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Estate Planning for Families with Accessory Dwelling Units
Last time I discussed how a new law has simplified the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and how ADUs can help elders and people with disabilities live at home for as long as possible. I am so excited about the possibilities this opens for elders and disabled persons...
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What You Need to Know About Medicare Advantage Plans
With Medicare open enrollment underway, I want to share my thoughts—and my concerns—about Medicare Advantage plans. As you will see, I do not think Medicare Advantage plans are inherently bad, but it’s important to do some research to determine whether it is the best option for you.Let’s begin with a definition. Medicare Advantage is...
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How PACE Helps Elders Reside at Home for as Long as Possible
As most of you know, I am committed to helping elders live at home for as long as possible. My last two articles have focused on MassHealth programs that help elders accomplish this goal. You can find these articles here. Now I’d like to discuss another option: PACE (Program...
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How the Frail Elder Waiver Helps Elders Avoid Having to Move to a Nursing Home
As many of you know, I am dedicated to helping elders reside at home for as long as possible. The Frail Elder Waiver (FEW) is one of the MassHealth programs that helps seniors accomplish this.FEW provides support to eligible elders 60 years of age or older whose needs meet the level of...
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Myths and Misconceptions about Health Care Proxies
Despite the fact that everyone needs a health care proxy, there is considerable confusion about what it is and what it does. Here’s what you need to know.A Health Care Proxy is a Legal Document, not a Person.In Massachusetts, a health care proxy is a legal document that allows you to name...
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Options Available for Professional In-Home Care
The vast majority of elders needing assistance with daily living prefer to remain at home rather than move to an assisted living residence or a nursing home. Helping my clients accomplish this goal is one of the cornerstones of my practice. In the past, I’ve written about the resources available in Massachusetts to...
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Tips to Lower the Cost of Long-term Care Insurance
Given the high cost of long-term care, it should come as no surprise that many people ask me what I think about long-term care insurance. As I mentioned in a previous article, I am a big fan of long-term care insurance. This despite the fact that such insurance has...
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What Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Must Know about “Service-Connected Disability Compensation” and “Presumptive Conditions”
Let’s begin by defining two terms. Service-connected disability compensation refers to payment to veterans for disabilities resulting from an injury or illness linked to their military service. Typically, a veteran must go through a lengthy process to prove that their disability stems from an injury or illness during their time in service. ...
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National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16th. (I Wish it was Every Day!)
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16. It was created to educate the public about the importance of planning for a medical crisis ahead of time and to encourage adults to put their wishes in writing by creating a health care proxy. I could talk about the importance of this document for hours...
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