Taking Charge Without Taking Over: Five Tips For Helping Your Aging Parent pWhether you are teaching your young daughter how to knit, or helping your aging parent balance her checkbook, how do you take charge without taking over? How many times have you found yourself “showing” someone how to do something by doing it for […]
Question: Even though my parents insist they don’t need my help, I can see that they are struggling to manage their daily bills, paperwork, and medications. They insist that they are perfectly capable of handling their finances and their pills and don’t see a need for my assistance. How do I help them get their […]
This will depend on laws of the state in which your senior resides. However, a doctor’s report will be needed to show that your mother is incapable of managing her own affairs. John E. Settle, Jr., Esq. John E. Settle, Jr., Attorney at Law Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
A health care power of attorney would be important if you became mentally incompetent–authorizing an agent to make health care decisions for you. John E. Settle, Jr., Esq. John E. Settle, Jr., Attorney at Law Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
Question: “We recently moved my 86 year old unmarried aunt from Rhode Island to Michigan to be near me, her only niece and the person who has her financial and medical POA. To thank me for taking care of all the details of the move, she wants to give me her 2005 Hyundai Elantra. We […]
The Internet and Elder Law In the words of Charles Dickens, “it is best of times, and the worst of times” when one thinks of using the internet to get answers to important questions on Elder law, medicine and/or investments. The internet is one of the most important developments of modern civilization, and not a […]
Answer: Forced heirship applies when a child is under the age of twenty four, or if a child is permanently disabled (either mentally or physically). A parent is only required to give part of his estate to a forced heir – one fourth of the estate to one forced heir and one-half if two or […]
Question: I am eighty years old and in excellent health. I have family and friends who can act as executors of my Will and Living Trust. I also have a power of attorney and a Health Care directive However, I don’t feel that they would have the expertise to administer my estate (modest though it is). Do I need an […]
Question: An acquaintance, an 86 year old veteran, has become frail and unsafe in his home. His exploration into a retirement / nursing care facility is beyond his financial ability to pay. The VA has turned down his request for financial assistance because his Social Security and retirement puts him in the “too much income” […]
Question: I recently relocated my elderly mom from New York to Virginia. She is living in an assisted living facility. She still has her home in NY where two apartment rents help to pay for her assisted living rent, prescriptions, incontinence care, etc. The rest of her care fees come out of her savings. Is […]
Generally, a POA or Health Care Proxy does not necessarily need to be redone simply because your mother moved to another state. However, I recommend that you have them reviewed by an elder law attorney who practices in Georgia to make sure that they comply with Georgia law and to make sure that they have […]
There are several government benefits available to seniors who need help paying for extended care. However, the qualifications and requirements for these attendance benefits can often be complicated and confusing, leaving many people unsure of how to qualify or whether they are applying for right benefit for their family. When seniors and their families first […]
A power of attorney is one of the most important documents that you can execute. It allows you to appoint an agent to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so. Without a power of attorney, if you become incapacitated your family will have to go to court to have a judge […]
Question: I have seen a big change recently in my Mother’s ability to take care of herself. I’m not sure how serious the situation is but I know she may need some help. Is this something that a Geriatric Care Manager can help me with? Answer: I just met with a son and his mother to […]
We educate, evaluate, navigate, and advocate. We are very good at preventing complicated crisis that can create an unnecessary decline in function for the elder. So many older adults want to stay in their home and with various levels of support this is achievable. In fact, many older adults do well with “Assisted Living at Home”-which […]
Question: I took care of a 77 year old woman for 8 months because her own family could not or would not care for her. We agreed she would pay me to take care of her fully, including bathing, shopping, cooking, and cleaning. Now, her family refuses to pay me. Who do you suggest I talk with in […]
Question: Is the ability for the aged to stay in an Assisted Living Facility being abolished? My mother lives in an ALF in Florida and when the time comes, I would like her to receive hospice services. But, I do not want her to necessarily leave the assisted living facility that she currently resides in. […]
Watching a parents grow older, become more frail and maybe more vulnerable can be an enriching experience when there is a framework for understanding the stage they are in. Without understanding some of the common stages, however, it can be a time fraught with frustration and anxiety. This time of life for an elder is […]
Keeping an elder out of the hospital while dealing with their multiple pathologies and can be challenging. Elders are frequently admitted to the hospital for the following preventable reason: falls, undiagnosed infection, dehydration, and non-compliance with medicine. Once an elder is hospitalized, a rapid decline in health can occur. The old adage, “an ounce of […]
Question: My forty-three year old daughter and her three children moved in with me right before Christmas in my two bedroom apartment. She lost her job and they needed a place to live. She is planning on taking college classes to get a degree, so she can get a good job. I feel sorry for her […]
The key to retirement is “cash flow.” If at all possible, you want enough monthly “cash flow” to exceed your monthly “cash outlays.” So I would suggest you first write down all your sources of retirement income. This is passive income that you can count on for the rest of your life…not wages or earnings. […]
“Twice in the last decade I have watched my 401(k) lose almost one-half of its value. That doesn’t sound like a good retirement plan (Investment) to me. Am I looking at this wrong?” Answer: Unfortunately, in most 401(k) plans, your account balance is dependent almost solely on the overall market level. After you retire, you will […]
Many of the companies that you want to own have Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs) in which you can accumulate shares with monthly purchases. You can find these by going to the company’s website, usually under “Investor Services.” You can set the plan up where you add the same amount each month and the company buys […]
What would make most people happier? Better health? More friends? More time with children and grandchildren? Most people of any age would like more of the above, but one thing that would definitely improve the financial and emotional quality of the lives of many people, especially seniors, is more monthly cash flow. Think about it. […]