The Death of CLASS
I’m not talking about a loss of manners or style or discretion in a world in which technology has helped push the doors open wide to reveal everything that used to be private or personal. That’s a whole other subject.  I’m referring to CLASS, President Obama’s attempt to establish a
Be Nice to Me – I Pick Your Nursing Home!
For several years now, many regular readers of this blog have offered me kind words and feedback on my weekly stories and interesting posts, suggesting that I write a book. Well, I have finally taken their advice and am pleased to announce the publication of my first book, titled "Be Nice to
Don’t Put Long Term Care Planning on the Backburner
Laura called us in a panic because her husband, George, was in a nursing home, about to have his Medicare coverage terminated. George had no long term care insurance and Laura was totally unprepared for how Medicaid works and how much she would have to spend down. I explained that
Is Your Long Term Care Plan Stuck in a Time Warp?
The amount of change in the last 15 years is incredible and the pace of change has quickened. Nothing stays the same forever, and forever is not as long as it used to be. We are starting to see this in the senior market, beginning with how the term “old”
What’s Your “88 Plan”?
It seems more and more to me, that dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are everywhere, but then, maybe as an elder law attorney I am more tuned to it. In the last month three notable celebrities died or were diagnosed with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, actor, Peter Falk of Columbo fame, “Rhinestone
Underground Storage Tanks and Long Term Care?
It just keeps getting worse doesn’t it? I’m talking about the economy and our federal, state and local governments’ inability to balance their budgets and provide the services and assistance they have provided in the past and promise to provide in the future. And is why you can’t expect the
Of Alzheimer’s Disease and Government Shutdowns
 A new survey by the MetLife Foundation indicates that Alzheimer’s Disease is more feared by adult Americans than any other disease except cancer – and in a few years that just might change. Approximately 1000 Americans were interviewed last fall. 31% indicated they most feared Alzheimer’s Disease, ahead of heart
But Mom Won’t Live to 100 – or Will She? (Part 2)
Last week we were discussing Mary and her mom. Mary opted not to do long term care planning for her mom at age 95. At age 100 she called me again. We met and Mary asked me, again about long term care planning. I told her that Mom would need
“But Mom Won’t Live to 100 – Or Will She?”
Quite often when explaining long term care planning to the family member of an aging senior, specifically when I mention the 5 year Medicaid look back, the person will tell me that “Mom won’t live that long”. Of course, no one can predict the future with any certainty so, logically,
The Long Term Care Perfect Storm
Two articles in the local paper last week reminded me again of how a number of forces are combining in the coming months and years to really make the long term care issue an acute problem for many Americans, creating a “perfect storm” to use a popular phrase of recent