It is important to gain an understanding of the government health insurance programs that are relevant to senior citizens. In this post we will look at the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.MedicareMedicare is a government health insurance program. You are paying into the Medicare program when you pay your payroll or self-employment taxes throughout your working career.Along the way you earn retirement credits. In 2014, you earn one retirement credit for every $1200 that you … [Read more...]
Elder Law Myths to Avoid
As the population gets older, the importance of elder law in our day-to-day lives continues to grow. Unfortunately, elder law is a topic that not many people have a lot of direct experience with. Moreover, it is all too common for people to hold some myths and mistaken beliefs about this important area of the law.To help get a better understanding of what elder law is and how some common wisdom you might’ve heard is wrong, let’s take a look at some of these widely held myths.Myth 1. I … [Read more...]
Elder Law in Rochester: Some Common Mistakes
Elder law in Rochester New York is not a topic a lot of people know a lot about, and even some attorneys who do not have experience in this field can make some fairly basic mistakes. Elderly people who have questions about estate planning or elder law issues need to speak to an attorney who deals with these kinds of questions on a daily basis. Failing to receive the proper advice can lead to some common, and often serious, mistakes.Elder Law in Rochester Mistake 1: Improper Medicaid … [Read more...]
What to do if Your Holiday Visits Finds Mom and Dad in Need of Help
For many of us, the holidays are an opportunity to visit with friends and family whom we really didn’t see during the rest of the year. This is especially true of adult children with elderly parents who do not live close to one another. This holiday season you may find that your parents have changed significantly since your last visit, and not for the better.If your parents begin exhibiting worrisome traits or behaviors, such as significant memory loss, weight loss, or other signs, you … [Read more...]
10 Tips for Family Caregivers
As we discussed in an earlier post, November is National Caregivers Month. Here are 10 tips from Caregiver Action Network that may be helpful to you and your family members. 10 Tips for Family Caregiver Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone! Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you. Learn how to communicate … [Read more...]
National Caregivers Month Celebrates Millions of Caregivers
November is National Caregivers Month, a time when people can acknowledge the hard work that millions of Americans do every day in providing assistance to the elderly, ill, or disabled. Nearly 66 million Americans act as unpaid caregivers in some fashion, supporting friends, families and loved ones in any number of ways. As we get closer to Thanksgiving and the holidays, you might want to take some time to thank those in your life who are providing such care, even if you are not the recipient. … [Read more...]
Celebrated Author Victim of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is becoming a more and more significant problem in the country as millions of seniors become victimized every year. Recently, representatives of celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee, filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan courtroom claiming that she too had become a victim of financial elder abuse.The lawsuit filed on her behalf claims that the abuse comes from the hands of Samuel Pinkus, Lee’s former literary agent. The son-in-law of one of … [Read more...]
The Numbers Behind Elder Abuse
Even though a lot of Americans are aware that elder abuse is a growing problem, few of them realize just how big a problem it is becoming. Well-known senior citizens such as actor Mickey Rooney and author Harper Lee have become the public face of elder abuse because their struggles have become widely publicized. These celebrities have suffered at the hands of close advisers and family members, experiencing physical, emotional, and financial abuse of one type or another. Because Americans are … [Read more...]
States Moving Ahead With Life Settlements Laws
In an effort to help curb the rising costs of Medicaid associated with long-term care, legislatures in several states, including New York, are working on legislation that would allow people with life insurance policies to use those policies to help pay for private long-term care expenses.Texas recently became the first state to pass one of these so-called “life settlement” laws. The laws essentially allow investors to purchase a person’s life insurance policy for up to 10 times the cash … [Read more...]
Why People Contact Elder Law Attorneys
All too often, people contact an elder law attorney when an emergency has arisen and they need legal assistance. While an elder law attorney can help you in such a situation, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are approaching retirement age or have an elderly family member, you will want to talk to an elder law attorney before an emergency situation arises. Here are some common scenarios that show why this is a good idea.Your parents lose their ability to make … [Read more...]
