View this photoDavid Wingate, was part of a Focus Group panel held at Ingleside at King Farm, 701 King Farm Blvd., Rockville.
1. Figure out what type of place your parents need and what your family can afford. 2. Involve your parents in the decision, if they’re up to it. 3. Before hiring an eldercare consultant, ask how he or she gets paid. 4. Make sure a facility is a good fit for your parents socially. 5. Conduct your own onsite inspection of any facility before signing up your parents. 6. Research the Medicare and state evaluations for the facilities you’re considering. 7. Read the facility’s contract carefully. 8. Above all, plan ahead.
Recent studies show that doctors have more influence on an aging person's decision to stop driving than the person's family does. But if you can’t speak to the doctor, there are a number of topics that, if not handled correctly, can cause division between an aging parent and their children. Is it safe for the parent to drive? Is the parent taking proper care of themselves or their pets? Should the parent consider moving into an assisted living center? There are ways for the children to handle these topics in a sensitive way. In some ways, these conversations need to…
A new poll examining financial exploitation of American seniors finds that 79 percent of experts surveyed identified theft or diversion of funds by family members as the most common form of financial abuse. The poll asked state securities regulators, financial planners, health care professionals, social workers, adult protective services workers, law enforcement officials, elder law attorneys, and academics about their experiences with elder abuse. Seventy-seven percent of individuals surveyed thought that seniors are very vulnerable to financial abuse, and most cited financial abuse by family members as the most common form of financial abuse. Most respondents indicated that older veterans…
A senior entered a nursing home for rehabilitation following a car crash. After she left the nursing home, the $93,000 bill at the home was left unpaid. She had applied for Medicaid, which would normally pay the bill if she couldn’t. However, the Medicaid application did not get approved in enough time to satisfy the nursing home, and it sued her son for the bill, states Forbes Magazine. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, like 29 others in our country, has something called a “filial responsibility law”. Those laws require that spouses, children and even parents of needy adults support the indigent. …
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in every three adults 65 or older falls each year, which can lead to serious injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, causing more drastic senior care needs. Among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death. Here are some tips for creating a safer home environment and preventing future falls: GET A CHECK-UP Fortunately, falls are preventable. If your senior has recently become a bit unsteady, make sure their doctor gives them a full physical evaluation to rule out any medical issues. For instance, low blood pressure…
A decade ago, at least one part of that transition wasn't so tough. When the for-sale sign went up, an eager buyer was likely to show up with a good offer. But today, families are facing a much more difficult real estate environment. Home Prices Collapse … Home prices are down more than 30 percent from their peak in 2006, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index. Over the past five years, home prices have plunged by roughly a third. During that same period, the annual cost of residing in an assisted-living facility has increased 5.7 percent per…
As a Market Watch story explains, a program that involves training doctors has proven successful in minimizing senior financial abuse. The Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation program was launched in 2009. It involves the training of thousands of doctors to ask general, but helpful questions when their senior patients visited for appointments. Considering the frequency with which seniors have medical appointments, it is natural place for basic inquiries about their financial situation to be tested. As part of the program the doctors ask questions like: -Have you given power of attorney to another person? -Has someone asked you to…
Seniors who are buying or selling a house often have very different issues than younger buyers and sellers. Seniors may be contemplating downsizing or moving to a more accessible home, or they may be looking for a way to age in place. A Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) can help senior sellers, buyers, or renters navigate these issues. SRESs are realtors who have completed a series of courses on how to help seniors and their families with real estate transactions. They specialize in helping people age 50 and older, and they can be used for selling, buying, or renting. An…
Seniors face a myriad of health, finance and legal issues that can significantly affect their lives and families for years to come. Elder Law Attorneys understand the unique needs of older adults regarding physical and mental limitations and navigating the complexities of retirement living and financial and estate planning. An elder law attorney can help with the following legal issues related to seniors: Health and personal care planning (healthcare decisions, powers of attorney, living wills, disability planning, end-of-life care) Financial planning (employment and retirement issues, asset protection, estate and gift taxes) Long-term care planning (long-term care and disability insurance, Medicare,…
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