The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often abbreviated as PPACA and commonly referred to as Obamacare, became law in 2010. Two years later, the Supreme Court of the United States heard a challenge to the law and issued a ruling stating it was, for the most part, constitutional. Yet despite all the media coverage about the debate leading up to the law, the vote, and its … read more
Elder Law
What to do if You Know a Family Member is About to Die
Dealing with a death in the family is always a difficult time. Today, many deaths come not unexpectedly, but after lengthy hospital stays or situations where the family has had time to prepare. While this time can make it easier on the family when the loved one dies, this isn’t always the case. Even knowing in advance that a family member will die doesn’t guarantee that your grieving … read more
Medicaid Long-Term-Care Payments May Balloon
A new study says that Medicaid costs for long-term care may threaten the stability of the jointly run federal and state healthcare insurance program. According to the new study from the SCAN Foundation, about 70% of Americans will require some type of long-term care during their lifetimes. Most of such care comes at the end of a person’s life when a person has to transfer to a nursing … read more
Elder Abuse More Common as Population Gets Older
The number of baby boomers retiring in the near future will hold steady at 10,000 people per day until at least 2030. This represents a significant shift in the overall demographics of the country. One of the more disturbing aspects of this aging of America is the rise in elder abuse that is becoming far too common around the country. Studies show that about 2 million elderly people … read more
Why You Need to Pay Attention to Elder Law
If you ask the average person what elder law is and why it’s important to them, the chances are that you’ll receive an answer that depends largely on how old that person is. Most young people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about elder law issues even though these issues can apply to people other than the elderly. There are a number of elder law issues that everyone should be aware of … read more
Annette Funicello Passes at 70
For many a young man growing up in the postwar baby boomer era, Annette Funicello was the epitome of the girl next door. Her rise to stardom in the 50s and 60s made her a household name, and though she had faded from the celebrity spotlight decades ago, word of her death earlier this month at the age of 70 touched millions around the country. When she joined the original “Mickey Mouse … read more
What You Need to Talk to Your Aging Parents About Right Now
None of us are getting any younger, and for children of elderly parents there are some specific questions you need to ask your parents before it is too late. Talking to your parents about these issues is often very difficult, so you may want to think about how to bring up this discussion in advance and in a way that isn’t too confrontational or accusative. Here’s what you need to talk … read more
The Right Retirement Home For You (Or a Family Member)
When it comes to selecting a retirement home, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Even if you already know the type of elder care facility you want, such as a nursing home or independent living center, you will still have to decide on a specific facility. Here are some tips you can use to make that important decision. Make Two Lists Whether you want to stay in the area or … read more
More States Open to Medicaid Expansion
The number of state governors opposed to accepting federal dollars to expand Medicaid coverage continues to dwindle. Just recently Florida Governor Rick Scott indicated his willingness to adopt the expansion after having voiced strong opposition to the idea ever since the Supreme Court’s ruling on the law allowed states to choose to opt-out of the expansion provisions. Ever since the … read more
Getting Help for Mom and Dad
Whether you have been thinking about getting your elderly parents some assistance or have made it your New Year’s resolution to make life easier for them, adult children with elderly parents need to take some time to consider exactly what kind of help and assistance your parents might need. In such a situation there are several steps you can take to help determine what kind of care is … read more
