Approximately 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to another adult, and providing adequate care to a loved one requires over 24 hours per week on average, according to the Caregiving in the U.S. Report by the National Alliance for Caregivers and AARP.
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Although it is typically couples who choose to establish their estate plans together; women are often the ones leading the discussion about guardianship of children while men are more concerned about financial planning. It is imperative however for women to be involved in every aspect of estate planning—even the financial aspects.
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Although nursing home care can significantly enhance quality of life for many seniors, emerging data collected in recent years points to an unsettling pattern. The elderly are some of the most vulnerable among us. A 2020 survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), reported a staggering 66% of staff admitted to abusing residents.
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Chances are you’re familiar with estate planning, if nothing else than in name. Perhaps you’re familiar with the fact that estate planning can help you protect your assets, document your wishes, and secure your family’s legacy for years to come – even after you pass away. But what about elder law?
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Today it seems that more estate planning lawyers are helping people of a younger generation plan ahead by creating everything from a comprehensive plan to simply securing a power of attorney. But why?
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Many people believe that a simple statement in their will or trust such as, “tangible personal property should be divided as my heirs see fit” is enough to ensure their assets are properly or equitably dispersed after they pass. However, vague statements such as this can often lead to a host of potential conflicts.
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November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM)! It’s a time to recognize and honor family caregivers and offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues and increase support for caregivers.
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Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, so your circumstances may look completely different today than they did when you originally agreed to serve as a trustee. And perhaps your life has changed so much that you think the time has come for you to resign as trustee.
But how do you resign?
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If you are searching for a way to care for a loved one who is unable to handle their affairs without assistance, then a conservatorship may be a good option for your family.
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Here’s what you need to know. Some of the most requested documents in estate planning are those that assign a durable power of attorney and create a health care directive. California law provides the ability for you to make your wishes known well before tragedy strikes, leaving you unable to make financial and health care decisions for yourself.
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We often discuss the benefits of estate planning. However, a discussion of what can happen when a person fails to plan is perhaps a more powerful way to stress the importance of proper planning. Let’s look at a few potential consequences of not having a plan of your own.
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When you’re ready to get married, it is unlikely that you are “counting the costs” of marriage. However, when two people marry later in life, the financial costs can be significant. The older you are, the more likely you have acquired significant possessions, property, and assets. In addition, you may have children from previous relationships. It is important for couples to have difficult legal and financial conversations sooner than later.
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Filial Responsibility Laws, also known as Filial Support Laws, are relatively unknown. More than half of US states (including Puerto Rico) could hold adult children financially responsible for their parents’ long-term care.
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With pride and appreciation, we are happy to announce that one of our staff for the past 20 years has recently gained a California state license as a Private Professional Fiduciary (PPF). Congratulations, Condra Griffin!
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What does “irrevocable” really mean? It does not mean unchangeable, unamendable or that you’ve lost control of your assets or how they are invested, sold and/or refinanced. An irrevocable trust can be drafted so that you can have your cake and eat it too.
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One of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing the individual(s) who will carry out your wishes when you can no longer speak on your own behalf. For example, who should you name as your “agent” in your health care directive or powers of attorney?
