By Linda Anderson, CELA
There’s a lot of talk about how divided we are as a nation. Racial, socioeconomic, and political affiliations are just a few of the flash points. Here’s something we often overlook as we’re demonizing the other: we have a few important things in common. No matter our race, gender, class, or political affiliation, we all going to age, and we're all going to die.
A Pew Research study released in March 2021 reported that 27% of adults ages 60 and older in the U.S. live alone. Another study, conducted in 2016, reported that about 22% of people in the United States will be unsupported as they age.
Long-term care costs a fortune. Genworth, a long-term care insurance provider that has been tracking the cost of long-term care, reports that costs have risen dramatically since they began tracking them in 2004. Families are often astounded when they find out how much long-term care can cost, especially when they learn that Medicare benefits are limited for these services. Unless the person has long-term care insurance, they will likely pay for this care out-of-pocket—from savings, home equity and, often, other family members’ assets.
If you’ve spent any time on a commercial airline, you’ve heard the flight attendant say this during the pre-flight safety briefing: “In the event of an unexpected drop in cabin pressure, put on your own mask first before assisting others.”
Are you a Medicare beneficiary? Is your spouse, your parent, or another elderly loved one on Medicare? If the answer is YES, you need to know about Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit. This is the one time each year when a Medicare beneficiary works with his or her physician to develop a personalized prevention plan and access Medicare’s free preventive screening services.
With all the controversy over COVID vaccines, flu shots seem to have been lost in the shuffle. Should people over age 65 get the flu shot?
The answer is yes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people 65 years and older should receive the flu vaccination by the end of October each year, before the flu season starts.1 The flu shot is also encouraged for family members and caregivers of seniors.
Why is the flu shot important?
When you first walk into a Life Care Planning Law Firm, the atmosphere might feel a bit different than what you will experience when you enter an ordinary elder law firm. Ordinary elder law firms don’t have registered nurses, social workers, or other non-legal professionals on staff. That’s because they’re not equipped to assist families with care-related concerns.
By Bob Mannor, CELA
There’s a lot to love about the Life Care Planning approach to elder law, but the thing I like best is that it’s the only approach that is truly holistic.
