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Top 3 Ways A Geriatric Care Manager Can Help You

Apr 30, 2015

With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 years old every day, taking care of our loved ones has become even more pressing than ever. Many individuals have come to a point where their elderly relatives are unable to safely care for themselves or require higher levels of caregiving. To provide the best decisions for this stage of life or to prepare for this stage, it's more important than ever to start researching how a geriatric care manager can help. What exactly is a geriatric care manager? Well, researching whether or not you need

DNR vs. Directive to Physicians: What’s the Difference?

Apr 28, 2015

It is important to start thinking about, and prepping for, the unexpected. Many people will wait until they become older to think about end of life issues, but accidents and disability can be these tough decisions in front of families sooner than they anticipated. Advance directives help to ensure that your preferences for medical treatment are met and carried out when you're unable to communicate them yourself. There are various types of these directives - such as DRN orders and Directives to Physicians. They're not as

How To Avoid Elder Financial Abuse

Apr 1, 2015

Financial abuse of the elderly could include financial exploitation and criminal fraud, but a surprising 45% of elder financial abuse cases in 2011 were caused by the manipulation of a senior citizen by a trusted family member, friend or neighbor. This type of abuse that capitalizes on taking advantage of a trusting relationship to get money accounts for $6.67 billion in annual losses. "At least one in 10 elders is exploited," says the founder of the Elder Financial Protection Network, Jenefer Duane. With the growing population of senior

Executing An Estate: A Beginner’s Checklist

Apr 1, 2015

Becoming an executor of an estate is a huge responsibility - one that should be handled with extreme care and diligence. You will be in charge of cooperating with the probate court and tying up all loose ends. It may seem overwhelming at first, but don't be intimidated. It's important to establish good communication with all parties involved early, and avoid any emotional biases. It is your job to ensure the decedent's wishes are met to the best of your ability and within the rules of the probate court.

Promises and Possibilities: Getting To Know The ABLE Act

Feb 28, 2015

The National Disability Institute estimates that there are 58 million individuals with disabilities in the United States. On December 19, 2014, those lives were forever changed when President Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act into law - eight years after it was first introduced in 2006. In simplest terms, the ABLE Act exists to provide a better economic future for people with disabilities. This unprecedented legislation was spearheaded by Sara Wolff, a 31-year-old law clerk from Pennsylvania living with Down syndrome. Her petition lobbying for it's passing garnered 270,000 supporters over the

An Age-By-Age Guide to Planning Your Estate

Feb 21, 2015

One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it is only for the elderly, but the simple fact is a terrible accident could cause incapacitation or death at an early age. In fact, it's almost more crucial to complete essential estate planning earlier in life when you are more likely to be of sound mind and body. Here's a decade guide to when you should begin different estate planning items: In Your 20s The biggest hesitation of estate planning during this decade is that

How To Start Planning for Your Special Needs Child

Dec 31, 2014

If you are avoiding thinking about your passing away, and the result your passing will have on your special needs child, then it is time to stop. It may be scary to plan for an unfortunate event, but being unprepared is even scarier. You may think, How will anyone be able to provide, or care for my child, the way that I do? The only way to insure that your child is properly cared for physically and financially is to put your wishes and instructions

Unmarried Couples: Why Estate Planning Is Essential

Dec 31, 2014

Without proper planning in place, unmarried couples put their family unit at risk. Due to asset acquisition and health decisions being more complicated for unmarried couples, among other things, estate planning is crucial. Here is a simple guide on how to protect your family's future. Protecting Shared Property Equal contribution to the purchase of property does not necessarily mean that a surviving partner will have right to said property. It is necessary that both names are on the title. In addition, a 'joint tenancy with right of

5 Questions to Ask An Elder Law Attorney Before Hiring Them

Nov 30, 2014

As you begin your search for an elder law attorney, it may be difficult to determine which individual is a proper fit for your family. The amount of experience an attorney has, and the cost of their services is something you should consider. You need to rely on one determining factor when choosing this person: “can I trust them with my family's life planning concerns?” It is important that you know your attorney is looking out for your best interest, and not the next big

The Beginner’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

Nov 30, 2014

Many people are misinformed about how they will pay for their long-term care needs. Medicare will pay for some type of skilled care in certain situations, but will not pay for long-term care on a permanent basis. Also, the cost of long-term care can be shocking. For home care, it can cost as much as $15,000-$20,000 a month for 24 hour care. Assisted Living care starts at about $3,500 a month, and then the rate is increased by the amount of care needed. Nursing home