Elder Law

Dementia symptoms can vary day to day, which means it may not be easy to pinpoint when it is time for an aging parent to enter memory care. Did you know that worrying behavior, safety concerns, and caregiver burnout can be top signs that it is time for a memory care facility? Let us take a look at ten questions that can help you evaluate your family’s situation. 

The first set of questions relates to behavioral warning signs:

1.

Are the holidays synonymous with family time for you? For many, the answer is yes. This focus on family can mean it is an excellent time to consider talking to your elderly parents and aunts and uncles, who do not have their own adult children, about long-term care planning. As the topic of long-term care planning can encompass a lot, here are five things to consider: 

1.  What long-term care planning have they already done? This broad question will elicit information about whether your relatives have taken any steps to plan for long-term care. Perhaps they have a complete plan already in place. Perhaps they have done zero planning.

Are you prepared for Medicare open enrollment? If you or a loved one are enrolled in Medicare, now is the time to review your healthcare plan and your medical needs to see if you need to make changes to your current Medicare coverage. 

Every year in September, Medicare plans send out an Annual Notice of Change letter or an Evidence of Coverage letter outlining your plan benefits and notifying you of any changes to coverage.  It can be important to review these notices closely because Medicare insurance policies make changes every year.  Those changes may include changes in premium pricing, co-pay amounts and requirements, or even changes in coverage. 

It is also important to spend some time thinking about your own healthcare needs for the year as you prepare for Medicare open enrollment.

It’s an unfortunate truth that seniors can be prime targets for financial abuse and scams. Sadly, the elderly are often taken advantage of by strangers — and sometimes even their own family members. That’s why it’s important that planning is in place to help seniors protect themselves and their assets.

Long term care insurance was sold aggressively in the 1980s, 90s and thereafter to offset the costs of seniors needing to live in a nursing home, assisted living or needing at home health care.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that it has increased access to Medicare telehealth services. 

The short answer: Both share similar concerns. The longer answer? The differences make all the difference.

The Medicaid program is designed to help pay for that staggering cost. However, before a couple can be eligible, the rules require that the assets of both spouses are counted to pay for the care of one, even if only one spouse needs the care.