Betsy slowly lowered herself into a kitchen chair and buried her head in her hands. Since her husband, Bill, had died three days ago, she had been swept up in a whirlwind of activity. Between planning a funeral, notifying relatives, and nonstop condolence calls, she hadn’t had any time to grieve, much less think. Her gaze swept the room and…
A change in nursing home regulations has some elder advocates up in arms. At the center of the dispute is the way nursing homes are fined for engaging in activities that endanger or injure residents. Under the Obama administration, nursing homes that failed to comply with federal regulations were fined for each day they were out of compliance, resulting in…
The California Department of Health Care Services recently announced new Medi-Cal resource numbers for 2019. In All County Welfare Directors Letter (ACWDL) 18-28 the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) was increased to $126,420 and the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) was increased to $3,161 for 2019. The CSRA is the amount of non-exempt assets that the spouse of a…
We all know that when we turn 65 we are covered by Medicare. But many people don’t know that coverage is not automatic. We actually have to sign up for it. And we have to sign up during a specific time period or risk a penalty. Below is a quick lesson on when and how to do it. WHEN: Some…
Finn slapped the pile of envelopes on the kitchen table and grunted at his wife, Lola. She peered at him over her coffee mug and gestured toward the pile. “What’s this?” “Credit card bills. For Mom and Dad.” Lola frowned. “How is that possible? We have responsibility for their financial affairs. We pay all of their bills. They live in…
Join us for an encore edition of Absolute Trust Talk Episode #028 featuring elder care expert Francesca Vogel of Home Care Assistance. Home Care Assistance and Francesca will be joining us as platinum sponsors of our Elder Advocacy & Law Boot Camp on September 18, 2019. In episode 28 of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Francesca Vogel, home care liaison…
Sharon stared at the bill from the hospice that had cared for her mother in her final days. “I can’t believe they charge so much for such crappy care. Heck, Mom almost died while they were transporting her. They clearly didn’t know what they were doing.” Her friend, Lynda, nodded. “They were pretty bad. I remember how upset you were…
The California legislature is considering a proposal that could impose a state tax on some estates. Generally, estate taxes are imposed by the federal government on the assets or estate of someone who has died. The tax is paid before the heirs receive any bequests. One of the purposes of estate planning is to minimize an estate’s tax liability. California…
The rapidly increasing population of dementia patients in assisted living facilities is challenging not only the facilities providing the care, but also the safety of the other non-afflicted seniors who reside there. Originally, assisted living facilities were created as an alternative to nursing homes. They were designed for those who were independent, but in need of some assistance with daily…