The Top 10 Health Care Mistakes Made By the Elderly
Americans are living longer than ever before, but many older Americans could better deal with their health problems, according to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA). To help the elderly stay healthier longer, the IHA has identified the 10 most common mistakes older Americans make in caring for their health.
The Institute is a non-profit organization based in La Habra, California, that demonstrates innovative health care practices and educates health care professionals and consumers.
The IHA's 10 most common health care mistakes made by the elderly are:
Driving when it's no longer safe
The elderly often associate mobility in a car with their independence, but knowing when it is time to stop driving is important for the safety of everyone on the road. Decisions about when to stop driving should be made together with a family physician because chronological age alone does not determine someone's fitness to drive.
Fighting the aging process and its appearance
Refusing to wear a hearing aid, eyeglasses or dentures, and reluctance to ask for help or to use walking aids are all examples of this type of denial. This behavior may prevent the senior from obtaining helpful assistance with some of the problems of aging.
Reluctance to discuss intimate health problems with the doctor or health care provider
Older Americans may not want to bring up sexual or urinary difficulties. Sometimes problems that the individual thinks are trivial, such as stomach upsets, constipation, or jaw pain, may require further evaluation.
Not understanding what the doctor told them about their health problem or medical treatment plan
"I could not understand the doctor," or "He told me what to do, but you know me, I can't remember what he said‚" are typical complaints. Reluctance to ask the doctor to repeat information or to admit that they do not understand what is being said can result in serious health consequences.
Disregarding the serious potential for a fall
Falls result in fractures and painful injuries, which sometimes take months to heal. To help guard against falling, the elderly should remove scatter rugs from the home and have adequate lighting in the home and work areas. They should wear sturdy and well-fitting shoes, and watch for slopes and cracks in sidewalks. Participating in exercise programs to improve muscle tone and strength is also helpful.
Failure to have a system or a plan for managing medicines
Missed medication doses can result in inadequate treatment of a medical condition. By using daily schedules, pill box reminders or check-off records, seniors can avoid missing medication doses. Because health care providers need to know all of the medicines that an elderly patient is taking, patients should maintain a complete list of all their prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including dose and the reason that the medicine is being taken.
Not having a single primary care physician who looks at the overall medical plan of treatmentHealth problems may be overlooked when a senior goes to several different doctors or treatment programs, and multiple treatment regimens may cause adverse responses. The patient may be over- or under-treated if a single physician is not evaluating the full medical treatment program.
Not seeking medical attention when early possible warning signs occur
Reasons for such inaction and denial may include lack of money or reduced self worth due to age. "I am so old it doesn't matter anymore." Of course, such treatment delays can result in a more advanced stage of illness and a poorer prognosis.
Failure to participate in prevention programs
Flu and pneumonia shots, routine breast and prostate exams are examples of readily available preventive health measures that seniors should utilize to remain healthy.
Not asking loved ones for help
Many older Americans are simply too stubborn to ask for help, whether due to an understandable need for independence or because of early signs of dementia. It's important that elderly people alert family members or other loved ones to any signs of ill health or unusual feelings so that they can be assessed before the problem advances.
In an effort to help older Americans become less fearful of medical conditions and more empowered about their health, the IHA has published What To Do For Senior Health, an easy-to-understand, self-help medical book for senior citizens. For more information or to order the book, call (800) 434-4633 or go to www.iha4health.org.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Why Not Just Use an Off-the-Shelf Power of Attorney Form?
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It allows you to appoint someone to act for you (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") if you become incapacitated. Without a power of attorney, your loved ones would not be able to make decisions for you or manage your finances without asking the court to appoint a guardian or conservator, which is an expensive and time-consuming process.
There are many do-it-yourself power of attorney forms available; however, it is a good idea to have an attorney draft the form for you. There are many issues to consider and one size does not fit all. Working with an attorney from the Elder Law and Estate Planning firm of Davidow, Davidow, Siegel & Stern ensures that you will be covered.
The agent's powers
The power of attorney document sets out the agent's powers. Powers given to an agent typically include buying or selling property, managing a business, paying debts, investing money, engaging in legal proceedings, borrowing money, cashing checks, and collecting debts. They may also include the power to consent to medical treatment. Some powers will not be included unless they are specifically mentioned. This includes the power to make gifts and the power to designate beneficiaries of your insurance policies.
