Elder Law News

In a survey published this past fall, more than 1,000 participants aged 18 to 99 shared insights on their estate plans – or lack thereof. In fact, more than half said they have not consulted an estate planner regarding a trust or will.

Can a guardian block a ward from leaving a nursing home to go to church?

I have a power of attorney for my mom that was approved by the state of Texas, where she currently is in a long-term care facility. I want to move her to a facility in Illinois to be closer to the family but I don’t know if Illinois will accept my power of attorney.

My husband and I own our home in Illinois. We would like to have our two sons divide the sale of the house equally when we both pass on. Do we need to put our home in a trust? Other family members have told us it’s to protect the home from going into probate. 

My parent is in a nursing home and applying for Medicaid. They have a house with a mortgage. The house is full of 50 years of stuff and in need of major repair. Selling the house will only pay off the mortgage. I do not have the ability to clean the stuff out of the house; it needs a professional crew and several weeks. Can I let the house go into foreclosure with all the stuff in it, or do I have to pay for an appraisal to try and try to sell as is? How would Medicaid be affected by this? 

Despite the considerable level of stress that can come with serving as a unpaid caregiver, a new study now suggests that taking care of a loved one may in fact lead to increased longevity among older women. Findings revealed that women who said they were taking care of a loved one on a regular basis had a mortality rate 9 percent lower than that of non-caregivers over the course of the study.

Suicide is a preventable tragedy but remains a leading cause of death in the United States.The National Center for Health Statistics has published a report documenting suicide rates among older adults over the course of two decades.

Malnutrition, which happens when the body does not get the nutrients it needs, is a major concern for seniors. Life-threatening malnutrition disproportionately affects those 85 and older. Recognizing malnutrition can help family members and caregivers know when to seek out medical care and assistance for their aging loved one.

Thanksgiving is a time when many families come together. About 45 percent of adults surveyed said they planned to travel for the holiday. With multiple generations gathering around the table, the annual meal presents an opportunity to broach sensitive but important topics with your aging loved ones. By communicating with them and knowing their wishes, you can help them plan for their future.

Many family caregivers are working caregivers; that is, they have a primary occupation in addition to caring for an aging loved one. Choosing to work while also providing care for an older person in their life comes with specific downsides, as a recent survey of 1,000 working caregivers shows.