Is Elder Mediation Right For You?
Getting into a dispute with your family can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience. This is especially true when the disagreement concerns the care or safety of an elderly spouse, parent or other loved one. If you're in this situation, mediation may be the answer. Elder mediation can be a very productive way to resolve family disputes in a safe and confidential environment. Mediation helps families find solutions The goal of elder mediation is to help families reach a mutually agreeable solution to their problem. The process is facilitated by a mediator, a neutral third party who helps ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]
Little-Known Program Offers Big Help To Aging Veterans
Paying for long-term care is rarely easy. When it comes to affording in-home care, assisted living or nursing home care, most people will need to think creatively about their financing options. For Veterans and their surviving spouses, this could mean taking advantage of long-term care benefits offered by the Veterans Administration. Many people aren't aware that Veterans and their surviving spouses can qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, even if the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability. Qualifying for Aid and Attendance Aid and Attendance benefits are available to Veterans, and the surviving spouses of Veterans, if the ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]
Elder Abuse Is More Common Than You Realize
After so many years of taking care of us, we hope that our elderly loved ones will be well cared for into their old age. The sad truth is that this doesn't always happen. Elder abuse is a real and persistent concern. A study published earlier this month in the New England Journal of Medicine found that at least 10 percent of elderly people will be abused. Because the study's data was based on self-reports, this number may actually be much higher. What is elder abuse? When most people picture abuse, they think of physical violence like hitting or shoving. ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]
What Single People Need To Know About Estate Planning
Seattle has one of the highest rates of single-person households of any major city in the United States. If you're among this population, there are some important things about estate planning you need to know. Many people make the mistake of thinking that estate planning is necessary only if you have a spouse or children. In reality, estate planning is important for everyone. In addition to passing on your assets after death, estate plans are also vital tools for ensuring that you are protected if an injury or illness leaves you incapacitated. Here are a few ways in which ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]
Let’s Talk About Senior Driving
In our society, we sometimes forget that driving is a privilege, not a right. Safe driving depends upon the ability to see, think and move. While many older drivers continue to drive safely, the ability to drive safely can be severely impacted by dementia or other medical conditions that cause confusion, memory loss or cognitive impairment, vision and hearing loss, alcohol use, and medication side effects. It's a difficult issue to face, but ignoring it won't make the problem go away. I hear lots of older drivers diminish the risks involved, saying that they only drive to places they ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]
Pets and Probate
I am the proud human companion to two wonderful rescue dogs, a Labrador retriever named Kix and a Beagle named Baxter. For many of us, we consider our pets to be part of our family. Yet, oftentimes, pets are not considered when we make our estate plans. In Washington, pets are considered property and in the absence of a document directing their disposition, pets pass to your heirs. This is frequently not the option that pet owners prefer and, with a little bit of planning, you can take steps to ensure that your pet will be taken care of ... [ CONTINUE READING ARTICLE ]