Life Lessons from Seniors: Navigating Life and Loss
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Life Lessons from Seniors: Navigating Life and Loss

Uncategorized, Aging

Life Lessons from Seniors: Navigating Life and Loss

Learning to listen and taking life lessons from seniors are a gift we should never discount. A reflection shared should be a reflection cherished. How do you make a full and meaningful life when you can’t do so many of the things you once did? This is the question New York Times reporter, John Leland, has attempted to answer in his seven-year, twenty-one article series interviewing seniors nearing the end of their lives. Some of their thoughts on leading a meaningful life include, “don’t brood about the things you can’t reach; live as if your time is limited; focus on [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:10:46-05:00January 14, 2022|

Build Back Better Act Items of Interest to Seniors
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Build Back Better Act Items of Interest to Seniors

Law Update

Build Back Better Act Items of Interest to Seniors

The details of the Biden administration’s scaled-back budget bill titled the “Build Back Better Act” are out after several months of negotiations among Democratic lawmakers. Although there is a great deal out of the bill, such as Medicare coverage for dental and vision, the good news for elder care advocates is the $150 billion dedicated to Medicaid home and community services, along with regulations leading to a federally required nursing home staffing standard. Also, the bill does not include any estate tax changes. There is much more in the bill (or out of the bill, depending on your perspective). You [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:13:51-05:00November 4, 2021|

The Role of Private Equity Ownership in Nursing Home Care
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The Role of Private Equity Ownership in Nursing Home Care

Assisted Living

The Role of Private Equity Ownership in Nursing Home Care

In this week's blog, we discuss the role of private equity investment in nursing homes and what states are doing to address these issues. Nursing homes owned by private equity firms have higher mortality rates, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Over the past 18 years, private equity (PE) investment in nursing homes increased 20-fold, from $5 billion to $100 billion. “Private equity’s business model involves buying companies, saddling them with mountains of debt, and then squeezing them like oranges for every dollar,” so says United States Representative Bill Pascrell from New Jersey, of PE companies purchasing [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T12:14:05-05:00October 27, 2021|

Elder Care Law Services and the Power of the Written Word
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Elder Care Law Services and the Power of the Written Word

Aging

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 [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:22:44-05:00October 1, 2021|

The Importance of Nursing Home Communication
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The Importance of Nursing Home Communication

Assisted Living

The Importance of Nursing Home Communication

The importance of nursing home communication and relaying information clearly is a key consideration for anyone entering a home and for family members involved in the process. Good nursing home communication helps ensure you or your loved one, as well as nursing home staff, are all on the same page together. Deciding whether it is best for mom or dad to move to a nursing home is a very difficult decision. Their well-being and safety are your primary goals, especially in these times of Covid. After considering other options, sometimes a nursing home is the only solution. Once the decision [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:26:09-05:00June 25, 2021|

Thank you, Marie: An Anecdote from an Elder Care Lawyer
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Thank you, Marie: An Anecdote from an Elder Care Lawyer

Around the Office

Thank you, Marie: An Anecdote from an Elder Care Lawyer

As an elder care lawyer, I have had the privilege of meeting and assisting countless families and seniors over the years. And over those years, some stand out in the mind…like Marie. In February 2017, Marie left her home and transitioned to a personal care home. Her husband was in poor health and in a nursing home. She had no children and needed an elder care lawyer to help her navigate these changes. Given her situation, Marie’s close friend scheduled a meeting with myself, Kathleen Magee, our Director of Care Coordination, and Marie to discuss how our team of elder [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T12:28:26-05:00May 18, 2021|

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

Caregiver, Aging

“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 [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:29:04-05:00April 22, 2021|

Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the COVID-19 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 [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:30:05-05:00April 6, 2021|

Unsupported Elders and Advocacy Services
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Unsupported Elders and Advocacy Services

Assisted Living, Aging

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 [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2021-11-09T16:52:52-05:00March 11, 2021|

Addressing the Needs of an Elderly Parent and Her Special Needs Adult Child
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Addressing the Needs of an Elderly Parent and Her Special Needs Adult Child

Caregiver, Assisted Living, Aging

Addressing the Needs of an Elderly Parent and Her Special Needs Adult Child

Mary’s mother and sister needed help. Lots of it. The sister, Violet, is developmentally disabled and needs 24-hour care. Janice, their mother, was Violet’s sole caregiver for over 50 years. Mary knew that Janice was becoming increasingly confused, but it seemed like she was still taking great care of Violet. Then, Janice and Violet went for a long walk that ended with them wandering into a local nursing home and Janice asking if they could move in. Alarmed, a manager at the facility called for help. Janice was admitted to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, and Janice was placed [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2021-11-09T18:49:23-05:00February 18, 2021|