While it may seem harmless to have a social worker or expert staff member at a loved one’s nursing home help with Medicaid planning, this practice is actually illegal according to Texas law. Why is it illegal? According to the Texas Human Resources Code Section 12.001, any person who is not licensed to practice law […]
For the first time in five years, seniors and retirees will not be receiving an annual raise in Social Security benefits in 2016 due to a decline in inflation driven by falling gas prices. While the Consumer Price Index has fallen over the last year causing the cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) to remain unchanged, many expenses that […]
The short answer is YES! One of the ways that you can protect a loved one’s assets and establish Medicaid eligibility is through a properly drafted trust. This type of trust can minimize the deterioration of an estate by safeguarding assets for loved ones and establish Medicaid eligibility. Certain trusts allow individuals with income over […]
If you’re loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, researching their long-term care options as early as possible is essential. One care option that has become increasingly more common is memory care. What Is Memory Care? To know if your loved one could benefit from memory care, you’ll first have to understand what type of […]
Adult children often help their parents make medical and health care decisions. If you are also helping your parents with money management and bill paying, this makes you a financial caregiver. Your main role as a financial caregiver could include: determining the right long-term care that meets a loved one’s needs helping them with money […]
As the need for affordable long-term care continues to rise, our elderly loved ones are looking for ways to get nursing home care and provide a financial future for their family. Many find comfort in the benefits that Medicaid offers, however some may find that gifting assets away can jeopardize their Medicaid long-term care coverage. […]
As Houston area residents know, storms can become life threatening situations in mere moments. That’s why when we have a loved one with special needs, we have to be even more prepared for any emergency situation. Whether your loved one has mobility, visual, hearing, speech, or cognitive disabilities, you will need to not only plan […]
Recent reports suggest that hospitals have increasingly classified new patients as under observation (or outpatient status) to protect themselves against Medicare policies that prevent payouts to hospitals for excessive patient admissions. However, many of the patients under observation are being cheated out of thousands of dollars. Inpatient vs. Outpatient: What is Covered? Under federal law, Medicare won’t pay for post-hospital extended care services […]
With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 years old every day, taking care of our loved ones has become even more pressing than ever. Many individuals have come to a point where their elderly relatives are unable to safely care for themselves or require higher levels of caregiving. To provide the best decisions for this stage of life or to prepare for […]
Financial abuse of the elderly could include financial exploitation and criminal fraud, but a surprising 45% of elder financial abuse cases in 2011 were caused by the manipulation of a senior citizen by a trusted family member, friend or neighbor. This type of abuse that capitalizes on taking advantage of a trusting relationship to get money accounts for […]