Category Archives: Elder Law
Elder Law vs. Estate Planning: What’s the Difference?
The short answer: Both estate planning and elder law share similar concerns. The longer answer? The differences make all the difference. Elder Law vs. Estate Planning: The Concerns are Similar No matter what age we’re, life can deliver some hard knocks. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. We can… Read More »
End of Life Planning Challenges: Preserving Quality of Life
As a lawyer, I am a firm believer in end of life planning. I prepare powers-of-attorney documents (Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Living Wills) so that when my clients can no longer act for themselves, the documents will convey on other trusted people the authority to act on my clients’ behalf. But when it… Read More »
How to Protect Assets in a Second Marriage (The Right Way)
When people marry for the second time (or more), losing assets to pay for their new spouse’s serious illness is probably the last thing on their minds when they say “I do.” But that could happen. Current costs for long-term care facilities can run between $70,000 – $150,000 annually. Studies show that 70% of… Read More »
How to Avoid the Medicaid Penalty for Gifts
Michelle’s children were concerned that Michelle would need long-term nursing-home care in the near future. It was the holidays, and Michelle always got a lot of joy out of generosity. But her children also worried that her generosity could hurt her in the long run, because they had heard that people in Michelle’s circumstances… Read More »
The Stress of Caregiving for the Sandwich Generation
Dorothy Miller, a social worker, first created the term “sandwich generation” in 1981. A Journalist, Carol Abaya, continued to study and add to what the term means. In 2006, Miriam Webster included the term, sandwich generation, in the dictionary for the first time. The sandwich generation is defined as a generation of people who… Read More »
How to Balance Caregiving with Your Work and Career
Providing care for a senior family member, particularly long-term care, can bring about lost wages and missed opportunities for the caregiver. A report by Genworth entitled Beyond Dollars 2018 shows that although statistically having to miss work to provide care is down 7% from 2015, overall 70% of caregivers still report missing work because of caregiving… Read More »
How Technology Can Reduce Feelings of Isolation for Seniors
The holidays are upon us and unfortunately many seniors feel even more isolated during this time. Thankfully, technology has provided some interactive gadgets to help lessen feelings of isolation. One of those gadgets, called the GrandPad, is discussed below. A New Technology Product to Help Reduce Feelings of Isolation in Seniors The internet is… Read More »
Dementia and its Effect on a Marriage (UPDATED: August 2019)
(Columbia, MD) When someone you love, in particular – your spouse – becomes ill, you want to help them get well. But what happens when the illness is dementia? A marital relationship that could have spanned years or decades becomes subject to enormous change, and that change is not a slow linear progression of… Read More »
4 Common Power of Attorney Myths
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It allows someone who you appoint (your agent) to make non-medical decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. If you have not appointed an agent then your friends and family may not have the… Read More »
Silver Alert: What It Is, When It’s Used, and How to Avoid Needing It
Individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are prone to wandering. This is often caused by the decline in cognitive functioning and symptoms such as restlessness and confusion that are associated with this decline. The more these diseases progress, the more likely it is that the senior will wander. This… Read More »