The power to make gifts of your money and property is a particularly important power. If you want to ensure your agent has the authority to do Medicaid planning on your behalf in the event you need to enter a nursing home, then the power of attorney must give the agent the power to modify trusts and make gifts. The wording in a power of attorney can be significant, so it is necessary to consult an attorney.
Springing or immediate
The power of attorney can take affect immediately or it can become effective only once you are disabled, called a "springing" power of attorney. While a springing power seems like a good idea, it can cause delays and extra expense because incapacity will need to be determined. If the power of attorney is springing, it is very important that the method for determining incapacity is clearly spelled out in the document.
Joint agents
While it is possible to name more than one person as your agent, this can lead to confusion. If you do have more than one person named, you need to be clear whether both parties need to act together or whether they can each act independently. It might make more sense and be less confusing to name an alternative agent to act in case the first agent is unable to.
Appointing a guardian
Another use of a power of attorney can be to nominate a guardian in case guardianship proceedings become necessary. Including your preference for a guardian can allow you to have some say over who will be managing your affairs. Usually, the court decides who will be chosen as a guardian, but in most circumstances, the court will abide by your nomination in the durable power of attorney.
Executing the power of attorney
To be valid a power of attorney must be executed properly. Some states may require a signature, others may require the power of attorney to be notarized, and still others may require witnesses. It is important to consult with an estate planning attorney in your state to ensure your power of attorney is executed properly.
Accepting a power of attorney
Even if you do everything exactly right, some banks and other institutions are reluctant to accept a power of attorney. These institutions are afraid of a lawsuit if the power of attorney is no longer valid. Many banks or other financial institutions have their own standard power of attorney forms. To avoid problems, you may want to execute the forms offered by the institutions with which you have accounts. According to a MarketWatch.com article, you need to be careful that you don't sign a bank's document that inadvertently restricts a power of attorney's ability to deal with other assets, and you should check that any documents you sign with a bank match the original power of attorney.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com
There are many do-it-yourself power of attorney forms available; however, it is a good idea to have an attorney draft the form for you. There are many issues to consider and one size does not fit all. Working with an attorney from the Elder Law and Estate Planning firm of Davidow, Davidow, Siegel & Stern ensures that you will be covered.
The agent's powers
The power of attorney document sets out the agent's powers. Powers given to an agent typically include buying or selling property, managing a business, paying debts, investing money, engaging in legal proceedings, borrowing money, cashing checks, and collecting debts. They may also include the power to consent to medical treatment. Some powers will not be included unless they are specifically mentioned. This includes the power to make gifts and the power to designate beneficiaries of your insurance policies.
The power to make gifts of your money and property is a particularly important power. If you want to ensure your agent has the authority to do Medicaid planning on your behalf in the event you need to enter a nursing home, then the power of attorney must give the agent the power to modify trusts and make gifts. The wording in a power of attorney can be significant, so it is necessary to consult an attorney.
Springing or immediate
The power of attorney can take affect immediately or it can become effective only once you are disabled, called a "springing" power of attorney. While a springing power seems like a good idea, it can cause delays and extra expense because incapacity will need to be determined. If the power of attorney is springing, it is very important that the method for determining incapacity is clearly spelled out in the document.
Joint agents
While it is possible to name more than one person as your agent, this can lead to confusion. If you do have more than one person named, you need to be clear whether both parties need to act together or whether they can each act independently. It might make more sense and be less confusing to name an alternative agent to act in case the first agent is unable to.
Appointing a guardian
Another use of a power of attorney can be to nominate a guardian in case guardianship proceedings become necessary. Including your preference for a guardian can allow you to have some say over who will be managing your affairs. Usually, the court decides who will be chosen as a guardian, but in most circumstances, the court will abide by your nomination in the durable power of attorney.
Executing the power of attorney
To be valid a power of attorney must be executed properly. Some states may require a signature, others may require the power of attorney to be notarized, and still others may require witnesses. It is important to consult with an estate planning attorney in your state to ensure your power of attorney is executed properly.
