Last Updated: 2/3/2009 If for any reason, you become unhappy with the person you have appointed to make decisions for you under a durable power of attorney, you may revoke the power of attorney at any time. There are a few steps you should take to ensure the document is properly revoked. While any Read Full Article
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A Roundup of Key Elder Law Numbers for 2009
Last Updated: 10/31/2008 Below is compilation of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and other figures for 2009 that are of interest to the elderly and their families. Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Figures for 2009 In 2009, the spouse of a Medicaid recipient living in a nursing home (called the “community spouse”) may keep as much as Read Full Article
Do You Have the Right Fiduciary?
Last Updated: 2/24/2009 When creating an estate plan, an important decision is who to name as your fiduciary. A fiduciary is a fancy legal term for the person who will take care of your property for you if you are unable to do it yourself, such as the executor of an estate, the trustee Read Full Article
Retirement Home Can Force Resident to Move to Higher Level of Care
Last Updated: 2/18/2009 A federal court has ruled that a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) can force one of its residents to move from her private apartment to an assisted living unit. Sally Herriot, 90, is a resident of Channing House, a CCRC in Palo Alto, California, that provides three levels of care — Read Full Article
The Last Goodnights: Assisting My Parents with Their Suicides
Last Updated: 2/27/2009 John West. The Last Goodnights: Assisting My Parents with Their Suicides. Counterpoint. 2009. 272 pages. $16.50 from Amazon (click on book to order) What would you do if both your parents asked you to assist them with their suicides within the same year? This unthinkable dilemma is exactly what John West Read Full Article
How to Choose a Medigap Policy
Last Updated: 4/14/2009 Once you become eligible for Medicare, you will be inundated with offers from insurance companies for Medigap (supplemental insurance) policies. Sorting through these offers can be confusing. Not only are there 12 standardized plans, but there can be huge differences in premiums between companies. Medicare plans A and B cover only Read Full Article
Things to Remember at Tax Time
Last Updated: 2/19/2009 April 15th is approaching and it is time to begin crossing T’s and dotting I’s in preparation for paying taxes. As tax time draws near, you want to make sure you file all the proper forms and take all deductions you’re entitled to. Following are some things to keep in mind Read Full Article
Tips for Preventing, Detecting, and Reporting Financial Abuse of the Elderly
Last Updated: 4/6/2009 As the economy worsens, incidences of elder financial abuse are reportedly on the rise. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to scams or to financial abuse by family members in need of money. A recent study found that up to one million older Americans may be targeted yearly. Family members and caregivers Read Full Article
Nearly Two-Thirds Face Risky Retirement Due to Long-Term Care Costs
Last Updated: 4/1/2009 A new report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College finds that nearly two-thirds of U.S. households are at risk of being unable to maintain their standard of living in retirement when possible long-term care costs are taken into consideration. The report, “Long-Term Care Costs and the National Retirement Read Full Article
The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents' Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff
Last Updated: 4/29/2009 Julie Hall. The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents' Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff . Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. 2007. 228 pages. $10.19 from Amazon (click on book to order). When someone dies, they leave behind memories of them, but also lots of stuff. The Boomer Burden addresses how to deal with Read Full Article