America is aging. Today, a baby boomer turns 65 every 7½ seconds. As life expectancy continues to increase, so too does the need for nursing home care. The older we get, the more likely it is that we will require around the clock assistance nursing homes are supposed to provide. Some experts estimate that 75% of all Americans age 85 and older will one day need nursing home care. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that 85 plus age group will be over 7 million in 2020 doubling the number of people in nursing homes. That can make a bad situation…
Alzheimer disease is a heartbreaker. Not only is it awful for the patient, but is devastating for the caregiver. Someone who hasn’t dealt with Alzheimer’s disease, can’t imagine the stress of constant pacing, up at all nights of day and nights, the fidgeting, the safety concerns, and of course the memory loss. Imagine the heartbreak you feel looking into the now empty eyes of your spouse of 40 or 50 years and recalling all the wonderful times you spent together and then sitting down and crying over the horrible truth that your spouse no longer recognizes you. Your marriage vows…
The decision to move a family member into a nursing home is one of the toughest and most difficult decisions you can ever make. Over time, caring for an aging or disabled love one can deplete your energy, time and finances. The legal and financial ramifications can cost you plenty. Your income, assets and financial security can be a serious risk. Stop, before it’s too late. If you and your family are overwhelmed or confused by all the decisions you have to make. If you want to know your individual rights, or this is an urgent matter, please call us…
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) have sent a letter to the largest assisted living operators asking a series of questions about COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities and the actions they are taking to prevent and mitigate outbreaks when they occur. The letter was sent to Brookdale Senior Living Sunrise Senior Living, Five Star Senior Living, Atria Senior Living, Life Care Services, Senior Lifestyle Corporations, Capital Senior Living, Affinity Living Group, Enlivant, Eclipse Senior Living, and Gardant Management Solutions, each of which owns or operates more than 5,000 assisted living units…
Will Stimulus Checks Affect My Medicaid Eligibility? No. Under Medicaid rules, a stimulus payment is not counted as income. Therefore, receiving a stimulus payment does not change a resident’s monthly payment (often called a “patient pay amount” or “share of cost”). The resident pays the same monthly amount to the nursing facility and keeps the stimulus payment for their own use. In addition, the stimulus payment does not count as a Medicaid resource for 12 months. In other words, for the first year, the payment cannot cause you to have “too much” savings. EXAMPLE: An unmarried resident receives $1,082 monthly…
Consumer Voice has sent a letter, along with other advocacy organizations, to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing granting immunity to nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. AARP also sent a letter on the same topic. Giving immunity to nursing homes strips residents of their right to hold nursing homes accountable for substandard care. Legal liability has always functioned as a safeguard for nursing home residents by incentivizing nursing homes to provide quality care and comply with laws and regulations. By providing immunity, Congress would be placing nursing home residents in jeopardy at a time when they are the…
The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting significant challenges for many segments of the health care industry. For the long-term care (LTC) industry, which includes facility settings such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs), and home health (HH) providers, which deliver clinical and personal care services in the home, coronavirus infections are a grave concern for LTC providers and service users alike. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first surfaced in the United States, outbreaks in LTC facilities have been widespread, and it is estimated that about one-fifth of all deaths from COVID-19 are tied to nursing facilities. Older adults…
At greater risk from COVID-19, some seniors now face added anxiety due to delays obtaining Medicare coverage. Advocates for older people say the main problem involves certain applications for Medicare’s “Part B” coverage for outpatient care. It stems from the closure of local Social Security offices in the coronavirus pandemic. Part B is particularly important these days because it covers lab tests, like ones for the coronavirus. For more click HERE For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call or click away! For an Initial Consultation…
President Trump Thursday announced the formation of an independent commission to look at the response of nursing homes to the coronavirus. The move comes as nursing home operators clamor for more equipment and testing. In comments at a White House event, Trump acknowledged that nursing homes were “a spot that we have to take care of. I guess you could call it a little bit of a weak spot, because things are happening at the nursing homes that we’re not happy about.” For more click HERE For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at…
Caring.com’s 2020 Will and Living Trust Survey Shows a Decline Among Adults With an Estate Planning Document Over the Last 3 Years and Highlights a Lack of Education as an Underlying Issue CHARLOTTE, NC; Mar. 2, 2020 — Caring.com, a leading senior care referral service with Family Advisors nationwide, has announced key findings from its annual Will and Living Trust Survey. The latest study includes feedback from 2,400 Americans and was used to examine which groups are more likely to engage in estate planning as well as their underlying reasons for having or not having a will. The survey is an…
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