Elder Care Law Services and the Power of the Written Word

As we deal with the day-to-day issues of managing a law firm and providing elder care law services for clients and their loved ones, we sometimes unintentionally forget why we do what we do. It is a natural human reaction to address the here and now before you. Our focus as an elder care law firm is to ensure our clients receive the best care possible, determine how care can be reasonably paid for, and ease the burden on the caregiver family member. We received a handwritten note via mail from the child of a recently deceased client. We have [...]

2024-03-08T12:22:44-05:00October 1, 2021|

Preventing Falls: Tips on Caring for Aging Parents

As our loved ones age, it's important to help in preventing falls in an effort to help save them from devastating effects on their health. There are steps you can take to lower the risk. It is always a good idea to have a conversation with your loved one’s doctor about what might be appropriate. Here are a few talking points for preventing falls to discuss with your loved one and/or their doctor. Start by asking your loved one’s doctor whether they are at high risk for falls. Ask your loved one’s doctor whether they are any steps you can [...]

2024-03-08T12:19:28-05:00August 19, 2021|

LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights

New Jersey is one of four states leading the charge against discrimination based on sexual orientation in long-term care facilities. In March of this year, Governor Murphy signed S2545/A4388, known as the LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights, into law. The new law, similar to those in Massachusetts, California, and Illinois, bans discrimination in long-term care communities based on gender identity and sexual orientation.   The significance of the LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights is twofold. First, it mandates the staff and administration of long-term care communities receive training on caring for and preventing discrimination against LGBTQI+ seniors. Secondly, the law establishes [...]

2024-03-08T12:23:42-05:00July 22, 2021|

LGBT Advocacy for the Senior Population

In a recent post, our client Services Director, Manon Adcock, referenced the challenges of LGBT advocacy among the aging population. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a SAGECare training Manon had mentioned, along with attorneys Bryan Adler and Roxane Crowley of Rothkoff Law Group. SAGECare is a national organization that offers resources and LGBT advocacy for aging adults. We attended an all-day program that offered cultural competency training for advocating for these individuals. It was an eye-opening experience to hear the history of LGBT advocacy groups and the ongoing challenges LGBT seniors experience. Their trainings are available [...]

2024-03-08T12:23:58-05:00July 15, 2021|

FDA Approves New Alzheimer’s Drug

On June 7, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aduhelm (aducanumab), a new Alzheimer’s drug for the treatment of the disease. Aduhelm was approved using the “accelerated approval pathway,” which can be used for a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides a therapeutic advantage over existing treatment. According to the FDA, “accelerated approval can be based on the drug’s effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients, with a required post-approval trial to verify that the drug provides the expected clinical benefit.” Was the approval of [...]

2024-03-08T12:25:48-05:00July 1, 2021|

Aging with PRIDE: LGBT Aging and Advocacy

LGBT aging and advocacy can be an ongoing issue for seniors as they make new transitions in their lives. From medical care to social roadblocks in assisted living facilities, LGBT aging is an important topic for all, whether or not you find yourself a part of this community. As we all know, aging is not something we can avoid. There are ways we can slow the progression by which we age, such as by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but eventually, we all get there. Working with seniors, I have seen 90-year-olds that look 60 and 60-year-olds that look [...]

2024-03-08T12:26:26-05:00June 17, 2021|

The Value of Home Modifications For Older Adults

The focus of our elder care law firm is to offer a multi-disciplinary approach to address the issues associated with the aging process. Traditional legal services such as drafting estate planning documents, trust planning, and guardianships are important legal tools that everyone should plan for. However, these purely legal tools do not prevent seniors from falling in their home and subsequently requiring a hospital stay and possible nursing home placement. As such, we provide both legal and non-legal care advocacy services to keep seniors at home where most older adults want to be. COVID -19 and its aftermath have made [...]

2024-03-08T12:28:50-05:00April 30, 2021|

“Shared Living” – Older Parents Living with their Adult Children

“Shared Living” is a term that can refer to parents moving in with their adult children. This type of shared living has become more common in recent years for many reasons. Parents may move into their adult children’s homes because of financial or medical reasons, as well as to simply strengthen family bonds. The Covid-19 pandemic has also spurred an increase in shared living as families have been concerned about the high incidence of infections of Covid-19 in nursing homes and other senior living alternatives. Recently, a friend and his siblings worked together to assist their mother in her move [...]

2024-03-08T12:29:04-05:00April 22, 2021|

Unsupported Elders and Advocacy Services

Prior to starting my job as the Rothkoff Law Group Pennsylvania Client Services Director, where I work with many clients, including unsupported elders, I had plenty of experience in senior care, but I did not have any experience in the legal field. I was under the assumption that you meet with an elder care law attorney to have your will and powers of attorney prepared. I quickly realized that this could not be further from the truth. Outside of knowing my title, quite honestly, I was unaware of what my daily routine would be and what role I would play [...]

2021-11-09T16:52:52-05:00March 11, 2021|

Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns, or other health system disruptions. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived two limitations on Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage during the coronavirus pandemic: The 3-day qualifying hospital stay requirement; and The 100-day benefit period.  However, CMS treats the two SNF coverage expansions differently from each other with regard to its connection to COVID-19. Three Day [...]

2024-03-08T12:31:28-05:00March 4, 2021|
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