Geoff's Journal: Articles and Stories on the Elder Care Path

Planning for Second Marriages Later in Life

2011-02-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day falls in February, so this month I wanted to write about love and marriage. With people living longer these days, it’s quite common for people to fall in love and get married later in life. A marriage in one’s 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s is a little different than a first marriage in one’s 20’s. Those twenty-something’s probably do not have much in the way of assets, and they’re

U.S. Alters Rule on Paying for End-of-Life Planning

2011-01-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

By ROBERT PEAR, the New York Times Published: January 4, 2011 WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, reversing course, will revise a Medicare regulation to delete references to end-of-life planning as part of the annual physical examinations covered under the new health care law, administration officials said Tuesday. The move is an abrupt shift, coming just days after the new policy took

Legislative Alert! Do You Have a Spouse on Medicaid? Oregon Law Now Requires You to Change Your Will

2011-01-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

According to the State of Oregon, the average cost of long-term care is now $7,663 per month. Paying for this care for very long is beyond the means of most middle-class families. In an effort to obtain good care for an ill spouse and preserve enough assets for the healthy spouse to live independently, many people in this situation apply for assistance with care costs through the Medicaid

End of life care, resuscitated (editorial from The Oregonian, 12/29/10)

2010-12-29T09:02:00.000-08:00

After the 'death panel' furor, Obama quietly orders payments for advance care planning Maybe now, in this lull between pitched political battles over health care reform, Americans will see clearly the wisdom of encouraging more conversations on end-of-life care. We sure hope so. President Obama has authorized a new Medicare rule, effective Jan. 1, allowing payments to doctors for time spent

Power of Attorney for Finances: An Essential Tool for Elder Care Planning

2010-07-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Most people understand the need to have a will, so that when they pass away, assets will go to their chosen beneficiaries. Most people do not realize that they also need to appoint a power of attorney to make financial decisions and manage assets for them, if they become incapacitated. If you think about it, most any financial decision we make requires a signature. Selling a house, writing a

A Mother’s Dilemma: Planning for the Special Needs Child

2010-05-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

As an Elder Law attorney for over 15 years, I have worked with thousands of older people and their families. But some situations are especially memorable, and Elinor and Tommy’s is one of them. When Elinor first came to see me, she told me that she and her husband had tried for some time to have a child, without success. They decided to adopt, and after a period of time, they were blessed to

Will or a Living Trust: What’s the Difference?

2010-04-06T13:56:00.001-07:00

We do a lot of educational presentations, and the most common question from the audience is “what is the difference between a will and a living trust?” A will is a document you can sign that specifies who will receive your assets after you pass away. It allows you to appoint a personal representative to gather your assets, pay your bills, and distribute the remaining assets to your

Understanding Life Sustaining Measures

2010-02-23T11:56:00.000-08:00

You have decided to follow your doctor’s advice and complete an Advance Directive for Health Care thus providing a clear understanding of your wishes as they relate to life sustaining measures. You understand the significance of having an Advance Directive, but as you research the process, you are confronted with a lack of understanding regarding what life sustaining measures encompass. Life

Caregiving Agreements – Fairness for the Caregiving Child

2010-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

A recent article in US News & World Report states that “more than 50 million family members provide more than $300 billion a year in uncompensated care to family members.” The care is frequently provided by an adult child who has moved back into the family home to take care of mom or dad. In elder law, we call this child the “caregiver child.” The caregiver child has often left the work

Tip for Loved Ones in a Care Facility

2010-01-26T10:36:00.001-08:00