Drastic Updates to California’s End of Life Option Act
California is one of only five states in the United States that offers medical aid in dying to the critically ill who qualify. The End of Life Option Act was signed into California legislature on October 5, 2015. The law was enacted in June 2016, thereby officially allowing terminally ill adult residents to access medical aid in dying by self-administering lethal drugs, provided certain prerequisites were met. Although the new legislation granted immense relief to many, it also contained numerous “safeguards” that became major obstacles for patients eligible for medical aid in dying. Patients who met the criteria for California’s ... Read More
An Overview of VA Benefits for Older Veterans
Over 18,2 million veterans live in the United States, and 38 percent of them are over the age of 65, according to the US Census Bureau. Additionally, the Census Bureau reports that more than 9 million veterans receive services from the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) annually. If you are a veteran or have a loved one who is, it is important to understand all the VA resources and aid that are available. Beyond education programs, home loans, and job search and training resources, the VA also provides a host of other resources to assist you as you transition to ... Read More
Criminal Scams on the Rise During the COVID-19 Pandemic
At times when there is a crisis and people are vulnerable and in need, criminals come out of the woodwork. The opportunities to exploit fear and need are especially rich and varied in the Covid environment. ABC News reports that as of April 10, the Federal Trade Commission has logged $12 million in Covid-related theft. Given that the epidemic didn’t start to bite in the U.S. until March at the earliest, that is some impressive number for less than two months. Examples of Criminal Scams This article cautions against only a few examples of the teeming horde of ingenious criminal ... Read More
Inter-Generational Living Beneficial to the Aging Process
The aging experience is changing because of the new inter-generational community living models. Dubbed “new urbanism” it is the belief that a living environment with high standards can have a positive effect on the quality of life, local economy, and public health. The goal of new urbanism for older adults is the offering of an active lifestyle enhanced by a vibrant and bustling community composed of varying ages and ethnicities. This can help keep the brains of aging adults more agile as they challenge themselves to socialize with new people of all ages, backgrounds, and world views. Inter-generational living is ... Read More
New VA Budget Plan Helps Address Veteran Issues
According to a recent American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 19 million Veterans live in the United States. For Veterans, some of the most significant problems are health related. In addition to health issues, some returning service members have other challenges — such as economic or social challenges — readjusting to civilian life. The new Veterans Affairs budget plan focuses on addressing Veterans issues by supplementing many programs for service members and their families. Recently, House lawmakers approved a new Veterans Affairs budget for next year. The significant funding increase includes $270 billion, supporting critical programs ... Read More
Planning Your Legal End-of-Life Instructions
You have an estate plan and included in it is your Advance Health Care Directive with instructions for resuscitation. While your wishes in your Advance Health Care Directive may be appropriately documented, that does not guarantee the instructions will be carried out as you stated. The frightening truth is that mistakes about your end-of-life instructions are made while you are at your most vulnerable. Dr. Monica Williams-Murphy, medical director of advance-care planning and end-of-life education for Huntsville Hospital Health System in Alabama has said, “Unfortunately, misunderstandings involving documents meant to guide end-of-life decision-making are surprisingly common.” The underlying problem is that ... Read More
Silver Bills Assist Seniors With Their Bill Paying Process
Silver Bills is a service that assists seniors in the process of paying their monthly bills. As many baby boomers continue to opt for aging in place, home administrative tasks can become problematic. Family members who would like to help may live out of state or are too busy in their own careers to manage a loved one's household bills. SilverBills has created a seamless service that will receive your bills, carefully review them, and ensure that your bills are correctly paid. At your direction, SilverBills will mail you an enrollment packet. You will have to provide bills and one ... Read More
Seniors Receive Increased Protection From Financial Abuse in the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act
The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act provides seniors with more protection from financial elder abuse. The Act contains a section that was once a stand-alone bill from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) which is designed to encourage the reporting of elder (age 65 and older) financial abuse witnessed by financial institutions. The Act does not mandate that these institutions report financial abuse directed towards elders to avoid penalties, rather it gives them an incentive to do so. The Act provides immunity from any lawsuit alleging elder financial abuse if the financial institution reports it to state or federal ... Read More
The Elder Abuse Prevention & Prosecution Act
The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act was designed to combat the growing epidemic of the elderly being taken advantage of financially and abused physically. A study conducted by the National Council on Aging indicates that approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 or older have experienced some form of elder abuse. Although, this number is likely higher according to another study which estimates only 1 in 14 elder abuse cases is reported. Financial abuse is more likely to be reported than emotional or physical abuse. The costs of elder abuse are steep. Elders who are victims of abuse have ... Read More
Are Medicare and Social Security at Risk of Insolvency?
A government study found that Medicare and Social Security are at risk of collapse. Unless action is taken, Social Security will exceed its income by 2020, whereas Medicare is projected to exceed its hospital insurance fund by 2026. Social Security will have to start spending down, potentially including massive cuts in payments to recipients by 2035. Likewise, Medicare will be forced to leave patients on the hook for more and more of their hospital and nursing home expenses. This will have massive effects, especially on those who rely on these social welfare programs the most. According to this study by ... Read More
The Many Benefits of an Elder Law Attorney’s Expertise
As seniors age, they increasingly count on help from family and friends to take care of their financial and health care matters. They often believe that their family members will be able to take care of any issues that arise. While consulting with loved ones about plans and wishes can be beneficial, relying solely on them can cause problems in the long run for both seniors and their families. Instead, it is best to seek the advice of an elder law attorney when it comes to putting proper planning in place. The issues around retirement, wills, and estate planning are ... Read More
Massive Fraud Scheme Against Seniors
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently conducted the largest ever elder fraud sweep and charged over 250 defendants with fraud, representing over 750 million dollars. In each case, the defendants allegedly engaged in financial tactics that either specifically targeted or mostly affected seniors. The fraud operations are evident in every federal district in the United States. Fake drug discount cards, remote access to computers under the guise of technical support, relative in distress needing cash stories (the so-called "grandparents scheme”), insurance fees to collect nonexistent sweepstakes prizes, mass mailings and money mule fraud, and posing as debt collectors are ... Read More
