Archive for September 2017
Could Georgians one day use Medicaid to pay for assisted living?
There is a new push to change Georgia’s laws so that Medicaid dollars could also be used to pay for assisted living facilities. The Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) has finalized their 2018 advocacy priorities, and this topic was selected as one of their 3 legislative issues for 2018. We all know…
Read MoreAnticipatory Grief
How and when to grieve is sometimes unclear. When do we grieve a terminal diagnosis? Do we grieve now or when a loved one passes? Do we grieve a dementia patient now, or when the person is physically gone? We are constantly torn between good times and bad, between positive associations and uncertain loss.…
Read MoreDon’t Expect Care from Your Children
Many parents expect that their children will take care of them when they get older, but the truth is, many children do not, according to what social workers tell us. Some people are surprised at this..…who doesn’t take care of their parents when they get old? A little research showed that more people than…
Read MoreDifficult Choice on Medigap
A plan to shut the doors on the most popular insurance policies used by retirees on Medicare will soon present difficult decisions for people choosing Medigap supplement insurance. In 2020, people who are on Medicare and don’t already have what’s known as Plan F or Plan C Medigap insurance won’t be able to buy it…
Read MoreHow Medicaid Treats Joint Bank Accounts
Medicaid’s rules for eligibility are complex and there are so many misunderstandings. Families often mistakenly believe that adding more account holders to the Medicaid applicant’s bank account will reduce their assets. We often hear things like this, “Well, I added myself to Momma’s checking account last year, so won’t Medicaid look at only ½ of…
Read MoreNew Medicare Card Scams
New Medicare cards that will protect your Social Security number will find their way into your wallets next year. Already there are warnings about the changeover to protect you against scammers. The design for the new Medicare card is expected to be revealed this month and TV ads have already begun talking about the new…
Read MoreName Confusion-Normal or Dementia?
Do you ever get confused and call Bill’s room John’s? Sometimes, our memories get all mixed up, especially in homes we have lived in for a long time and children have switched rooms. Do you say: “Susie, I mean Mary, I mean Joanie, dinner is ready.” “Oh, what’s your name?” Don’t be concerned, this…
Read MoreUsing the Medicaid “Spend Down” to Pre-Pay Funeral Expenses
Money, Death, and Medicaid—topics very few want to discuss. When it comes to planning ahead for retirement, long-term care needs or death, I have come to learn that few families ever approach these topics. Most of our families come to us in crisis – they have insufficient funds for retirement, no plan for their long-term…
Read MoreWho Decides – You or Someone Else?
Taking responsibility for tough life decisions prevents others from having to step in and make them for you, but also allows you to discover options that can alleviate the fear. Aging is difficult, with one potential loss after another. Making your own decisions can provide some control over your aging process. Following are several decisions…
Read MoreNew Medicare Cards
To protect Medicare recipients from fraud and identity theft, new Medicare cards will no longer have Social Security numbers on them. The new cards will automatically be mailed to all 58 million current beneficiaries beginning in April of 2018. The new cards will feature a randomly assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) made up of 11…
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