When someone steals your identity, that person uses your personal information for his or her own benefit. Typically this involves, for example, someone who finds your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and other information in order to open a fraudulent account, such as a line of credit or cellular phone account. If you’ve ever had your identity stolen you know how long it can take to repair the damage, but what you may not know is that identity theft can happen even to someone who is … [Read more...] about Identity Thieves Don’t Care About Death
Elder Law
Baby Boomers Refusing to Confront Realities of Elder Care
A new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that millions of baby boomers are woefully unprepared for the realities that await them in old age. The poll shows that about 30% of boomers prefer not to think about getting old at all, while two-thirds of them have done almost nothing to prepare for the possibility that they might need long-term care assistance in their sunset years. What’s even more surprising is that the poll showed that about half of those asked said that … [Read more...] about Baby Boomers Refusing to Confront Realities of Elder Care
What Is the Difference Between Medicare and Medi-Cal?
Medicare and Medi-Cal are two government programs that have similar sounding names. In this post we will look at the differences between these two programs, and we will highlight the elder law implications. Medicare Medicare is a health insurance program that is available to people who have earned sufficient retirement credits. You earn retirement credits while you are working and paying taxes. The maximum accrual per year is four credits. In 2014, you earn one credit for every $1200 that you … [Read more...] about What Is the Difference Between Medicare and Medi-Cal?
Communities Largely Unprepared for Coming Surge of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is often an underreported and widely ignored topic that will likely become far more prominent in the coming years. As baby boomers reach retirement age and more of them become reliant on others for daily tasks, the number of elder abuse cases will likely begin increasing as well. Last year there were 2 million reported cases of elder abuse, but experts report that about one out of every 10 seniors could actually have suffered from abuse because so few of them actually report it. … [Read more...] about Communities Largely Unprepared for Coming Surge of Elder Abuse
Some Simple Preparations Can Help You Choose the Right Retirement Home
If you have decided it’s time to move to a retirement home or you are just thinking about it, there are some practical steps you can take to help make choosing the right home a lot easier. Investigating each elder care facility you are thinking about does not take a lot of effort, but you will want to have a plan in place. Here are several tips you can use to help get you started. Make several visits. Start by creating a list of all the retirement homes you think match your needs and budget. … [Read more...] about Some Simple Preparations Can Help You Choose the Right Retirement Home
Seniors Can Protect Themselves From Common Victimizations
America is getting older, and as the number of seniors grows, so does the number of people looking to take advantage of the elderly. Every year the number of cases where an elderly person has been swindled, conned, or cheated out of money increases. Also, those who suffer at the hands of con artists often feel ashamed, a feeling that prevents them from seeking help or assistance. To prevent such situations taking place there are several practical steps seniors can take. Here’s a quick review of … [Read more...] about Seniors Can Protect Themselves From Common Victimizations
Choosing an Elder Care Facility: The Next Step
Following up on our recent blog post about nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and independent living centers and the differences between them, let’s take some time to look at the next step you should take when investigating eldercare facilities in your area. Once you’ve decided on the level of care you need and know what you can afford, you should then begin investigating potential facilities that meet your needs. Here is what you can do. Visit in Person You definitely want to visit … [Read more...] about Choosing an Elder Care Facility: The Next Step
Know What You’re Choosing When You Look at Elder Care Facilities
You may have heard about a recent news story where the staff at a California retirement home called 911 after a resident collapsed. But the staff didn’t assist the resident by performing CPR even after the 911 operator offered to give them instructions in the process. While this story has shocked many people, it is not entirely a surprise to many who have knowledge of the different types of elder care facilities available. For example, in California—where this facility was located—the staff may … [Read more...] about Know What You’re Choosing When You Look at Elder Care Facilities
Elder Law Increasingly Important as Boomers Age
Baby boomers planning to retire soon will probably not give a lot of thought to questions about where they’re going to live when they are elderly. But even younger senior citizens should take some time to consider elder law and the common issues that often affect elderly people and their families. Here are a pair of common questions about issues that people often confront as they, or their family members, get older. Question 1: What happens if I get Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is … [Read more...] about Elder Law Increasingly Important as Boomers Age
Report: Slower Growth in Medicaid Spending
A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the growth in Medicaid spending over the past few years has slowed considerably. In 2012, the average Medicaid spending growth rate across all states slowed to about 2%. In 2011, the growth rate had been significantly higher at nearly 10%. The Kaiser report stated that this is the slowest growth in Medicaid spending since 2006, when the growth rate was 1.3%. The Medicaid program (known as Medi-Cal in California) is a state and … [Read more...] about Report: Slower Growth in Medicaid Spending
