Category Archives: Elder Law
Caregivers Should Take Care To Get Care Themselves
Home care People who are willing to become a caregiver to a loved one, regardless of the circumstances, are taking on an awesome responsibility. Consider this set of guidelines offered at Preserve dignity Involve your loved one Promote independence Ask for help Be an advocate Take care of yourself That last guideline might sound… Read More »
For Caregivers, Ensuring Legal Matters Essential
Doctor laying hand on senior man’s shoulder Caregivers of people with serious illnesses, particularly cognitive issues of the elderly, have a lot on their plate, but they also have an obligation to make future legal preparations for their loved ones. “As a caregiver, you should begin making legal preparations soon after your loved one… Read More »
Elder Mediation Can Help Keep Siblings Friends
The stresses and strains of caring for an aging parent, and especially determine what form that care should take, can push apart even the closest of siblings. A recent story in The New York Times describes how two sisters nearly had a falling out after the death of their father in 2011 when it… Read More »
Article Predicts Technology May Change How People Age
Technology can’t halt the aging process, but a Huffington Post piece points out that it may change the way people grow older. “Technology is changing everything, including how we will age and the quality of our senior years,” begins the story by Ann Brenoff ” Mobile devices, wearable gadgets and Internet-based technologies will help… Read More »
Ethical Guidelines For Helping Older Clients Offered By ABA
For attorneys who focus all or part of their practice on the needs of older clients, the American Bar Association advises adhering to the “Four C’s of Elder Law Ethics.” They are: Client identification Conflicts of interest Confidentiality Competence “First, all lawyers have an ethical obligation to make it very clear who their client… Read More »
Long-Term Care Cancellations Require Better Notification
It should never happen again. And whether it’s by passage of a new law or a rule change at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, maybe it never will. A recent story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch brought to light the plight of people left without long-term care for the elderly. The story focused on the… Read More »
Less Costly Options Exist To Afford In-Home Care
While in-home care for elderly parents or other relatives may be a kinder approach than placing them in a nursing facility, it can also be a very pricy proposition. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) A recent Caring.com article offers some creative approaches to affording this option. “In general, pay rates in urban areas are higher than… Read More »
Court sides with nursing home against woman’s grandchildren
An elderly New York State woman thought she was doing the right thing for her grandchildren. A court ruled otherwise, in a case of estate planning gone horribly wrong. The woman, Lillian Hellman, sought to have four annuities, which she obtained in her name with her in control of the accounts, transferred to each… Read More »
Ugly Family Scrape Nearly Cost Elderly Man His Home
A sad story out of Ohio has a happy ending, but the saddest part of all is that it didn’t have to happen in the first place. Just a few minutes of conversation with an elder law attorney might have spared everyone involved a lot of anguish and heartache. John Potter, a World War… Read More »
Novel program brings legal assistance to people who need it most
A recent blog on the website of The New York Times highlighted a fine program in California that provides legal help for the elderly while giving real-life experience to law students. The piece by Paula Span, author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions,” also brings a… Read More »