New Obama-era rules designed to give nursing home residents more control of their care are gradually going into effect. The rules give residents more options regarding meals and visitation as well as make changes to discharge and grievance procedures. …
A little-known insurance option can be an answer for some people who might need care but are unable to buy long-term care insurance. Short-term care insurance provides coverage for nursing home or home care for one year or less. As…
Americans are misinformed about many aspects of Social Security, and local Social Security offices may not be helping, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The study found that the Social Security field offices often did not…
A recent New Jersey appeals court case demonstrates how important it is for families to come up with a long-term care plan before an emergency strikes. The case involves two brothers who got into a fight over whether to place…
A couple who are both age 60 and who purchase new long-term care insurance coverage can expect to pay between 6 and 9 percent more compared to a year ago according to the 2017 Long Term…
Taxpayers with long-term care insurance policies can deduct some of their premiums from their income. Whether you can use the deduction requires comparing your medical expenses to your income in a complicated formula. Premiums for qualified…
Our friends at The Naperville Senior Center shared this month’s article with us. If you haven’t learned about their Adult Day Care services, check out their website at http://www.napervilleseniorcenter.com/. It’s no secret: the technology industry is a young person’s…
In recent years, nursing homes have increasingly asked — or forced — patients and their families to sign arbitration agreements prior to admission. By signing these agreements, patients or family members give up their right to sue if they…
The phrase “life estate” often comes up in discussions of estate and Medicaid planning, but what exactly does it mean? A life estate is a form of joint ownership that allows one person to remain in…
Recent changes to the Social Security retirement program will eliminate two claiming strategies that can possibly increase your rate of return. These changes will take effect for people who have not used them before April 29th. If you have not yet applied for Social Security benefits and could benefit from one of these strategies, you should get help from a qualified elder law attorney, such as Linda Strohschein and her team at Strohschein Law Group.