What are Advance Directives and Why Should Everyone Have Them?

    What are advance directives and why should everyone have them? Advance directives allow you to plan for the possibility that you may one day be unable to make your own medical and financial decisions. In doing so, there can be confusion about the differences between the various advance directives. Among the most important…

Drafting a Durable Power of Attorney that Lessens the Chances of Abuse

A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can create, but it is also one that can be misused.  While it isn’t possible to entirely prevent the possibility of abuse, there are steps you can take in drafting the document to greatly reduce the chances. A power of…

Prevent Financial Exploitation of the Elderly Vulnerable Adult!

Sometimes called the “crime of the twenty-first century,” financial exploitation of the elderly is becoming rampant. Statistics show that one in every twenty seniors has been the victim of financial abuse of the elderly, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association (“NAPSA). Most of the abusers are family members, or close friends, and almost…

Use of Immediate Annuities in Medicaid Planning for Married Couples

Immediate annuities can be a useful tool to protect the spouse of a nursing home resident who applies for Medicaid. These types of annuities allow the nursing home resident to spend down assets and give the spouse a guaranteed income. Immediate annuities are an available planning tool in the State of Florida. Medicaid is the…

Short-Term Care Insurance: An Alternative to the Long-Term Care Variety

A little-known insurance option can be an answer for some people who might need care but are unable to buy long-term care insurance. Short-term care insurance provides coverage for nursing home or home care for one year or less. As long-term care premiums rise, short-term care insurance is gaining in popularity. This type of insurance…

The Costs of Dementia: For the Patient and the Family

A recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association states that one in nine Americans age 65 or older currently has Alzheimer’s. With the baby boomer generation aging and people living longer, that number is expected to nearly triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s, of course, is just one cause of dementia—mini-strokes (TIAs) are also to blame—so the number of…