Three Common Myths about Medicaid
In the state of Michigan, nearly 2.5 million people are provided health care under Medicaid. This includes low-income adults, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities that depend on the federal and state program for access to health care as well as long-term services which include basic life functions such as meal prep, bathing/dressing and administering medication. For those not familiar with the eligibility aspects of Medicaid, click here to view the video “An Introduction to Medicaid.” Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Elder Law, Long-Term Care, Medicaid Planning
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Gift Cards: A New Kind of Scam
Gift cards; while they are a great means of acknowledging someone's birthday, anniversary, or simply to say "thank you," they are also rapidly becoming a means for con artists to scam unsuspecting individuals, especially seniors. Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Digital Assets, Elder Law, Fraud & Abuse, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Elder Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing the Signs
Saturday, June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is a day created by the UN in 2012 to draw attention to the millions of older adults who experience elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. With increased longevity, nearly 50 million people in the US alone are age 65 and older. Estimates indicate that by 2050, the global population of people above the age of 60 will exceed the number of younger people.
Unfortunately, this also means that there is a growing need to address the issue of elder abuse as senior citizens are increasingly finding themselves prone to scammers and abuse both from within and without. According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), as many as 1 in 10 older Americans are abused or neglected each year and only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever comes to the attention of the proper authorities. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
What are my Long Term Care Options?
Your parents have lived in the same house for decades. They have invested time and money, not to mention the memories in making it their own, and want to live out their lives there. As time goes by, adjustments are made in the home to accommodate their physical challenges but now those accommodations are no longer sufficient to meet their level of care. They can manage for now but they are realizing that now may be the time to think about other living options. There are however many types of long term care options that are available. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Medicare/Medicaid
Worried about the Future? Here's what you need to do now
The problems that seniors face can erupt suddenly from out of nowhere or can start small and grow more serious over time. A crisis can occur when a senior family member is diagnosed with dementia, has a chronic illness or is admitted to a nursing home. Often after the crisis has already occurred is when the end-of-life documents are pulled out of the drawer and the family calls an elder law or estate planning attorney for help. Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Elder Law, Estate Planning
Worried About Nursing Homes? Consider This
You have elderly parents and the very mention of entering a nursing home makes them very nervous. They wish to stay in their own home for as long as possible and understandably so. It seems that as people age and everyday tasks become more difficult, that entering a nursing home or assisted living facility is the only viable solution. Fortunately there are other options available that allow people to be able to live in their homes for longer than they used to. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law
Four Tips to Remember When Selecting a Caregiver or Assisted Living
The reversal of roles in the parent-child relationship, from the parent being the provider to the parent being dependent on his or her child, is a change that can be difficult for both. This is made even more difficult when it becomes apparent that the parent(s) can no longer live on their own, and now need around the clock care. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Financing Long-term Care
Power of Attorney: Who Needs One?
You may have heard the term 'Power of Attorney' being used before, perhaps by your doctor or a close family member. That person likely emphasized how important having one is. You also may be asking yourself, do I really need one? The answer is yes. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Powers of Attorney
Recognizing and Living with Alzheimer’s
It is true that as we all age, our minds are not as sharp as they once were. We tend to forget minor things like where we put our keys or what level of a parking garage that we parked our car on. There is however a major difference in having small memory lapses, which even the most keen minds will have from time to time, and having a brain disease such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Read More ›
Categories: Dementia & Alzheimer's, Elder Law
Helping my Aging Parents Pay for Care
Your parents may reach a point where they can no longer live on their own. Not only that, but as we age, the costs of living increase as we seek more and more complicated medical care. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Financing, Financing Long-term Care, Medicare/Medicaid
Survivor's Checklist:
Due to the shock of the death of a spouse or a loved one, the steps of what needs to be done first can be an overwhelming process for the survivor(s). To aid in the breakdown and to act as a tool amidst the emotional days ahead, estate planning Jonathan "Jay" David has assembled a "Survivor's Checklist" of some of the important things that need to be addressed when a spouse or loved one dies.
Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024):
Below is a comprehensive guide of resources for older adults living alone, empowering them to thrive independently and access essential services. This guide was created and provided with permission by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024) (ncoa.org)
Elder Organizer Tool:
Foster Swift has created a free ‘Elder Organizer’ digital notebook to provide seniors and their caretakers with a toolkit that helps organize doctors’ appointments, medications, and more that can be shared online. The tools below are also available on the Elder Law Resources page.
*For those trying to access these links by smartphone, it is best practice to copy/open the link in a separate tab and download the free Google Sheets app from Google Play or the Apple Store.
COVID-19 Checklist:
For adult children responsible for their elderly parents and other senior caretakers concerned about protecting loved ones as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, below is a free downloadable checklist of steps to follow to prepare for any possible COVID-19-related illnesses among the most-vulnerable.
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E-book Covers Estate Planning Essentials
Engaging in estate planning, while essential, is often emotional and generates many questions. How do I protect my spouse and my children if something happens to me? What happens if I become disabled before I pass on? Who will take care of my pet after I'm gone? How do I pass my business on to my children? These questions and more are addressed in Jonathan David’s recently updated e-book, “Estate Planning: You Have to Start in Order to Finish.”
Need Help Planning?
For more tools, visit our Elder Law Resource page for additional content. Click here to view/download the Foster Swift estate planning brochure to see what our experienced team of attorneys can do for you.