By Sanford J. Mall, JD, CELA
Mall Malisow & Cooney, P.C.
Farmington Hills, Michigan
248-538-1800
www.TheElderCareLawFirm.com
Elder law is a specialized area of law that focuses on assisting older individuals and those with disabilities preserve their dignity, protect their assets, and make good decisions despite increasingly complicated laws. This specialty encompasses such areas as planning and paying for long-term care, asset preservation, housing options, disability planning, estate planning including the use of financial and health care durable powers of attorney, and when necessary, the involvement of the probate court. More on Understanding Elder Law
By John Stewart
Director of Estate and Asset Services
American Cancer Society
1-877-227-1598
www.cancer.org
An estate plan aims to preserve the maximum wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries, while providing financial flexibility for the plan's owners throughout their lives.
Most Americans can benefit from estate plans, but more than half don't have one in place.
More on Value of estate planning is lost to half the population
Shay Jacobson, RN, MA
Life Care Innovations
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
630-953-2154
www.lcius.com
Long term care has evolved into a "catch all" phrase that is confusing to the lay as well as the professional community. The boundaries among primary, acute, and long term care have blurred. Instead of concentrating on acute care in hospitals, our health care system's focus has switched to managing chronic conditions in a variety of settings from home to rehabilitation hospitals. The long term care goal switches from curing illness to helping individuals function as well as possible while maintaining dignity and independence. Individuals that require long term care have a compromised ability to live on their own due to their condition. Long term care encompasses help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. More on Medical Issues and Terminology in Long Term Care
By Philip C. Benedict, CFP
Benedict Financial Advisors
Atlanta, Georgia
770-671-8228
www.benedictfinancial.com
Over the years, I have brought up the topic of long-term care insurance with my clients and friends. Some got coverage, but many did nothing. So, I asked a few of the "do nothings" why they took no action.
More on Long-term care insurance is not only for nursing homes
By Jeff Bernier, CFP, ChFC, CFS
TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC
Roswell, Georgia
770-641-6360
www.tandemgrowth.com
In the face of volatile investment markets, rising medical costs, increased taxes, and uncertain social security benefits, many retirees are looking for solutions.
This article is designed to assist retirees in planning for retirement while taking a critical look at the financial services industry's packaged solutions. More on Take a critical look at financial instruments
By Caroline Dott, Ph.D.
Ageless, Inc.
Roswell, Georgia
770-649-1724
www.AgelessBoomersandBeyond.com
How is it that Americans, who enjoy a relatively high standard of living, do not think about creating an equally high standard for their last stage of life? Does it make sense that when we reach the peak of life experience, knowledge and competency, we stop planning how we will enjoy our lives to the fullest?
Without a plan, we deny the realities of our last stage of life. More on Generational conversation: Create a late-life plan
By Mandy Merkel, MMSc, CCC-SLP
Senior Resource Consulting
Atlanta, Georgia
404-786-7789
www.seniorresourceconsulting.com
After my parents retired to Florida, we thought things would be fine; if something happened to them, we could hop on a plane and take care of things.
Unfortunately, it was not that simple. Dad broke his hip and needed short term rehab - unbeknownst to us, he had been taking care of Mom as her dementia advanced.
Like many parents, he had kept us in the dark about how much she depended on him and like many children, we chose not to see the realities of her decline.
Now we were in a crisis: More on Distance caregiving is new baby boomer challenge
By Gary Figiel, MD
Southeastern Geriatric Healthcare Group
Atlanta, Georgia
404-497-1830
www.GeriatricHealthcare.com
Depression is a serious life threatening illness, which without question increases the risk of mortality in elderly patients and is linked with increased mortality of residents in nursing and assisted living homes, along with other long-term care facilities.
More on Diagnosing and Managing Depression in the Elderly
By Tom Olsen
St. George Village
Roswell, Georgia
770-645-2340
www.stgeorgevillage.com
What is a CCRC?
A "CCRC" is a Continuing Care Retirement Community, the most comprehensive retirement living option available to seniors in America today.
A CCRC combines the services of an independent living retirement community with an assisted-living facility and a nursing home at a single location. More on CCRCs combine independent living with assisted living and nursing home care
By Ginny Helms
Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter
Atlanta, Georgia
404-728-1181
www.alzga.org
Of all the issues of aging, none has been more emotionally or medically challenging than Alzheimer's disease. And because we are living longer, the incidence of Alzheimer's is on the rise. More than 1,000 cases are diagnosed each day in the U.S., In Georgia alone, the Alzheimer's Association counts more than 160,000 cases. More on ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Significant Progress toward Prevention and Cure
By Phillip G. Sanders, MBA, MSHA, CPA
Georgia ElderCare Advisors, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
770-379-4500
www.GeorgiaElderCareAdvisors.comIf you really want to understand what ElderCare is all about, talk to someone like Jeanette Johnson. In 1990, her husband, a Navy veteran of 24 years, passed away. In 2001, she suffered two strokes within 20 days. While many might have given up, the self-described "stubborn" Mrs. Johnson persevered. More on Finding the right ElderCare professional can make a difference in a life
By Gary Figiel, MD
Southeastern Geriatric Healthcare Group
Atlanta, Georgia
404-497-1830
www.GeriatricHealthcare.com
This is the second most asked question from a patient's loved one: "Am I going to get it too?"
