Paying for Senior Care Legal Fees
My mother’s (second) husband is ill. All of their assets — home and stocks/bonds/annuities — are in his name only. ...
Money & planning
Hawaii Wants to Give Cash to Family Caregivers
Hawaii last week passed the Kapuna Caregivers Act, a first-of-its-kind piece of legislation that could provide the financial relief working...
¿Cuánto cuesta el servicio de cuidado infantil?
WALTHAM, Mass.—Por cuarto año consecutivo, la encuesta sobre el costo de los servicios de cuidado de Care.com obtuvo información detallada...
January “Senior Sense”- 7 Lessons Learned After Mom Fell
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care Recently published on HuffPo50 | Senior Care Blog No one wants to ever...
February “Senior Sense” Moving a loved one into a Nursing Home: Tips for a Smooth Transition
By Anna Seitzer, LICSW, Senior Care Advisor It is highly unlikely that your parent or family member will eagerly anticipate...
March “Senior Sense”: Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
By Angelina Portuense, Senior Care Provider Specialist Many of us may find ourselves in the role of caregiver one day....
How I Balanced Motherhood and Being My Father’s Hospice Caregiver
When I was in my 30s, I faced the grueling task of simultaneously caring for my ill father and my...
Uniform Law Clarifies Authorities Granted in Aging Parent’s Power of Attorney
When George Reilly was growing up in New York, his father had a nylon gym bag that he called his “death...
April “Senior Sense” Tips for Home Safety: A Daughter’s Story
By Rudri Patel “You want to live on your own, Mom?” My voice quivered as I asked this question, hoping...
Let U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth Breastfeed on the Senate Floor!
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is about to make history (herstory!) as the first U.S. Senator to ever give birth while in office!...
May “Senior Sense”- Creating a Legacy that Endures: Grandparents Connecting with Grandchildren
“Mom, look at Grandma. She looks so pretty.” My twelve-year-old daughter discovered a picture of my mom in a box...
How to Talk to Aging Parents About Who Gets What in the Will
Jenna said she didn’t think it was possible to feel worse than she already did after her mother’s death, but...
Should You Consider Switching Pharmacies to Save Money?
Cheaper prescriptions may come at a higher price. Most seniors are careful with managing their money, and prescription drugs offer...
June “Senior Sense”: Ease into Conversations about Aging
“Oh, we are playing Poker tonight.” When I call my seventy-something mom, she always has plans, whether it is a...
July “Senior Sense” Caregiving from a Distance: Learning to Make the Best of It
In the middle of the night, I hear my iPhone ring. With a groan I look over, half-expecting it to...
August “Senior Sense” – Are you your parent’s keeper?
To understand the nuances of caregiving and how to navigate this uncertain terrain, I had a chance to interview Jody...
September “Senior Sense” Explaining Dementia to Children
“Mom, how come Grandma doesn’t remember my name? I keep repeating it, but she doesn’t recognize me.” For young children,...
What ‘Succession’ and Sumner Redstone can teach us about planning ahead for senior care
Many of us have read the titillating and tragic story of Sumner Redstone, the former executive chairman of Viacom, and the...
The Medicare card scam every senior should beware of
In an effort to reduce identity theft and fraud, new Medicare cards were sent out beginning in April to more...
December “Senior Sense”: The Hidden Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Forbes.com When Rick could not remember where he kept...
Caring for an aging parent? 8 tips for a smooth transition into caregiving
Aging parents may hesitate to ask for help while adult children struggle to step in. These tips can help ease...
January “Senior Sense”: Want To Enjoy Old Age? This 90-Year-Old Has One Simple Trick, And Science Backs Her Up
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Forbes.com As Bette Davis famously quipped, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” My...
Having the inheritance talk with parents brings both sadness and relief
Several months ago my sister made a surprising suggestion: Let’s sit down with Mom and figure out how this whole...
February “Senior Sense”: We Are Not Our Parents’ Parents
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Yale University Press I often refer to my 89-year-old...
Should you write your own will or hire a lawyer?
If you don’t yet have a last will and testament, you might be wondering if you really need to hire...
March “Senior Sense”: How to Talk to Parents About Needing Care
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care Clara always had a contentious relationship with her fiercely-independent mother, and things didn’t...
5 top online, low-cost will services for estate planning
According to a recent Gallup poll, 56% of Americans do not have a will. Dying without a will means that state laws will...
Why more people are using advance directives for people with dementia
Financial planners, family-law attorneys, and medical professionals have long urged people to write advance directives—legal statements that stipulate what sort of...
April “Senior Sense”: What To Expect When You’re Expecting An Inheritance
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care Several months ago my sister made a surprising suggestion: Let’s sit down with...
What is a trust—and why they’re not just for the super wealthy
You might think trust funds are reserved for the super-wealthy, but in reality a trust can be a smart estate-planning...
Trust vs. will: Which is better for you?
Determining if you need a trust or a will can get confusing, because on the surface both appear to do...
May “Senior Sense”: 5 Unexpected Ways Life Changes when you Become a Caregiver to your Parent
By Liz O’Donnell I heard about parenting all the time: “Your life completely changes when you become a parent,” my...
How to make a living will
A living will is a straightforward, easy-to-complete document that allows you to specify what should happen in the event that you’re...
Checklist: Everything you need to do after someone dies
After a loved one dies, it can be hard to think of anything beyond your immediate sadness and grief. But...
Life insurance: What are the types + how to buy it
Don’t have life insurance? You’re not alone. Over 100 million Americans don’t have a policy, according to Life Happens, a...
How to spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid
Many aging adults need help with daily personal tasks—things like bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, or taking medications. Medicare doesn’t...
When does your loved one need a guardian or conservator?
Choosing to become a loved one’s guardian or conservator is a serious matter that requires court approval. This role requires...
4 ways to avoid probate
It is a truth universally acknowledged that probate is a major pain. It requires that an executor or other representative appear in...
What is an executor and what do they do?
Naming an executor is one of the most important elements of a last will and testament. After all, an executor...
Should you set up a testamentary trust? What you need to know
The two most common types of trusts are revocable living trusts and irrevocable living trusts. But those are hardly your...