The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have recently combined eight online Compare tools into one on Medicare.gov. This new tool, called Care Compare, has data about providers across different disciplines – making it easier for Medicare beneficiaries and their family members to get the information they need. CMS’s eight separate Compare tools…
Continue reading…Category: Elder Care
How to Find a Quality Nursing Home in Massachusetts
When your loved one needs a nursing home, whether it’s for a short-term visit or permanent placement, you want to find a place where they will be well taken care of. A nursing home is for people who can’t be cared for at home and need 24-hour nursing care. Perhaps you know doctors, family members,…
Continue reading…Senior Living Options
As older adults age in Massachusetts, they have new options of places where they can live. They can choose a place where they’ll continue to live independently, a location that provides help when it’s needed, a facility where they can receive 24-hour care when that’s required, and even a place where they can live independently…
Continue reading…Adapting U.S. Cities for an Aging Population
The U.S. has a rapidly aging population. By 2030, every baby boomer will be age 65 or older, which means that one out of every five U.S. citizens will be of retirement age. Since eight in ten U.S. residents who are 65 and older live in metropolitan areas, the aging population will have a big…
Continue reading…4 Reasons to Have a Personal Care Contract
Studies have found that an estimated 90% of seniors prefer to receive care at home vs. receiving institutional care. They want to continue to live in the comfort of their own homes as long as possible to stay close to their loved ones, maintain their independence, and enjoy a better quality of life. Another good…
Continue reading…Common Senior Scams and How to Protect Yourself
It’s very sad but true: senior citizens lose billions of dollars a year to scams. Here are some of the more common scams as well as several pearls of wisdom to help avoid falling victim to a scam. Phone scams—ID SpoofingCon artists can now have caller ID say the name of a bank or even…
Continue reading…Why You Need to Plan for Long-Term Care Expenses
Fact: the majority of people over 65 will need long-term care.It’s estimated that 70% of people over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care (LTC) services during their lifetime. That could mean needing assistance with at least a couple of activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, or bathing, and…
Continue reading…Why Use an Experienced Elder Law Attorney (Like Us) for MassHealth Planning?
While I understand that this sounds somewhat self-serving, it really is important to get the best expert guidance you can when it comes to MassHealth, which is Medicaid in Massachusetts. MassHealth is a joint federal/state program that supports the cost of nursing home care for people who qualify. Seniors (age 65 or older) must meet…
Continue reading…What Assets and Income Count Toward MassHealth Eligibility?
To qualify for MassHealth benefits, seniors (age 65 or older) must meet strict financial eligibility requirements, including both a limit on countable assets as well as income. If you’re married and live with your spouse, both of your incomes and assets count in deciding if you can get MassHealth. Countable income includes: Wages, salary, tips, commissions (before deductions) Self-employment…
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