Keystone Blog
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...
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...
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 member does not...
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...
Who Needs Elder Law?
May is Elder Law Month, according to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). If you have been reading our weekly column in The Sentinel, you have a pretty good idea of what elder law is. But here is a definition provided by NAELA: “Elder law is a...
Medicaid for Long-Term Care: FAQ
Note: Medicaid regulations vary from state to state. This information is based on regulations in Pennsylvania. What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Medicare is health insurance and covers medical services such as physician...
Post-Acute Care: Resolving the Crisis Part II
Planning for post-acute care following the hospitalization of an older adult can be confusing. Some of the challenges which families experience were discussed in last week’s column. A lack of knowledge about options for this type of care is one challenge...
Post-Acute Care: Resolving the Crisis Part I
When an older adult has been hospitalized and follow-up care is needed after discharge, families are often bewildered by how to locate, access, and pay for this care. Compared to younger adults, older adults require additional time to recover from a fall, acute...
Spring Caregiving
Spring is a season of renewal for most of us. But for some whose time and attention is focused on the needs of an increasingly frail older person in the family, it can be harder to appreciate the sight of robins and the fragrant blossoms which they foreshadow....
Stopping the Spinning: Therapy for Dizziness
A conversation about falls would not be complete without mentioning the condition of dizziness. Dizzy is a term which is often used to describe a variety of sensations such as feeling dazed, light-headed, groggy, woozy, out-of-it, or that the room is spinning...
