News
The Importance of Crisis Planning for Seniors
Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Oftentimes, families contact our office for crisis planning for seniors in their lives, struggling to manage the needs of their loved ones, while caught up in the emotions and stress that comes along with navigating a challenging situation. When in this heightened state of desperation, crisis planning for seniors makes it difficult for families to find appropriate and reliable long-term care options for their loved ones. Our team of care coordinators, including social workers, support our clients through these trying times, helping them access the best care [...]
Elder Law and Digital Assets Planning for the Digital Afterlife
Estate planning has evolved beyond physical assets and financial accounts. Digital assets, including social media accounts, digital currencies, and online identities, have become integral parts of our lives. Yet, many overlook these assets in their estate plans, leading to complications and confusion for heirs. Understanding elder law and digital assets planning is important in ensuring that all aspects of your estate are managed according to your wishes after you pass away. Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Planning Digital assets encompass a range of online and digital accounts and properties, from email and social media accounts to digital music libraries, [...]
Smart Home Devices for Seniors Aging in Place
Smart home devices for seniors are changing how people age in place. Style, convenience, aesthetics, and comfort have long been the primary concerns of the home setup. However, for seniors, successful aging in place also requires a well-implemented plan for home safety. The good news is, with so many advances in smart home devices for seniors, implementing home safety for seniors no longer means compromising style, budget, or comfort. Furthermore, using technology to optimize home safety and function to age in place is often inexpensive and does not require permanent changes to the structure or aesthetics of the home. The [...]
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 [...]
Unsupported Seniors: Challenges and Solutions
With an aging population and changes in family structures, many seniors are finding themselves without the necessary support to navigate the complexities of senior living, called unsupported seniors or solo agers. The challenges unsupported seniors face include financial struggles, healthcare hurdles, emotional isolation, and more. Understanding the Challenges of Unsupported Seniors As people age, the support system they once relied upon might dwindle due to various reasons such as family relocation, the passing of a spouse, or changing social dynamics. Unsupported seniors often grapple with various challenges, from finance to healthcare and even isolation from living alone. Let’s go a [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]