Accepting a power of attorney
Even if you do everything exactly right, some banks and other institutions are reluctant to accept a power of attorney. These institutions are afraid of a lawsuit if the power of attorney is no longer valid. Many banks or other financial institutions have their own standard power of attorney forms. To avoid problems, you may want to execute the forms offered by the institutions with which you have accounts. According to a MarketWatch.com article, you need to be careful that you don't sign a bank's document that inadvertently restricts a power of attorney's ability to deal with other assets, and you should check that any documents you sign with a bank match the original power of attorney.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tips for Preventing, Detecting and Reporting Financial Abuse of the Elderly
As the economy worsens, incidences of elder financial abuse are reportedly on the rise. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to scams or to financial abuse by family members in need of money.
A recent study found that up to one million older Americans may be targeted yearly. Family members and caregivers are the culprits in 55 percent of cases, although financial losses are higher with investment fraud scams.
While it is impossible to guarantee that an elderly loved one is not the victim of financial abuse, there are some steps you can take to reduce the chances. One option is to have more than one family member involved in caring for the loved one. You can also encourage the elder to get involved in community activities to ensure he or she has a wide range of support. Using direct deposit as much as possible is also helpful. And of course you should always screen caregivers carefully and verify references.
Financial abuse can be difficult to detect. The following are some signs that a loved one may be the victim of this kind of abuse:
- The disappearance of valuable objects
- Withdrawals of large amounts of money, checks made out to cash, or low bank balances
- A new “best friend” and isolation from other friends and family
- Large credit card transactions
- Signatures on checks look different
- A name added to a bank account or newly formed joint accounts
- Indications of fear of caregivers
If you suspect someone of being financially abused, there are several actions you can take:
- Report the crime by calling your local Adult Protective Services and state attorney general’s office. File a police report.
- Explore options at your local probate court if your state has such courts. The court can intervene if someone in the family is misusing a power of attorney or their role as guardian or conservator.
- Contact advocacy organizations. The National Center on Elder Abuse offers guidance on how to investigate and seek justice for elder abuse. State laws vary, but some have elder abuse statutes and may be able to get restitution for breach of fiduciary duties.
- Try to get a temporary restraining order from a court while building your case.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com, 4/6/09
A recent study found that up to one million older Americans may be targeted yearly. Family members and caregivers are the culprits in 55 percent of cases, although financial losses are higher with investment fraud scams.
While it is impossible to guarantee that an elderly loved one is not the victim of financial abuse, there are some steps you can take to reduce the chances. One option is to have more than one family member involved in caring for the loved one. You can also encourage the elder to get involved in community activities to ensure he or she has a wide range of support. Using direct deposit as much as possible is also helpful. And of course you should always screen caregivers carefully and verify references.
Financial abuse can be difficult to detect. The following are some signs that a loved one may be the victim of this kind of abuse:
- The disappearance of valuable objects
- Withdrawals of large amounts of money, checks made out to cash, or low bank balances
- A new “best friend” and isolation from other friends and family
- Large credit card transactions
- Signatures on checks look different
- A name added to a bank account or newly formed joint accounts
- Indications of fear of caregivers
If you suspect someone of being financially abused, there are several actions you can take:
- Report the crime by calling your local Adult Protective Services and state attorney general’s office. File a police report.
- Explore options at your local probate court if your state has such courts. The court can intervene if someone in the family is misusing a power of attorney or their role as guardian or conservator.
- Contact advocacy organizations. The National Center on Elder Abuse offers guidance on how to investigate and seek justice for elder abuse. State laws vary, but some have elder abuse statutes and may be able to get restitution for breach of fiduciary duties.
- Try to get a temporary restraining order from a court while building your case.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com, 4/6/09
Thursday, April 2, 2009
New York State Approves New Type of Combination Life and Long Term Care Insurance
You may be interested to know that a new combination Life Insurance/Long Term Care policy has been approved in New York State. This policy differs from other combination policies in some important aspects. They are as follows:
1. The underwriting for the policy is based on mortality as opposed to morbidity. This means that someone who was denied for a normal LTC or combination policy may be approved for this policy.
2. Once the policy is activated, cash will become available without regard to actual LTC expenses. Other policies reimburse only for actual documented expenses.
