Advice is often given about checking a senior relative’s bank statements frequently to identify potential theft. Large cash withdrawals, donations to strange charities, and similar red flags should be pursued. But sometimes elder financial exploitation is so bold, that victims–or their relatives–may not realize that they were mistreated. For example,…
Articles Posted in Elder Law
Is There a New Way to Test for Dementia?
It is a nightmare for many families. A senior shows signs of cognitive mental challenges–becomes forgetful and eventually is unable to live on their own. An adult child take control of the senior’s affairs in order to pay for bills and arrange for long-term care. But when the family member…
New York Nursing Homes & Poor Dental Care
Most horror stories about poor nursing home care include tales of grotesque “bed sores,” broken bones gone undiagnosed, and similar cases of obvious caregiving lapses. But the best way to measure the quality of long-term care facilities may not be to see how many of these “big” mistakes are made.…
NPR Story: Time to “Abolish” the Nursing Home
It is no secret that the country is aging. More Americans are retiring and drifting into their golden years now then ever before. What’s more is that there is not a similarly-sized generation, meaning the percentage of elderly individuals is rising sharply. All of this is leading many to evaluate…
Back to the Basics: Understanding Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts in New York
The tremendous benefit of planning ahead for possible long-term care needs cannot be explained enough. The typical New York family is understandably most concerned about paying monthly bills, attending birthday parties, fixing up the house, and the thousand other activities that fill the day. Taking the time to think about…
Comptroller Claims New York Medicaid Still Rife with Waste
News about potential fraud and waste within the New York Medicaid system keeps on coming. It seems as if every week there is a new allegations of practices which unnecessarily cost the state money in unnecessary Medicaid payments. With Governor Cuomo’s continued focus on rooting out problems with the system,…
Long-Term Care Insurance — Essential for New York Women?
Our NY estate planning lawyers frequently advise local residents that in virtually all cases the single best way to prepare for possible senior care needs is by purchasing long-term care insurance (LTCI). Unfortunately, the biggest barrier for most families in securing LTCI is cost. Depending on one’s age when purchasing…
Elder Financial Exploitation from Jail — Anything Can Happen
Elder financial exploitation is often one of those problems that community members believe only happens to “other people.” When reading stories about seniors falling for scams or being exploited by caregivers it is easy to view them as one-of-a-kind examples. But the truth is the exact opposite: elder financial exploitation…
Battles Continue Over New Medicaid Eligibility for NY Home Health Programs
In an effort to more efficiently use state funds, over the past few years the New York Medicaid program has been closely analyzed by state groups looking to root out fraud. Those investigations have returned hundreds of millions of dollars back into the programs following problematic practices at New York…
Be Careful With “Pop Up” Senior Centers in New York
Long-term care is big business. For many years now, companies that work in these fields have grown in size, scope, and influence, emerging as powerful entities making significant profits. There is nothing inherently good or bad about the changing nature of the industry so long quality, affordable options exist for…