Keystone Blog
POLST and End of Life Medical Decisions
Last week’s column discussed Advance Care Directives for end stage medical treatment. The Directive prepares for the possibility that a person’s future state of permanent unconsciousness could cause an individual to be unable personally to communicate to the treating...
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Advance Care Directive Promotes Free Will
How would you want to spend the final hours or days of your life if you become permanently unconscious and are no longer able to communicate? You have the right to choose and express your preferences with an Advance Care Directive. Inaction has consequences. Terry...
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Implementing End of Life Decisions
This article is the first of a series that will discuss end of life decisions in light of the status of physician-assisted death legislation, the importance of legal documents such as an Advance Care Directive or Living Will, and how such documents may be used in...
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Planning to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Most people would agree that planning ahead for a significant life event makes sense. Preparation increases the likelihood that we will obtain our desired outcomes, such as gaining admission to a preferred college or an enjoyable vacation. It is naturally more...
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Reporting Suspected Elder Abuse
In recent years, the mistreatment of older adults has received increased attention from the government, professionals who work with this population, and the public. Our nation’s growing older adult population and the increasing frailty of many of these older adults...
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Falling For Fraud Is Easier Than You May Think
Older adults are prime targets for fraud and scams for a variety of reasons. For example, they may be lonely and more willing to speak with strangers, have assets available after years of saving for retirement, and/or may have been taught since childhood to follow...
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Apprehensive About Birthdays and Aging?
Does the thought of aging create a feeling of uncertainty with regard to “What’s next?” The month of May, in addition to its designation as Elder Law Month, is also Older Americans Month. The theme for 2019, chosen by the Administration for Community...
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Retirement: Finding Meaning and Fulfillment
When a friend of mine reached age 60, he began to fill notebooks with questions and ideas about his retirement. He was enjoying a lucrative career as a sales executive in a corporate environment, but he knew that at some point the daily grind of his...
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Do You Need an Irrevocable Funeral Trust?
An Irrevocable Funeral Trust (IFT) is a useful tool for people who are facing the high cost of skilled nursing care. The IFT is an eligible expense during the Medicaid spend-down process. It sets aside sufficient assets so that a surviving family...
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5 Myths: Nursing Home Costs & Estate Plans
As we observe Elder Law Month in May, it seems appropriate to share some common misunderstandings or myths about nursing homes and long-term care. I apologize in advance if I step on toes or offend sensibilities of what is politically correct. Remember that the role...
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