When working on a plan for a local resident, our New York elder law attorneys often advise on the importance of long-term care insurance (LTCI). Where affordable, long-term care insurance is an incredibly powerful tool that both protects assets from the possible costs following disability and creates an avenue by…
Estate planning takes time. Unfortunately, considering the daily time stresses faced by all local residents, our New York elder law estate planning attorneys appreciate that there is often not a sense of “urgency” with this planning. It is usually a task that gets pushed to the side while day-to-day choeres…
A new report from the “State Budget Task Force” released last week found that two issues were by far the most pressing for state and local government budgets: pensions and Medicaid. The full report can be viewed HERE. Chaired by former New York Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravich, the group creating…
Over the past two years there has been increased focus on the scourge of elder abuse in all its forms. Yet, the awareness effort has not led to any federal legal changes to help protect seniors from things like physical neglect at home to senior financial exploitation. That may soon…
There is a tendency to underestimate the actual risk of suffering mental and physical disabilities as one ages. Everyone knows that seniors often face physical issues and others suffer from cognitive problems, but most relatively healthy individuals convince themselves that they are less likely to face those concerns down the…
This week the Washington Post published an interesting, extended story seeking to share information on life in assisted-living facilities. The article, written by a man living in one of these homes, paints a grim picture of life for seniors needing extra day-to-day care. The text was adapted from a literary…
Senior care advocates repeatedly remind families that oversight is needed in some cases to ensure seniors do not fall victim to financial exploitation. Having an elder law estate planning attorney involved in the process is one way to provide some professional oversight. However, beyond protecting against scammers and hucksters, many…
CBS News recently reported on glowing praise for a relatively small program seeking to help seniors live independently. Known as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), the program is being credited with helping many on New York Medicaid avoid being forced to move into nursing homes. For…
Elder law professionals agree that preventing senior financial exploitation requires acting fast–it is never too early to investigate suspicions about a senior loved one’s finances. As reported in a recent Star-Telegram article, many adult children begin asking questions about their parents finances only when it is too late–after they’ve already…
There is no shortage of news stories about the changing demographics in the United States. Advances in healthcare and slowed birth rates mean that a much larger percentage of the country is elderly than ever before–the trend will continue for years to come. Our New York elder law attorneys understand…