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
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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?
Summer Vacation Plans Should Include Powers of Attorney
If you are planning on a summer vacation, you might want to incorporate creating powers of attorney as an important step. When you go on vacation you want to be sure that the affairs you leave behind will not cause you any problems. You don't want to have to worry, for example, that your house is not being looked after, that your mail is going unattended, and that your bills are going unpaid. So, for people who are planning on going on summer vacation, creating powers of attorney can give you … [Read more...] about Summer Vacation Plans Should Include Powers of Attorney
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
The 40-Million Inheritance Going to New York State
A recent article in Forbes highlights one of the most important reasons why you need to create a last will and testament. In January of 2012, New York real estate developer Roman Blum died at the age of 97. He left behind an estate worth $40 million and, apparently, not a single living relative. Because no relatives can be found and Mr. Bloom did not have a last will and testament stating how he wanted his property to be distributed after he died, it appears that the state of New York will … [Read more...] about The 40-Million Inheritance Going to New York State
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
The Estate Inventory – 3 Commonly Asked Questions
Question 1: What is an estate inventory? After a person dies, the personal representative, also known as an executor, has responsibility to perform specific tasks in order to settle all of the deceased person’s affairs. One of these tasks is to distribute all the property the deceased person owned. Before an executor can do this, however, he or she has to find out exactly what is in the estate. (The estate is simply the collection of property left behind by a deceased person.) The estate … [Read more...] about The Estate Inventory – 3 Commonly Asked Questions
Ending a Power of Attorney: Commonly Asked Questions
Question 1: Can I cancel a power of attorney? Someone who makes a power of attorney and grants another person the authority to act on your behalf is known as a principal, while the person or organization you appoint is known as your agent or your attorney-in-fact. As the principal you maintain the ability to end the power of attorney whenever you like. You can do this for any reason at all, or for no reason. Question 2: When can I cancel my power of attorney? As a principal you can terminate … [Read more...] about Ending a Power of Attorney: Commonly Asked Questions
