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
When is it Too Late to Plan?
Last month we lost one of our clients to an unfortunate accident. John was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and living at home with his wife, Mary (not their real names). Mary was 20 years younger than John and still working to support the couple. We had
MetLife Dropping Long Term Care Insurance – What Does it Mean for You and Me?
I have been saying it for years now. Long term care is a growing problem in this country, one that won’t go away. Not with the population continuing to age as 77 million baby boomers start to turn 65 in a little more than a month. The sheer number of
Can I Make Gifts this Holiday Season? (Part 2)
Last week we were talking about gift giving. Most people assume an elderly family member can make gifts without any tax consequences as long as it doesn’t exceed $13,000 per person per year. That’s true. However, it may very well cause a problem if you run out of money and