AL Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

A significant portion of Americans are saving nothing for retirement and very little in their day to day lives. While the unemployment rate is low and wages are seeing an increase the American worker is not saving enough of their income which will inevitably lead to shortfalls of operational cash during an unexpected crisis and in their retirement years further down the road.

Senior living faces many issues. Solutions to these problems are consistently being discussed by the government and other stakeholders. However, many of these issues are difficult and costly to solve. For example, staffing and regulation of facilities are problems consistently faced by senior living. Fraud and abuse are also issues that seem to plague this industry. Let’s take a closer look at these issues.

Before you retire or leave full-time employment for other pursuits, consider the impacts of your decision on the financial well being of your future. The transition to your next phase of life, whether full or semi-retirement, adventure seeking, or family driven, requires thoughtful planning to avoid needless surprises that can mean the difference between financial success or financial stress. Whether you have been planning your retirement for decades or days, contemplating these six key retirement elements can help you avoid unexpected problems.

What is Elder Abuse?

 Elder abuse is a problem that takes many forms. Unfortunately, many seniors are subjected to elder abuse and often times the abuse goes unreported and the abuser goes unpunished. Elder abuse may take the form of physical abuse, include hitting, striking, beating, kicking, and using excessive force. This may also include the overuse of restraints or drugs.

 Emotional or psychological abuse is also a common form of elder abuse.

Alzheimer's disease is becoming more prevalent among aging Americans, and there are more aging Americans than ever before. Alzheimer’s disease has three typical biomarkers: plaques of beta-amyloid protein, tangles of tau protein, and loss of connections in the synapses that communicate information between brain cells. Now a simple blood test may be able to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s years before any symptoms, like memory and thinking decline, become apparent. The test involves the identification of changes in levels of Read more . . .

We, lawyers, prepare powers-of-attorney documents so that when our clients can no longer act for themselves, the documents will convey on other trusted people the authority to act on our clients’ behalf.

 But when it comes to actually using those documents at the time of a health-care crisis, clear and powerful documents are just the beginning. The decision-points can (and must) be put down on paper in advance, but when it comes to end-of-life situations, the clarity on which we lawyers thrive can be very hard to find.

 Sitting in her lawyer’s office, the client may have been quite certain about health-care decisions. She does not want her life prolonged by a battery of aggressive treatments, where these would not preserve her quality of life.

Your senior years should not be plagued with money woes. The stress that money problems bring not only ruins your aging experience but can also be disastrous to your health. Rising health care costs and your increased need for health care can add up to big bills that can further tax your health. To age well, you must use sound financial judgment as well as make healthy choices for your body and mind. The goal is to remain as healthy as you can for as long as you can and have a healthy bank account to support those goals.

The summer months offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy being outside with friends and family. The elevated temperatures, however, can present dangerous risks for seniors that do not necessarily apply to younger people. These heat-related health risks are collectively known as hyperthermia, as opposed to hypothermia, the latter which occurs when the body temperature becomes too low.
Read more . . .

Hurricanes threaten Alabama residents every year when they begin to form in the Atlantic, and they often cause widespread damage when they hit. As residents begin the difficult task of preparing for a storm to hit or rebuilding their homes, businesses, and communities in the wake of the storms, bad actors can arrive looking to take advantage of the situation and can prey on unsuspecting people. 

Unfortunately, seniors are often targets for malevolent scammers. In fact, Read more . . .

Did you know the rules governing the VA Pension program changed toward the end of this past year? On October 18, 2018, there were several substantial changes to the operation of the program and how eligibility would be determined in the future for potentially eligible veterans and their dependents. As we look to the future of Alabama residents who need long-term care, we need to consider all of the possible benefits available to them,  and this includes the VA Pension.

What is the VA Pension program? At its core, the VA Pension program is a monthly, tax-free income benefit available to servicemen and women who have a qualifying service record.  It is a benefit that is substantially different from other monies available to veterans and their dependents. In contrast with the disability program where there must be a service connected injury that was caused by or made worse by service, there is no injury associated with this benefit.
Read more . . .