3. There are no restrictions on how the cash is used. A typical LTC policy only covers certain types of expenses.
4. Annual cash benefits are available up to IRS limits ($102,200 in 2009).
This policy provides you with a way to obtain long-term care insurance for those clients who either are not able to obtain insurance due to underwriting issues or for those who view LTC insurance as “lost” premiums if they don’t use it.
Source: Craig Marcott, Inc., East Patchogue, 3/23/09 newsletter.
1. The underwriting for the policy is based on mortality as opposed to morbidity. This means that someone who was denied for a normal LTC or combination policy may be approved for this policy.
2. Once the policy is activated, cash will become available without regard to actual LTC expenses. Other policies reimburse only for actual documented expenses.
3. There are no restrictions on how the cash is used. A typical LTC policy only covers certain types of expenses.
4. Annual cash benefits are available up to IRS limits ($102,200 in 2009).
This policy provides you with a way to obtain long-term care insurance for those clients who either are not able to obtain insurance due to underwriting issues or for those who view LTC insurance as “lost” premiums if they don’t use it.
Source: Craig Marcott, Inc., East Patchogue, 3/23/09 newsletter.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Five Star Rating System for Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a one-to-five star rating system for nursing homes to help consumers evaluate a nursing home’s quality when selecting a facility. The ratings appear on the agency’s Nursing Home Compare Website at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare. A five-star designation means the facility ranks “much above average,” four-star indicates “above average,” three means “about average,” two is a “below average” ranking, with a one indicating that a facility ranks “much below average.” The rankings, which will be updated monthly, are based on a nursing home’s performance in three areas: quality measures, nurse staffing levels and health inspection reports.
In this first round of quality ratings about 12-percent of the nation’s nursing homes received a full five-star rating while 22-percent scored at the low end with one star. The remaining 66-percent of facilities were distributed fairly evenly among the two-, three- and four-star rankings. The ratings indicate that non-profit nursing homes deliver a higher quality of care than for-profit facilities, according to an analysis by USA Today (www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-12-18-nursinghome_N.htm). When the rating system was announced earlier this year, Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy (www.medicareadvocacy.org/), said that two of three criteria CMS uses for the ratings – staffing data and quality measures – are “...self-reported by nursing facilities and are inaccurate.” Edelman said, “Relying on nursing homes to describe accurately how well they are doing...just doesn’t make sense.”
The National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform issued a statement (www.nccnhr.org/uploads/File/Ombudsman_statement_on_Five-Star-Release.pdf) saying it commends CMS for providing a new tool for long-term care consumers but urging consumers to “...not oversimplify nursing home selection.”
“In reviewing the Five-Star rating for a particular nursing home, consumers should compare the rating with their own experience during a personal visit to the home,” the Coalition warned. “For example, staffing data that is used for the rating system is based on the two weeks prior to the nursing home’s annual regulatory survey, an insufficient period of time to represent the usual staffing pattern of the home. Consumers should visit the home and review staffing data that is required to be posted for every shift, every day.”
For its part, the nursing home industry is not pleased with the rating system. In an opinion piece in USA Today, Bruce Yarwood, president of the American Health Care Association (www.ahcancal.org/Pages/Default.aspx), a long-term care industry trade group, called the new rating scheme “...a complex and inaccurate system that fails to provide the consumer with an appropriate tool to measure quality of care in our nation’s nursing homes.”
Source: 50+ Lifestyles, February 2009.
Elder Law and Estate Planning Seminars: TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Thursday, March 26th at 10am at The Miller Place Inn OR Tuesday, March 31st at The Milleridge Inn. Call 631-234-3030 to reserve your seat for the seminar and lunch.
In this first round of quality ratings about 12-percent of the nation’s nursing homes received a full five-star rating while 22-percent scored at the low end with one star. The remaining 66-percent of facilities were distributed fairly evenly among the two-, three- and four-star rankings. The ratings indicate that non-profit nursing homes deliver a higher quality of care than for-profit facilities, according to an analysis by USA Today (www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-12-18-nursinghome_N.htm). When the rating system was announced earlier this year, Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy (www.medicareadvocacy.org/), said that two of three criteria CMS uses for the ratings – staffing data and quality measures – are “...self-reported by nursing facilities and are inaccurate.” Edelman said, “Relying on nursing homes to describe accurately how well they are doing...just doesn’t make sense.”
