Ashley Huntsberry-Lett
Managing Editor
Ashley is the managing editor at AgingCare. She oversees a team that produces articles on family caregiving, in-home care, senior health issues, and long-term care planning. As a teenager, she helped care for her stepfather during his three-year battle with colon cancer. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida.
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If you missed Medicare Open Enrollment’s deadline on December 7, there are still a few options available to help you make the most of your coverage.
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Many adult children approach caring for elderly parents in a way that is perceived as overbearing instead of supportive. Use these tips to ensure you’re taking charge without taking over.
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Under certain circumstances, life insurance policies are considered countable assets and can affect Medicaid eligibility. Some seniors must include their life insurance policies in their spend-down strategy to qualify for Medicaid long-term care services.
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Medication-related problems like drug interactions, side effects and nonadherence can negatively impact an elder’s health and even increase the risk of death. Patients and caregivers are the first-line defense in preventing and addressing these issues.
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Providing care for a senior can be very rewarding, but without a balanced care plan and regular respite, family caregivers risk developing serious mental and physical health problems of their own.
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When someone you love passes away, the last thing you want to think about is locating legal documents and handling financial matters. Use these steps to make the probate process as simple as possible.
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Medicare pays for senior rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility, but only for a limited time and under certain circumstances. Be aware of Medicare’s rules for rehab coverage to avoid costly surprises.
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It is crucial to engage in proper legal planning with family members while they are still of sound mind. An elder law attorney outlines competency criteria that must be met in order to obtain valid legal documents before a crisis strikes.
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Physical activity is a simple yet effective way of managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Learn how an active lifestyle benefits the mind and body and how to create a personalized Parkinson’s disease exercise program.
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Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is an overwhelming experience, both for the senior and their family members. Take these seven steps after the diagnosis has been made to get organized and prioritize healthy living.
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Urinary tract infections (UTI) in elders are common and are especially challenging to diagnose in elders with dementia. Learn how this condition affects older adults and what treatment options can help prevent recurrent UTI in dementia patients.
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Planning ahead benefits seniors and their family caregivers. Working with an attorney who specializes in elder law gives seniors peace of mind and allows family members to understand their roles and responsibilities before they must act on them.
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Medicaid spend-down rules for married couples are different, depending on where each spouse lives. When one still lives at home, known as the “community spouse,” they can often keep more assets and income to avoid what is called spousal impoverishment.
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Budgeting can be tricky, especially for seniors on fixed incomes. Learn how to help an aging loved one evaluate their personal cash flow and develop a monthly budget they can actually follow.
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Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning about the most common Medicare phone scams and how to determine whether communication from “Medicare” is legitimate.
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The high cost of a nursing home stay can overwhelm seniors and their family members very quickly. Depending on the circumstances, Medicare, Medicaid or both programs may be used to cover nursing home expenses.
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Be aware of the pitfalls of joint accounts when planning and preparing for the Medicaid application, as mistakes in the way an asset is titled and managed can have a profound impact on Medicaid eligibility.
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Most people mistakenly believe that creating a will is a one-time task, but estate-planning documents should be reviewed regularly to ensure they still reflect your wishes.
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Reviewing a senior’s ownership interest in their home often comes into play when creating a financial strategy that includes qualifying for Medicaid.
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Advance directives are useful for end-of-life care planning, but there's another tool that goes one step further. POLST forms enable terminally ill elders to turn their future care preferences into explicit medical orders for doctors and first responders.