Tax Deductions for Assisted Living Costs

Since it is tax season, many caregivers of our clients who are residents of an assisted living facility inquire about tax deductions for assisted living costs. The IRS provides rules for deducting certain qualified long-term care costs as medical expenses. Normally, the costs of nursing home care should be deductible, but the status of Assisted Living Facility (ALF) costs has not been as clear. For ALF residents, qualified long-term care costs are “necessary rehabilitative services, maintenance or personal care services that are (1) required by a chronically ill individual, and (2) provided pursuant to a plan of care by a [...]

2024-02-28T13:22:42-05:00February 29, 2024|

Avoiding Caregiver Burnout: Recognizing the Risks

Avoiding caregiver burnout is a key consideration for those who work professionally or care for loved ones. In addition to advocating for the needs of our clients, the Care Coordination team at Rothkoff Law Group often turns focus to the caregivers with whom we communicate. A caregiver is often a spouse or adult child who assists with tasks ranging from meal preparation and medication management to physically assisting their loved one with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and grooming. Sometimes, caregiving involves concern over the aging loved one's well-being and checking to ensure this loved one is okay. [...]

2024-03-08T10:46:59-05:00February 15, 2024|

Recognizing the Signs of Caregiver Stress

In the day-to-day, signs of caregiver stress can sometimes go unchecked. Ongoing stress can affect your physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. It's important to recognize the signs of caregiver stress, whether it's yourself or someone you love; you can help alleviate it in a timely manner, eliminate any potential lingering effects, and feel better overall. Six Signs of Caregiver Stress 1. Your Body Hurts Feeling stressed manifests not only emotionally but physically, too. This can lead to jaw or fist clenching or tightness in your neck and shoulder muscles. Being on high alert can also lead to your nerves being [...]

2024-03-08T10:47:10-05:00February 8, 2024|

What to Look for When Visiting Elderly Loved Ones This Holiday Season

The holidays are a busy time of year. We are rushing to complete our shopping lists, decorate, and put the casserole in the oven before our guests arrive. Over the next month, many of us will travel to visit our senior family members, with whom we have kept in contact via phone or email throughout the year. Here is what to look for when visiting elderly loved ones this holiday season. Upon entering our loved ones’ homes, we might observe: Bills and paperwork are in disarray on the dining room table. Unopened and expired foods in the refrigerator. Expired medication [...]

2024-03-08T10:55:33-05:00November 9, 2023|

End-of-Life Support: Caring for a Loved One Facing Death

Supporting a loved one facing death is a challenging and emotional journey. It can bring uncertainty, fear, and sadness, making the situation overwhelming. However, with some preparation, this experience can become more manageable and a time of connection and closeness.    Watching someone you care about nearing the end of their life can trigger various emotions like helplessness, grief, and even anger. Dealing with your feelings of loss while providing end-of-life support and strength to your loved one may be tough, as emotions can change from day to day. It takes strength and resilience to work through this difficult time [...]

2024-03-08T11:00:06-05:00July 28, 2023|

Aging Parents with Special Needs Adults

Planning to Replace the Irreplaceable Parent For aging parents with children who are special needs adults, planning ahead is an important step in seamlessly transitioning care. We spend a good part of our day helping families navigate the long-term care system to secure care for a senior. Many families do not realize that we also assist in planning for the families of seniors. Most parents of children with disabilities are aware of the necessity to plan financially for their child. However, they may not have considered living and care arrangements for their child, regardless of the child’s age. Some families [...]

2022-11-29T19:26:55-05:00December 9, 2022|

The Power of Music

A few years ago, when I first heard country artist Jay Allen's song, "Blank Stares," it struck a chord with me. Every word explained exactly how I was feeling and what I was experiencing caring for my mother living with Alzheimer's disease. The song even begins with a snippet of a voicemail message that his mother left him. I, too, keep voicemail messages that my mom left for me and listen to them just to hear her voice. Jay shares his emotional story often in an effort to educate the public about this horrific disease without a cure. Jay released [...]

2024-03-08T11:23:31-05:00September 19, 2022|

Senior Travel Tips for Safety and Peace of Mind

With the start of the summer holiday season, going on vacation is something that many families look forward to, and having the right senior travel tips can help ensure everyone has a great time. A vacation with your family is a fantastic way to connect, make memories, spend quality time together, experience new things, or revisit places that are meaningful to you. As a family caregiver, planning a vacation is not just about thinking of all the wonderful things you'll do together and making sure you plan what everybody wants to do. You must also keep in mind your senior's [...]

2024-03-08T11:29:05-05:00May 27, 2022|

The Importance of Interprofessional Collaboration in Elder Care

Interprofessional collaboration is a vital part of elder care, bringing together resources and expertise from different areas in order to assist a family or individual. According to the World Health Organization, health care is undergoing a significant transformation to reduce cost while improving quality and client experience. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and education are viewed as the best path forward to meet the complex needs of today’s clients under new reimbursement models. According to the World Health Organization, IPC occurs when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality [...]

2024-03-08T11:29:42-05:00May 20, 2022|

Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes

March is the month to honor unsung heroes of the workforce: social workers. There are over 700,000 social workers in the United States, and the profession is growing. Social workers dedicate their lives to helping others navigate challenges. They counsel those with mental health and addiction issues, help families navigate foster care and adoption, counsel students, and are essential in a myriad of interdisciplinary teams, including those in hospitals, advocacy organizations, and elder law firms. When I transitioned to the practice of elder law, it was important to me to work for a firm employing social workers. After 10 years [...]

2024-03-08T11:31:57-05:00March 25, 2022|
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