The National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform issued a statement (www.nccnhr.org/uploads/File/Ombudsman_statement_on_Five-Star-Release.pdf) saying it commends CMS for providing a new tool for long-term care consumers but urging consumers to “...not oversimplify nursing home selection.”
“In reviewing the Five-Star rating for a particular nursing home, consumers should compare the rating with their own experience during a personal visit to the home,” the Coalition warned. “For example, staffing data that is used for the rating system is based on the two weeks prior to the nursing home’s annual regulatory survey, an insufficient period of time to represent the usual staffing pattern of the home. Consumers should visit the home and review staffing data that is required to be posted for every shift, every day.”
For its part, the nursing home industry is not pleased with the rating system. In an opinion piece in USA Today, Bruce Yarwood, president of the American Health Care Association (www.ahcancal.org/Pages/Default.aspx), a long-term care industry trade group, called the new rating scheme “...a complex and inaccurate system that fails to provide the consumer with an appropriate tool to measure quality of care in our nation’s nursing homes.”
Source: 50+ Lifestyles, February 2009.
Elder Law and Estate Planning Seminars: TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Thursday, March 26th at 10am at The Miller Place Inn OR Tuesday, March 31st at The Milleridge Inn. Call 631-234-3030 to reserve your seat for the seminar and lunch.
Monday, March 16, 2009
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT FIDUCIARY?
When creating an estate plan, an important decision is who to name as your fiduciary. A fiduciary is a fancy legal term for the person who will take care of your property for you if you are unable to do it yourself, such as the executor of an estate, the trustee of a trust, or an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. Your first instinct might be to name one of your children as a fiduciary, but if you want to avoid conflict among your children, this might not be the best option.
When naming a fiduciary, it is important to be able to trust the individual, which is why people often name family members as fiduciaries. However, problems can arise when a parent with two or more children names one child as a fiduciary. According to Tim O’Sullivan, an attorney from Wichita, Kansas, who spoke on the issue of family harmony at a recent conference for elder law attorneys, a child is often not the best fiduciary for several reasons:
- It is hard for a child to be completely objective.
- Children often disagree over many things, including how long the estate should take to complete, the selling of assets and the division of personal property.
- Children often don’t communicate with each other well.
O’Sullivan says that, in his experience, when one child is named as the fiduciary, problems arise between family members about one-quarter to one-third of the time.
An alternative is to hire a professional fiduciary. A professional fiduciary can be a bank with trust powers, a certified public accountant, or a trust company. The attorney who is drafting your estate planning documents can recommend a good one in your area. A professional fiduciary will charge a fee, but the fee should be explained ahead of time. In addition, because a professional is experienced in managing money and property, your assets are more likely to increase under this person’s or institution’s guidance.
To ensure that your family has some input, you an include a provision that allows one or more family members to discharge the fiduciary if they feel the professional is not doing a good job. This will allow your family to make sure the fiduciary is performing properly without having the burden of acting as fiduciary.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com, 2/3/09
When naming a fiduciary, it is important to be able to trust the individual, which is why people often name family members as fiduciaries. However, problems can arise when a parent with two or more children names one child as a fiduciary. According to Tim O’Sullivan, an attorney from Wichita, Kansas, who spoke on the issue of family harmony at a recent conference for elder law attorneys, a child is often not the best fiduciary for several reasons:
- It is hard for a child to be completely objective.
- Children often disagree over many things, including how long the estate should take to complete, the selling of assets and the division of personal property.
- Children often don’t communicate with each other well.
O’Sullivan says that, in his experience, when one child is named as the fiduciary, problems arise between family members about one-quarter to one-third of the time.
An alternative is to hire a professional fiduciary. A professional fiduciary can be a bank with trust powers, a certified public accountant, or a trust company. The attorney who is drafting your estate planning documents can recommend a good one in your area. A professional fiduciary will charge a fee, but the fee should be explained ahead of time. In addition, because a professional is experienced in managing money and property, your assets are more likely to increase under this person’s or institution’s guidance.
To ensure that your family has some input, you an include a provision that allows one or more family members to discharge the fiduciary if they feel the professional is not doing a good job. This will allow your family to make sure the fiduciary is performing properly without having the burden of acting as fiduciary.
