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
Elder Law
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
More Families Staying in the Same Home
America is changing, and sometimes in ways people don’t always expect. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more and more Americans are living in households with multiple generations. According to figures released late last year, about 5.6% of American families are living in multigenerational homes. That equates to about 4.3 million households throughout the country. While … read more
The New Century of Estate Planning
For the most part, the law is very slow to change. The reason for this is that it provides stability and certainty to our world. After all, if every judge could do whatever he or she wants, without regard to the cases that have come before, the legal system would collapse; there would be no system. But with the advent of the 21st century, the law has done quite a bit of changing, well, … read more
Medicaid Spending Growth at Record Low
A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that Medicaid spending growth slowed dramatically in 2012. The report says that the total amount that the federal and state governments spent on Medicaid increased by 2% in 2012. In 2011 the increase had been almost 5 times that, at 9.7%. Prior to the economic downturn of 2008, the lowest annual percentage increase occurred in 2006, … read more
Elder Caregivers Need to Take Care of Themselves
Taking care of someone that cannot care for his or herself is difficult when someone is in their 30’s or 40’s; such a task is made even more difficult when the caregiver is elderly. If you are an elderly caregiver, then you need to be sure to take time for yourself, every day, or you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed. You should also think about how you want to respond if unexpected … read more
Mississippi Becomes First to Opt-Out of Medicaid Expansion
Following the summer Supreme Court decision that allowed states to choose to opt out of the Medicaid expansion outlined under the health care reform law, Mississippi recently became the first state to choose to decline the expansion and the federal dollars associated with it. While the healthcare law is almost certainly best known for its requirement for individual Americans to obtain … read more
Avoiding Medicaid Fraud – 3 Tips
Medicaid fraud costs the states and the federal government billions of dollars each year, and the problem is only getting bigger as more and more people apply for Medicaid coverage. While some types of Medicaid fraud, such as illegal price-fixing or illegal advertising by pharmaceutical companies cannot be easily avoided, there are steps you can take to prevent Medicaid fraud from … read more
How to Know When It’s Time for Mom or Dad to Stop Driving
Adult children with aging parents often face a difficult decision in determining when it's appropriate to take away the keys from mom or dad. While no one wants to be faced with the situation of having to discuss this difficult situation, you can't ignore the reality and allow a parent to continue driving when he or she is no longer capable of doing so safely. Here are several tips you … read more
