News
Arbitration Agreements in Nursing Home Admission Contracts
On October 1st, a federal appeals court decided to uphold restrictions that limit the use of binding arbitration agreements in nursing home admissions agreements. Binding arbitration agreements prior to the rise of any actual dispute have been promoted for decades as a way to reduce expenses by providing an alternative dispute resolution method. When used properly, arbitration agreements can provide the parties with a less expensive forum to solve disputes. However, binding arbitration agreements have also been used by the business community to attempt to limit themselves from potential liability by having a party relinquish their right to bring [...]
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 [...]
Important Medicare Provisions Seniors Should Know About
Congress is gearing up to pass a budget reconciliation package, and there are several important Medicare provisions affecting seniors, including first-time Medicare coverage for vision, hearing, and dental care. These Medicare provisions are proposed to phase in vision, hearing, and dental benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2028, respectively. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that vision benefits would cost $30 billion over 10 years, hearing benefits would cost $89 billion over 10 years, and dental benefits would cost $238 billion over 10 years. The legislation would also make broader changes to prescription drug coverage under Medicare. In addition to [...]
Update on Rothkoff Law Group
We have attempted to provide some semblance of normalcy regarding our services and outreach after over 18 months of revamping business practices and our interactions with clients and our professional partners. We originally scheduled in-person professional appreciation events for the end of September and a client appreciation event for early December, as we have done in previous years. Unfortunately, due to the Delta variant, we decided to postpone these large in-person events and will reschedule them and/or turn these events into a virtual event. We believe we have a duty to protect our senior clients, the public, and our [...]
Rothkoff Law Elder Care Symposium Set to Explore What Went Wrong in the Pandemic with Elder Care
On Thursday, October 21, 2021, Rothkoff Law Group will host our 4th Annual Elder Care Symposium from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The topic for this year’s virtual event is Lessons Learned from COVID-19. The agenda includes a keynote address, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion. Professionals who work with older adults and family members of senior-aged loved ones will have valuable networking opportunities and unprecedented access to critical information regarding elder care issues. The Symposium will take a hard look at the current healthcare system for seniors and address how to change it for the better. This unique event [...]
Be Prepared for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period for 2022 has arrived. Throughout the year, Medicare has different enrollment periods. The Open Enrollment Period, or OEP, is the timeframe during which Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare plans. This year’s OEP will take place October 15 through December 7, 2021. Any changes you make to your Medicare plan during this period go into effect on January 1, 2022. During OEP, you can: • Switch from Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan. • Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. [...]
Join Our Team: Love 4 Lois
One in 10 people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. Since the disease has affected a beloved former employee, Lois Cohen, we’ve been walking to end Alzheimer’s every November—and this year, we want you to walk with us. Learn how you can join our team and make a donation: http://bit.ly/love4lois2021
The Pandemic Did Not Change Everything
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and communicate with one another in various ways, including scheduling virtual meetings, a significant reduction in travel, and reduction or elimination of large in-person gatherings. However, some important aspects of life have not changed, not all necessarily for the better. In late August, news broke that 91-year-old actor Ed Asner died. Asner became famous for his role as Lou Grant, the crusty newspaperman on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, then later as Lou Grant on his own TV drama from 1977-82. He was also the lovable voice of Carl in “Up,” [...]
Planning Ahead for the Medicaid Look-Back Period
What is a Medicaid Look-Back Period, and why should you be concerned about planning ahead for Medicaid benefits? We encounter the following factual scenario on a regular basis, which will shed some light on why you may want to start planning now. Mom can no longer live independently. Mom sells her house and moves in with her son and his family. Son uses mom’s money to remodel or add an addition to his home and to help pay household expenses, such as utilities, food, maintenance. Mom never puts anything in writing indicating son can use her money for such expenses. [...]
Self-Directed Medicaid Home Care Options
For a multitude of reasons, even once approved for Medicaid, many families have been hesitant to move their loved ones to an Assisted Living or Nursing Home environment, opting instead for home care. However, home care through an agency comes with issues of its own, primarily rooted in staffing shortages. It is no secret that the United States’ aging population is growing, an impending crisis exacerbated and exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently called out Pennsylvania’s lack of comprehensive eldercare solutions, rating their “level of preparedness at a ‘C’ or ‘D,’” not nearly good enough to match [...]
Recognizing and Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
In addition to advocating for the needs of our clients, the Rothkoff Care Coordination team often addresses the need of the caregiver with whom we communicate, including the impact of caregiver burnout. A caregiver is typically a spouse or adult child who is assisting 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 simply involves concern over the aging loved one’s wellbeing and checking to make sure this loved one is okay. Caregivers provide this support out of love, respect, and a [...]
Walk to End Alzheimer’s: Love for Lois
Every year, thousands of Americans lace up for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s—the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. And every year, our team walks for our dear friend and former co-worker Lois, who is living with this disease. Lois’s grandson, Jared Fisch, pens an anecdotal essay on what it looks like to be on the other end of Alzheimer’s watching a loved one change before you. Read on below and join the Rothkoff Law Group – Love for Lois team in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. She’s Not Who She Used to Be I [...]
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 [...]
Nursing Home Visitation
Unfortunately, nursing home visitation and visits to long-term care communities in NJ, PA, and beyond are once again being limited or restricted due to residents and/or staff contracting the COVID-19 virus. We have seen the devastating consequences of visitation restrictions on long-term care residents. During the past year, long-term care advocates have called for each community to allow for an “essential caregiver” during a health care emergency. In June 2021, a bill was introduced in Congress to recognize essential caregivers. The Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 3733) is bipartisan legislation that would give nursing home residents the right to have access [...]
Pennsylvania Updates Nursing Home Regulations
Acknowledging that current statewide nursing home regulations are insufficient to meet the physical, psychological, and social needs of residents, Pennsylvania announced a number of changes this past week. One of the most significant being a 35% increase in direct care provided to each nursing home resident - 4.1 daily hours, up from 2.7. Although lessons learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic contributed to these new nursing home regulations, studies show that raising the number of care hours improves the quality of care, prevents infections, falls, malnutrition, and dehydration. In short, more care creates better outcomes. Of course, any new law, regulation, [...]