News
Involuntary Nursing Home Discharge: “We Have No Long-Term Care Beds”
I recently met with a family regarding their ailing father and a potential involuntary nursing home discharge. Their father fell in his home and was subsequently hospitalized. He then transitioned from the hospital to a local nursing home for rehabilitation covered by Medicare. The amount Medicare pays a nursing home for a resident undergoing short-term rehabilitation is significantly higher than what the nursing home would receive via Medicaid. However, Medicare will only pay for a maximum of 100 days if the resident needs skilled care. The 100 days is by no means guaranteed. With this client, the nursing home discharge [...]
Disabilities and Social Security Benefits
When it comes to disabilities and social security benefits, the rules and regulations governing these entitlements can be challenging to navigate. It is necessary to understand how disability status impacts eligibility for Social Security benefits for those who may need financial support due to a disability. The Relationship Between Disabilities and Social Security Benefits Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are the two main programs that provide financial assistance to people with disabilities. While SSDI is based on a person's work history and contributions to the Social Security system, SSI is a needs-based program designed to [...]
State of the Firm
As we come to the end of a meaningful and productive year, we want to thank you for your continued trust in our Elder Care Law Firm. We value our relationship with each of you, and we look forward to an even better 2024. I would like to take a few moments to reflect on the past year and update you on Rothkoff Law Group. Over the past year, we have engaged in the following activities and firm engagement: In October, we opened our Doylestown, PA, office—our seventh office, and fourth in Pennsylvania. We welcomed experienced elder law attorney Richard [...]
How to Transfer a Car Title from Deceased Family Members
At our firm, we’re often asked how to transfer a car title from deceased family members. Until recently, in New Jersey, transferring a title required a trip to the local DMV office, which sometimes needed a significant wait time. However, in May 2023, New Jersey enacted a new "transfer on death" law for motor vehicles. This new law represents a notable step toward making the asset transfer process more efficient and cost-effective. It aligns motor vehicles with the ease of transfer typically associated with bank accounts and retirement plans, simplifying the lives of both vehicle owners and their beneficiaries. This [...]
The Death with Dignity Act
The Death with Dignity Act often sparks controversy and brings to the forefront important questions about the role of doctors in end-of-life care. The American Medical Association defines “death with dignity” or “medical aid in dying” (MAID) as when a physician offers "the necessary means and/or information" to assist a patient in choosing to end their own life.” Throughout this blog the terms “death with dignity” and “medical aid in dying” will be used interchangeably. What constitutes dying with dignity varies from person to person. It is a highly personal perspective. For instance, if someone believes that dying in a confused [...]
Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health as a Senior
We’ve reached a time where taking care of your health no longer refers solely to your physical self. However, for many, addressing mental health as a senior doesn’t come as naturally or easily as physical health. When it comes to physical health, we know that regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, prioritizing quality nutrition, and partaking in healthy habits, such as limiting alcohol consumption and abstaining from smoking, bode well for the general population. There are well-established physical activity guidelines and balanced nutrition recommendations that individuals can follow to help support physical health. So, while each person’s physical health journey [...]
6 Steps to Establishing a Sustainable Exercise Routine
If you've recently met with a healthcare professional, you've likely been reminded of the benefits of healthy habits, such as balanced nutrition and a sustainable exercise routine. However, knowledge alone doesn't translate to healthy habit formation. So, it's not surprising that many people need more support than a verbal reminder to "move more" or "start exercising." A sustainable exercise routine should be individualized since each person has preferences, needs, interests, and health considerations that all play a role. Here are six ways to help establish an exercise routine and adopt a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. Six Ways To Start A Sustainable [...]
Home For The Holidays: Leaving The Nursing Home During A Medicare-Covered Stay
A week prior to Thanksgiving, I met with a client whose husband was in a local nursing home for a rehabilitation stay following a fall that resulted in hospitalization. The wife communicated that her husband wanted to come home for the day to spend Thanksgiving Day with his family and would be devastated if he was unable to do so for health reasons. The nursing home originally informed our client that her husband leaving the nursing home during a Medicare-covered stay would result in a loss of coverage if he went home for the day because it would be evidence [...]
Exercise for Seniors: How to Maximize Active Aging
We know that exercise for seniors is important. We know that exercise is especially important as someone reaches their golden years, yet older adults remain the most sedentary group overall. So, where’s the disconnect? Is it the lack of knowledge about exercise? No, probably not. Is it that older adults can’t exercise? No, absolutely not. So, it likely has more to do with knowing what to do and how to do it. Active aging requires the combination of both regular structured exercise programs and being physically active as much as possible. And the truth is, being active is easier than [...]
Wellness Programs for Seniors
Wellness programs for seniors are highly beneficial—but what do they encompass? What does “wellness” cover? “Wellness” is a broad term used in various ways, from healthcare to the workplace and everywhere. For instance, primary care annual appointments typically include wellness services, such as health screenings, risk assessments, and routine blood work. In the workplace, employers may offer wellness programs, promote stress reduction, fitness memberships, nutritional education, or healthy living. Other health professionals also offer wellness services aside from those found within medical practices or employ organizations, such as health spas or fitness centers. Regardless of the setting, these services have [...]
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 [...]
How Beautiful It Can Be To Let The Dead Go
October has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I allow fall to remind me that things come to an end and that they can still be beautiful. I always think of the quote, “The leaves are about to show us how beautiful it can be to let the dead go.” It also helps that Halloween is my favorite holiday. As the excitement of Halloween has come to a close this year, I can’t help but think of another holiday our neighbors to the South have just celebrated. In the United States, we typically mourn loved ones, [...]
There Is Hope In The Face Of Unspeakable Evil
My last visit to Israel was in the Spring of 2018. I was traveling as part of a professional tour of aging services throughout Israel. Although the trip had many memorable experiences, a random encounter with a stranger at Ben Gurion Airport outside of Tel Aviv prior to my departure was the most memorable. As I was walking to my departure gate to return to Newark, NJ, after the 10-day trip, I noticed a middle-aged gentleman standing by a table with what appeared to be gift packages on display with a banner in Hebrew above the table and a picture [...]
What Do VA Benefits Cover?
What do VA benefits cover? Understanding the extent of these benefits is essential for veterans and their families, as it allows them to make the most of available support. From healthcare, education, disability compensation, housing, and more we cover it in this blog. Healthcare Benefits Healthcare is typically the first area that comes to mind when examining what VA benefits cover. The VA offers comprehensive medical care, including preventive, outpatient, inpatient, and mental health services. Specialized care for women veterans, substance abuse treatment, and rehabilitation for those with disabilities are also available. Educational Support Education is another significant aspect of [...]
Physical Therapy for Seniors: How It Can Help
Physical therapy for seniors: what is it and how can it help? Suppose you have ever had an injury, pain, recurrent falls, or changes to your walking or otherwise daily mobility. In that case, you’ve likely heard of physical therapy or have been a patient yourself. Physical therapy for seniors is a form of healthcare that combines prescribed exercise, therapeutic activities, functional mobility, patient education, and rehabilitation to help heal and restore everyday function. Physical therapists are movement experts in rehabilitative and preventative care, working to improve one’s quality of life. As of 2016, a Doctorate of Physical Therapy is [...]