The most frequently asked question is: "What is the difference between Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Dementia?" More on My parent has Alzheimer's Disease - Am I going to get it too?
By Robert M. Bregitzer, CPA
Innovative Mortgage Solutions, LLC
Norcross, Georgia
770-449-9060
www.atlantareversemortgage.com
When Mildred Austin inquired about a reverse mortgage, she did not know much about them. "All I knew was that this could help me; I needed someone to explain it to me". After talking with a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Counselor, meeting with a reverse mortgage specialist, and discussing the options with her advisors, she decided that a reverse mortgage was her best option. "I was able to make needed repairs to my house, pay-off my existing mortgage loan and several medical bills and obtain a monthly check to supplement my social security. This loan has been a blessing." More on The Reverse Mortgage: Some Seniors Can't Stay Home Without It
By Phillip G. Sanders, MBA, MSHA, CPA
Georgia ElderCare Advisors, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
770-379-4500
www.GeorgiaElderCareAdvisors.com
During the last several years, I have had the honor to address my colleagues at the AICPA's (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) National ElderCare conference in Phoenix, and to serve as a panelist at the day-long nationally televised symposium for ElderCare professionals in Dallas. The overriding message I heard from fellow CPAs and attorneys was the importance of setting into place NOW a long-term care plan — a plan that details how you will finance your and your family's future ElderCare needs. More on Experts Agree: Plan Now for Future ElderCare Needs
By Philip C. Benedict, CFP
Benedict Financial Advisors, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia
770-671-8228
www.BenedictFinancial.com
Raymond and Sally are what almost everyone wants to look like and act like when they pass their 80th birthday.
Sally still volunteers at the local elementary school and Ray is a landmark at the local golf club. They seem to have everything - good health, a fine daughter and son-in-law and three adorable grandchildren. Their lifestyle, while not extravagant, could not be considered modest either. More on Overspending is more than simply spending your children's inheritance
By Michelle Ettenger
Elmcroft of Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
770-650-0555
www.elmcroftal.com
Not too long ago, families had few choices for senior housing. If an elderly person was unable to manage in their own home or could not be cared for by his family, then the nursing home for the infirm and the most frail was the only housing option available.
Today, it is quite different. More on When is assisted living the right choice?
By Lane Tharp, SRES, CSA
Coldwell Banker
Atlanta, Georgia
770-804-7805
www.ColdwellBankerAtlanta.com
It is exciting to move to a more manageable home after years of maintaining a large home and yard. The choices for downsizing are much greater now than ever before.
Downsizing may involve moving to a smaller home, a ranch condominium, or even a larger home on a smaller lot. It may also involve changing your community from a single-family home in an established neighborhood to an apartment home, a golf or lake community, a retirement community, or an assisted living facility.
The savvy home seller will want to approach this transition with a plan so that the move goes as smoothly as possible. More on Get marketing know-how when you're downsizing
By J. Michael Bishop, JD
Smiley Bishop & Porter, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
770-829-3850
www.sbpllplaw.com
Six months have passed since Betty's husband Joe died. Betty always let Joe handle the money matters. He had always been a savvy investor, but in the last several years, it had become obvious that Joe really was not on top of his game.
Now, Betty asked her daughter Sarah to help her look through the couple's financial papers. Things are a mess. There are piles of unopened envelopes from brokerage firms, mutual fund companies and banks. As Sarah opens the statements, she becomes distressed because the brokerage accounts have suffered some significant losses due to a downturn in the stock market or is something else wrong? How can she tell? More on Caveat emptor - Stockbroker fraud
By Jeff Bernier, CFP, ChFC, CFS
TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC
Roswell, Georgia
770-641-6360
www.TandemGrowth.com
When was the last time you talked with an investment professional who didn't promote diversification? Stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, some international as well as domestic investments–it's called asset class diversification and it's a principle of sound investing. More on INVESTING: Avoiding Long-Term as well as Short-Term Risk
By Charles J. Hampton, Esq.
Charles J. Hampton, PC
Atlanta, Georgia
770-804-8000
You might have already gotten the pitch: Come for a free dinner and learn how to avoid probate. The sale is typically a living or revocable trust — transfer your assets now so when you die they will be distributed as you wish without having to pass through the probate court. More on FEAR FACTOR: Probate!
By Debra A. Robinson, JD
Robinson & Miller, PC
Alpharetta, Georgia
770-817-4999
www.robinsonmiller.com
Women, may we have your attention?
Women are so busy caring for others, they often forget to take care of themselves.
As a result, many women fail to properly plan for the distribution of their assets at death and fail to make their health care decisions in the event of incapacity. More on Women Often Fail to Plan for End of Life Decisions
By Stephen C. Andrews, JD
Bodker, Ramsey, Andrews, Winograd & Wildstein, PC
Atlanta, Georgia
404-351-1615
www.brawwlaw.com
What do you do when you suspect that a loved one is being subjected to undue influence or other pressures to change their will?
Georgia law provides that a will must be freely and voluntarily executed. That is, a will may be invalidated if it is the result of “undue influence,” More on Are Your Loved One's Being Pressured to Change Their Wills?
