If you have family and friends around you, talk to them and take the time to draft a Health Care Directive (or Advance Directive) so that someone who knows you and knows what is important to you is able to…
Most of us don’t have Long-Term Care Insurance, and don’t even want to think about it until we need it – which, of course, is usually too late. This is not a posting about getting Long-Term Care Insurance (although, if…
In short – no. I was recently alerted that many seniors are confused about whether they needed to sign up by the January 1, 2014 deadline in the new ACA’s (Affordable Care Act) insurance marketplace if they were already covered…
Ron Burley, AARP Consumer Advocate, reminds us that Assisted Living contracts can be a little different than a conventional lease. They deserve special attention before committing. In the December 13 AARP Magazine, he outlined three important things to ask yourself…
The short answer is “no.” You’re not personally responsible for your Mom’s nursing home bill as long as you don’t misapply your Mom’s funds as her legal representative (Power of Attorney). ‘Filial Responsibility’ Laws – What Are They and Do…
Like our financial circumstances, our life circumstances can change, too. Our opinions and concerns about our loved ones, and our priorities in caring for them may change dramatically, becoming out-dated, as our life circumstances shift. Those who have thought about…
Many people gather friends and family over the holidays. Everybody we care about is in the room! It’s a great time to have conversations that may feel uncomfortable but are extremely important in a health care crisis – Health Care…
Only one thing is important if you’re reading this post: if you want to have a say in your medical treatment when you are unable to communicate on your own, appoint an agent through a Health Care Directive! It’s easy,…
There’s A Reason They Call It Estate PLANNING. Let’s just focus on long-term care (LTC) costs. Private LTC costs can easily exceed $7,000/monthly depending on your needs and the type of facility you’re accessing. If you are like many people…
Marshall P. Kapp outlined four potential problems with Advance Directives (AD) for individuals with advanced, irreversible illness in his recent Hamline Law Review article: The Nursing Home As Part Of The POLST Paradigm. These problems may cause patients, their families,…