Holiday Stress-Staying Calm
Now that November is here, we are right in the thick of the Holidays again! Ready or not, we are at the time of year filled with family, friends, love and laughter. Everyone looks forward to the holiday season, right? Well, that might not be true in some cases. Some...
Estate Planning Documents Destroyed in a Hurricane? What to Know
Did you or a loved one lose important legal documents in a natural disaster? If you lose original estate planning documents there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing you should do (after you are safe from the clean-up process) is to contact your estate...
Who Implements a Life Care Plan?
Implementing a Life Care Plan requires a full team of experts. Elder law attorneys lead the team, drafting legal documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives. Their role is to protect the elderly person’s rights and ensure that their...
The Hidden Disadvantages in Medicare Advantage
Soon we will be in Medicare “open enrollment” season. Expect to be overwhelmed with all those ads trying to convince you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage, also called a Medicare Part C Plan, is an alternate to traditional Medicare. Advantage...
The Importance of Crisis Planning for Seniors
The importance of crisis planning for seniors can be summarized by something Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Oftentimes, families contact our Elder Care Law office for crisis planning for seniors in their lives,...
Declare Domicile
Each year it seems that more people move to Florida to enjoy their retirement in our warm weather and low tax rates. Many come from higher-tax states and may hope to be “let go” by their old home state. The question of domiciling has two prongs- based on the rules of...
Should I Try to Avoid Probate?
Many people believe that probate is something that should be avoided in all cases. When asked why probate should be avoided, people often express that probate will be a very expensive and time-consuming process. These perceptions are not necessarily true. The efforts...
Music Therapy
Music therapy offers profound benefits for aging adults, particularly those living with dementia. This therapeutic approach harnesses the power of music to enhance cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. For individuals with dementia, music therapy can trigger...
What to Do When a Loved One is Diagnosed with Dementia
Most patients and their families are not entirely surprised when a diagnosis of dementia is made by a physician. The patient and the family have probably been noticing subtle changes for some time. However, when these suspicions are confirmed by a diagnosis, all the...
Many Benefits of Exercise
It is hard to over-stress the importance of staying active to the healthy aging process. Even moderate amounts of exercise have proven benefits with very limited side effects. Some geriatricians call exercise the true fountain of youth. Any change or increase in...
Senior Driver Safety
In Florida’s car-centric society, it is normal to pick up the car keys and drive somewhere. However, as age progresses, there comes a time in every person’s life when it may no longer be safe to do so. It becomes essential to evaluate when senior drivers should...
Long-Term Care Concerns When Aging Alone
Solo agers, individuals who are aging without a spouse, partner, or children, must take extra steps to ensure their future care needs are met. Addressing key long-term care questions for solo agers can help mitigate the risks associated with aging alone. While there...
The Importance of Crisis Planning for Seniors
The importance of crisis planning for seniors can be summarized by quoting Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Oftentimes, families contact our Elder Care Law office for crisis planning for seniors in their lives, struggling to...
What is Life Care Planning?
Many individuals and families face the challenge of navigating complex personal, legal and financial care needs that they are sometimes unprepared to handle in the later stages of life. Life care planning comes into play when considering how to address these issues...
Basic Estate Planning for Seniors
Estate planning for seniors is critical in ensuring that one’s financial and healthcare wishes are carried out with integrity and care. As individuals age, assessing and implementing measures safeguarding assets, personal preferences, and family needs becomes vital....
Latest Scams Targeting Older Adults
The latest scams targeting older adults can be especially devastating due to the vulnerability and trust often associated with older age. While the specifics may evolve over time, some of the most common scams we are hearing about in 2024 include the following: 1. ...
What is a Care Plan Meeting by Daniel A. Burzynski
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you will soon hear the term “care plan meeting.” Shortly after admitting a new resident, each nursing home is required by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to develop a plan of care. This helps the facility know what...
Challenges for Aging in LGBTQ+ Individuals
June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate diversity, honor the history of the LGBTQ+ community, and advocate for continued progress toward equality. Originating from the Stonewall riots in 1969, Pride Month is a vibrant expression of solidarity and...
Informal Estate Plans Bring Problems
Have you ever thought you could just skip estate planning documents? There are potential traps in trying to DIY your legal work. Often, clients think they have solved their division of assets (after their death) by making up an informal estate plan of their own...
What is the Difference: Physical Activity vs Exercise for Seniors
Physical activity vs. exercise-those words are often used interchangeably, but should they be? While it is true that exercise is a form of physical activity, not all physical activity is considered exercise. For seniors specifically, both physical activity and...
Medicare’s 3-day Hospital Inpatient Status Rule
Seniors should be aware of Medicare’s 3-day hospital rule. There are significant implications for beneficiaries of Medicare, particularly those who may need skilled-nursing facility care after a hospitalization. Inpatient Status is Critical To be eligible for Medicare...
Can Medicaid Move From State to State?
What happens if you decide to move to another state while you are receiving Medicaid for healthcare needs? Or what about those Medicaid recipients who move to Florida from another state? Does Medicaid move with you from state to state? Medicaid Basics Remember...
May is the Month to Celebrate Older Americans
The month of May is when our nation celebrates the contributions of Americans aged 65 and older. Americans have been doing this each May since President Kennedy made the official declaration in 1963. To show its support, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys,...
What Happens if Well-Spouse Dies First?
Many of our clients have the situation of one spouse needs nursing home care, and the other “well” spouse still lives at home. When we get the chance to work with families on financial planning, we often can have the “sick” spouse’s nursing home bill largely covered...