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…
Are you juggling work and caregiving? Stressed to the max? Looking for answers? Did you know you are in the majority now? In 2009, AARP estimated that nearly 61% of people over the age of 50 are employed and have caregiving responsibilities. (1) In 2015, it was found that 6 in 10 caregivers are employed and this ratio will continue…
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…
Diana turned to her husband, puzzled. “Bob, did you notice Susie’s new designer purse? And those shoes? I swear they were Louboutin’s. How on earth is she able to afford that? She works part-time at the library and her husband is so cheap, he makes us look like spendthrifts.” “She’s not the only one. I also noticed your brother, Frank,…
Something we see quite often with our older clients is a joint bank account – parent’s money, child added to the account for convenience of the parent. It really can be very convenient, so, despite the list of problems I’ll get to in a minute, for some families in some situations, adding a child to your bank account can be…
The doorbell would not stop ringing. Finally, 80-year-old Mary activated her video doorbell and asked hesitantly, “Who is it?” “My name is Manny Pearson, ma’am. Your son, Jake, sent me. He’s in jail and needs bail money. No one else is answering their phone, so he asked me to come by and get a check from you. He needs $1,000…