Source: www.elderlawanswers.com, 2/3/09
Friday, March 6, 2009
VA to Repay Vets for Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs, stung by criticism that its slow action has forced some severely disabled veterans to spend themselves into poverty, has moved to implement a two-year-old law requiring it to reimburse such veterans for the cost of care at state-run nursing homes.
The VA sent letters to the nation’s 137 state veterans nursing homes – including ones in Stony Brook and St. Albans, Queens – saying they expect to begin processing reimbursements within 90 days. A bill signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2006 required the VA to reimburse the full cost for veterans with a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability who require nursing home care.
But although Congress specified that the law be implemented by March 21, 2007, the VA still has not begun issuing payments. A VA spokesman said no one was available to explain the two-year delay. The holdup has forced some elderly veterans to spend away their life savings before they could qualify for Medicaid payments to cover the $250-per-day cost of care at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University.
At least eight patients at Long Island State Veterans Home who would have been covered under the law have been forced to pay for some or all of their care out of pocket, according to Sen. Charles Schumer, who visited the nursing home last month. Two of the veterans have died while waiting for the law to come into effect.
About 80 percent of patients at the nursing home are on Medicaid, a hospital official said.
Some 4,800 Long Island veterans are more than 70 percent disabled and become increasingly likely to require nursing home care as they get into their 80s and 90s.
Long Island State Veterans Home director Fred Sganga said he was encouraged, but remains cautious. “We’ve been promised this won’t take more than 90 days,” he said. “But it’s not over until it’s over.”
Source: Martin C. Evans, Newsday, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Davidow, Davidow, Siegel & Stern is dedicated to educating veterans to their rights and entitlement options in an effort to finance their long term care. As we read about the circumstances detailed in the above article, we can’t help but feel that this could have been avoided. Forcing a veteran, that has other options available, to spend themselves into poverty to finance their long term care is completely unnecessary. This is the reason we have been committed to getting the word out on another type of Veteran pension benefit that could also finance long term care. This under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance, upon eligibility approval, could provide veterans with up to $1949 a month to help pay for long term care either at home or in an assisted living facility. Many veterans do not know this pension exists! We are accredited through the Veterans Administration to guide veterans and their families through the complicated process of obtaining this benefit. Come in to find out how we can help make a difference in a veteran’s life.
The VA sent letters to the nation’s 137 state veterans nursing homes – including ones in Stony Brook and St. Albans, Queens – saying they expect to begin processing reimbursements within 90 days. A bill signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2006 required the VA to reimburse the full cost for veterans with a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability who require nursing home care.
But although Congress specified that the law be implemented by March 21, 2007, the VA still has not begun issuing payments. A VA spokesman said no one was available to explain the two-year delay. The holdup has forced some elderly veterans to spend away their life savings before they could qualify for Medicaid payments to cover the $250-per-day cost of care at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University.
At least eight patients at Long Island State Veterans Home who would have been covered under the law have been forced to pay for some or all of their care out of pocket, according to Sen. Charles Schumer, who visited the nursing home last month. Two of the veterans have died while waiting for the law to come into effect.
About 80 percent of patients at the nursing home are on Medicaid, a hospital official said.
Some 4,800 Long Island veterans are more than 70 percent disabled and become increasingly likely to require nursing home care as they get into their 80s and 90s.
Long Island State Veterans Home director Fred Sganga said he was encouraged, but remains cautious. “We’ve been promised this won’t take more than 90 days,” he said. “But it’s not over until it’s over.”
Source: Martin C. Evans, Newsday, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Davidow, Davidow, Siegel & Stern is dedicated to educating veterans to their rights and entitlement options in an effort to finance their long term care. As we read about the circumstances detailed in the above article, we can’t help but feel that this could have been avoided. Forcing a veteran, that has other options available, to spend themselves into poverty to finance their long term care is completely unnecessary. This is the reason we have been committed to getting the word out on another type of Veteran pension benefit that could also finance long term care. This under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance, upon eligibility approval, could provide veterans with up to $1949 a month to help pay for long term care either at home or in an assisted living facility. Many veterans do not know this pension exists! We are accredited through the Veterans Administration to guide veterans and their families through the complicated process of obtaining this benefit. Come in to find out how we can help make a difference in a veteran’s life.
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