COVID-19 is no excuse to put off conversations with older parents about their long-term care
Use this holiday season to observe their well-being and broach the subject, even over Zoom As a Dallas elder law and estate planning attorney, I hear concern edging into my clients’ voices every first of January, post-holiday-visit. After the plum pies are eaten and the grandkids tucked into bed, adult children are often left with worries about their parents’ safety and ability to live on...Read More 0
VA Benefits: Can They Help Pay for Long-Term Care for My Spouse or Parent?
Veteran’s Affairs (VA) benefits can help if your loved one needs long-term care. Depending on their specific needs, VA benefits may include disability compensation, VA pension, or long-term care assistance. The amount of the benefit can vary. It depends on what you can demonstrate as your needs, costs, and resources. It’s a good idea to have a professional help you get...Read More 0
How to Pay for Assisted Living – Medicaid’s Assisted Living Waiver Program
A recent report was issued that reviewed a number of state’s Medicaid Assisted Living Waiver Program. These programs provide Medicaid funding to assisted living or in-home care. The report found that providing public benefits to eligible individuals before they required skilled nursing care reduced the state’s overall Medicaid expenditures. Further, it provided...Read More 0
The Importance of Long-Term Care Planning
Life expectancy in the United States has continued an upward trend over the last several decades. The average life expectancy for men is 76.4 years and the average for women is a healthy 81.2 years of age. What has not trended upward, however, is the number of people engaging in long-term care planning. The fact is, 63 percent of Americans age 65 or older will need either in-home nursing care...Read More 0
Family Caregiver Agreement: Legal Considerations
Dorothy lived alone after her husband died. Soon her son Damien noticed that she didn’t have enough clean clothes, her fridge was empty, and she had fallen a few times. Clearly if Dorothy were going to stay at home – and who wouldn’t rather do that, if possible – she would need help. Damien was willing to move in and care for Dorothy, but he would have to sell his house and quit his job,...Read More 0
What to Consider in Retirement Planning
Most people dream of the day they can retire. The problem is that many do not move beyond dreaming to planning. Planning can be done no matter what your age, but experts encourage people to start as early as possible. Retirement planning can seem like a daunting endeavor for many people as they focus on day-to-day financial obligations. Many people have no idea where to start. A few simple...Read More 0
Veterans’ Benefits – What You Need To Know
Veterans are an important class of our population and as such, it is important to know about the various benefits available to them. Many of the benefits are based on the type of service by the veteran, the health of the veteran, or a combination of these factors. The next several paragraphs will outline benefits veterans should be aware of, however, it is recommended veterans speak...Read More 0
70% Chance a 65-Year Old will need Long Term Care – if You’re Married, it’s Higher
70% of individuals 65 years old will need some form of long term care during their lifetime. For those 70% requiring long term care, the average total cost is estimated at $266,000. About 25% of households have no retirement savings at all, and the median savings for those who do is less than $75,000. When we think about how much to save for retirement – we inevitably attempt to gauge...Read More 0
Why a Guardianship and How to Avoid It
What is a guardianship? A guardianship is usually defined as a protective legal proceeding for someone who is incapacitated and unable to manage his/her own affairs. Incapacitated means that the elder is no longer able to receive and evaluate information and communicate decisions. This usually applies to the ability to make financial decisions or care-related decisions. When is a guardianship...Read More 0