, will, title, etc. Telemarketing scams. This can involve making exaggerated claims about investment returns, scare tactics and other fraudulent acts to get seniors to send the perpetrator money or credit card information The improper use of conservatorship or power of attorney   It is estimated that every year some five million seniors fall victim to financial elder abuse. The number of victims may well be considerably higher. Many seniors are unaware that

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

Should Seniors Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan Or Stick With Traditional Medicare?

On September 17, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , ,
Should Seniors Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan Or Stick With Traditional Medicare?

An article by Wendell Potter on medicareresources.org discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans versus traditional Medicare in providing adequate care to seniors. For some people, particularly those without serious illnesses, Medicare Advantage may be the best choice. This is because some Medicare Advantage plans offer benefits not provided by original Medicare, such as dental coverage, vision coverage, hearing aids, gym memberships and more. However, elderly Americans with serious ailments might be better off sticking with Medicare. Similarly, people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and develop a serious ailment might want to drop the Medicare Advantage plan and return to traditional Medicare. Why? Medicare provides what the article refers to as “unfettered access” to treatments and physicians. That is, people on Medicare have greater access to doctors and facilities of their own choosing. Another potential problem with Medicare Advantage plans is they empower Utilization

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top

Reverse Mortgages Seem To Be Winning New Respect

On September 10, 2020   /   Blog  
Tags: , ,
Reverse Mortgages Seem To Be Winning New Respect

Ten years ago, many financial advisors dismissed reverse mortgages out of hand. Their reasoning was that reverse mortgages, which give homeowners an advance on their home equity and allow them to delay repayment until the home is sold, were risky and only for people in desperate financial straits. However, several safeguards have led some advisers and researchers to reevaluate reverse mortgages and explore when and how they might be used in financial planning. For example, the Reverse Mortgage Stabilization Act of 2013 prevents homeowners (in most cases) from taking all of their equity at once, which could reduce the default rate on reverse mortgages by half. Instead, homeowners with reverse mortgages must wait at least one year to take a lump sum. Other regulations require homeowners to show that they are able and willing to pay their property taxes and home insurance. In 2014, almost 12% of reverse-mortgage borrowers in

Continue Reading... →
Back to Top