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Food, Glorious Food, at Your Doorstep by Vickey Kalambakal August 11, 2021 Where do your meals come from, if you don’t cook them yourself? You can stock your freezer with frozen food, but those meals aren’t fresh. You can phone your favorite bistro and have them deliver – as an everyday practice, though, that gets expensive (and may not be so healthy). But we all have to eat! So what are your other options? Pretty vast, actually. These days, a wide range of meal delivery services stand ready to ensure that you get nutritious food when you need it. All sorts of companies are willing to send you prepared meals that you just heat and eat, and some are quite inexpensive.We’ll list the not-for-profit services first. Meals on Wheels sets the standard, delivering meals to those who are homebound. A nationwide network with affiliates in almost every community, Meals on Wheels delivers two meals a day, Monday through Friday. Prices vary, but because Meals on Wheels depends on volunteers to get the meals out, most charge around only $7 to $9 a day for both meals. Most Meals on Wheels branches operate independently. Some can accommodate special diets, for diabetics or vegetarians, for example. Some have strict criteria to qualify their customers, some don’t. Thanks to donations and grants, some (not all) serve customers who can’t afford to pay. Other groups offer a similar service. In Los Angeles County, Project Angel Food brings meals to those with serious illnesses at no charge. In some areas the Salvation Army or local Senior Centers deliver meals. To find out what’s available in your community, search the web (Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, etc) or call your local Senior Center or Chamber of Commerce. Check with your Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) or other insurers […]
Have you heard of Pickleball? No, it’s not what we call it when a person gets into a pickle over their finances or estate. It’s actually a real game. A mash-up of tennis, badminton, racquetball, and ping pong, it’s got a net in the center of the court and is played with paddles and a ball. However, this is an easy-on-you. Now played internationally, it was invented on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It has been gaining popularity in recent years but was actually invented in 1965 (back when Joe and Walter were finishing university, not yet law school bound). We want you to know about Pickleball because it’s particularly great as we get older. Pickleball may just be the ticket to getting you, or an aging or limited loved one, out and moving. Exercise + new friends + fresh air = fun and health. (And perhaps the worse you are at it, the more you get to laugh.) It’s much easier to learn and easier on the body than other games of the genre. The USA Pickleball Association says of the game: “Fun, social and friendly. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.” Pickleball is good because: Regular exercise can keep your body healthier longer, or keep you independent and more able longer. Pickleball can help with balance, reflexes, and range of motion, all of which will mean a healthier body. The top of the net is 34″ high at the center which is 2″ lower than a tennis net. (So much lower than a 5′ high badminton net!) That should translate to less shoulder-raising stress, which is good as bodies age and lose some range of motion. Not that one can’t raise an arm and […]
The AARP website is full of good, helpful info for caregivers and caregiving stories.
The entryway: Caregiving Basics. Then there’s Care at Home, Nursing Homes, Medical, Financial & Legal, Life Balance, Community, Local Resources & Solutions, and Stories.
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Did you know there are online tools to help you identify the pills you, your loved ones, or those you’re care-taking for? Here are several that may help you to take care of your health and theirs.
LA Elder Law cares.
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There’s so much chatter about this novel virus. Here, we want to help you cut through the chatter and get straight to what you actually need and to the info you can trust. So we’ve put this page of resources together for you. All links will open in a new window or tab so you don’t lose our website. ~ Joe, Walt, and the rest of the team Updated July 26, 2020 PS: We have some Elder Law resources as well. Masks First this from the WHO, because so many people don’t know how to wear their fabric masks properly and it’s important for us all to know. And in case you’re worried about oxygen deprivation while wearing a mask… Doctor Runs 22 Miles Wearing Face Mask to Show it Doesn’t Cut Oxygen Levels Newsweek magazine, by Basit Mahmood, July 23, 2020 Excerpt: [Dr] Tom Lawton, who works at the Bradford Royal Infirmary in Yorkshire, north England, said he decided to run with the mask on, following his concerns for people with respiratory illnesses who want to wear a mask but are too scared to do so over false information. He recorded that oxygen levels never fell below 98% of what it would usually be. Read the full article here at Newsweek.com. Transmission How Long Does the Coronavirus Last on Surfaces? Wired Magazine, March 14, 2020 Researchers looked at how long the virus can survive on cardboard, plastic, and stainless steel, as well as after being aerosolized and suspended in midair. Some easy to understand info and explanations of terms. Read this article here at Wired.com CA updates:California Department of Public Health Covid-19 updates includes numbers, demographics, and more. Click here. CA updates: Office of the Governor of California on Twitter If you’re on Twitter, you might want to follow […]
