Elderly Money & Legal

Who is eligible for social security benefits?
Learn about Social Security Benefits and Eligibility. Find out if you or your parent are eligible for social security benefits and how much you should get.

Who is eligible for Medicaid?
Medicaid eligibility & qualification information, requirements, application and more. Find out if you are eligible for Medicaid.

Who is eligible for Medicare?
"Am I eligible for Medicare" "Can my mom or dad get Medicare?" These are common questions among caregivers, and unfortunately there is no easy answer. You must meet certain criteria to qualify.

How to get guardianship of an elderly parent
How to get guardianship to make legal, financial and healthcare choices for an elderly parent who is no longer able to make rational decisions.

What are "Advance Care Directives?"
Advance Care Directives specify what type and level of medical treatment an elder wants should they become incapacitated and unable to speak for themselves.

What is the difference between a POA, Durable Power of Attorney and living will?
Learn the difference between Power of Attorney (POA), Durable Power of Attorney, guardianship, executor, conservatorship and Living wills.

What is durable power of attorney?
Elderly people should appoint a power of attorney to a trusted relative or friend who can make financial decisions for them if the elder becomes unable to make those decision on their own.

Your elderly parent could be a victim of identity theft….and not know it
Identity theft occurs when thieves steal an elderly parent's financial documents, social security or bank account numbers through a fraud, con or scam.

7 Legal Issues That Caregivers Face
Real legal battles and issues that can happen to any caregiver and their elderly parents.

What Healthcare Reform Means for Caregivers and Elderly Parents
What does the new health care reform bill, recently signed by President Barrack Obama, mean for your elderly parents? Learn about the impact it will have on you and your elderly parents.

Will being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disqualify mom for life insurance?
Rosanne Roge answered: Life insurance coverage is not typically offered for elderly who have been diagnosed before they turned age 75.
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My mom has a lot of credit card debt. Are people who get in debt because of Alzheimer's disease liable?
Carolyn Rosenblatt answered: A person with Alzheimer's disease is legally responsible for paying their credit card debt or other debt unless you can prove that she was not competent at the time she foolishly spent money.
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My father recently turned 65, then suffered a massive stroke and is paralyzed. He started receiving Medicaid a few months after the stroke. He also qualifies for disability from his insurance company. Will he lose his Medicaid if he gets disability?
answered: Your father's disability income must be applied to the nursing home bill before Medicaid will pick up the difference.
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If my mother is caring for my father and they are divorced, is she still eligible for compensation through his Veterans benefits?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered: The law states that a court can give a percentage of the vet's pension to a former spouse.
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My mother has Alzheimer's and her Long Term Health Care benefits have run out. Can they kick her out of the Assisted Living facility she lives in?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered: A nursing home or assisted living can evict an elderly parent who doesn't pay.
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My mother lives in assisted living and her Medicaid long term helath care benefits have run out. Will she be asked to leave if she can't pay?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered: If an elder's Medicaid long term health care benefits run out, assisted living facilites and nursing homes are legally allowed to ask elders who can no longer pay to leave.
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How can I protect my family’s assets, but not disqualify my elderly mother from Medicaid benefits?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered: Caregivers often want to know how to protect family assets, but ensure their elderly parents still qualify for public assistance benefts such as Medicaid.
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Mom has Alzheimer’s and lives in a facility. My sister has power of attorney. Mom wants to gift $150,000 to grandkids rather than using it to pay for care. She worked all her life paying for Medicare. Shouldn't she be able to use it instead of her savings
Jon P. Beyrer answered: This is a difficult dilemma, and one that many families are facing. The dilemma can often be avoided or mitigated with advance planning, but that doesn’t help in your case.
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Is a Reverse Mortgage a good choice for seniors, or are there other options?
Jon P. Beyrer answered: For some homeowners, a reverse mortgage may be the best way to provide income or pay off debts. However, senior homeowners do have other alternatives, which may make more sense than a reverse mortgage. Read Jon Beyrer's full answer.
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How do I go about finding a financial advisor for my parent?
Jon P. Beyrer answered: Personal finance is a broad, complex, and ever-changing field, yet just about anyone can call themselves a financial advisor. The advisor you choose must be competent, well-informed, and experienced in the areas of investment management and financial counseling. Read Jon Beyrer's full answer.
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