The Medicare card scam every senior should beware of
In an effort to reduce identity theft and fraud, new Medicare cards were sent out beginning in April to more...
Senior care
The hidden costs of Alzheimer’s disease
When Rick could not remember where he kept his trusted toolbox, and then forgot his computer passwords, Sandy — Rick’s...
Maine’s Universal Home Care proposition could mean big changes for seniors and their caregivers
An initiative on the ballot in Maine this November could bring free home care for seniors and higher wages for...
What Millennials really want to know about caregiving for their parents
Not long ago, I was invited to speak—virtually—to an audience that you wouldn’t normally think of when you think about...
December “Senior Sense”: The Hidden Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Forbes.com When Rick could not remember where he kept...
Want to enjoy old age? This 90-year-old has one simple trick, and science backs her up
As Bette Davis famously quipped, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” My mother knows this all too well. In a couple of months, she’ll turn 90...
We are not our parents’ parent: Balancing caring for an aging parent and honoring their independence
I often refer to my 89-year-old mother as the Energizer Bunny. She’s always on the go and is good at...
Caring for an aging parent? 8 tips for a smooth transition into caregiving
Aging parents may hesitate to ask for help while adult children struggle to step in. These tips can help ease...
January “Senior Sense”: Want To Enjoy Old Age? This 90-Year-Old Has One Simple Trick, And Science Backs Her Up
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Forbes.com As Bette Davis famously quipped, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” My...
Having the inheritance talk with parents brings both sadness and relief
Several months ago my sister made a surprising suggestion: Let’s sit down with Mom and figure out how this whole...
February “Senior Sense”: We Are Not Our Parents’ Parents
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care | Recently published on Yale University Press I often refer to my 89-year-old...
Alzheimer’s and dementia: The wandering problem
Six in 10 people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia will wander away from their care settings, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Disorientation begins...
Health Care Over the Age 55
Call it the era of American longevity: Currently, approximately 35 million citizens are 65 or older, a tenfold increase over the past...
Nursing Homes in America
From the moment we’re born, our parents have the responsibility to watch over and care for us. For most...
Should you write your own will or hire a lawyer?
If you don’t yet have a last will and testament, you might be wondering if you really need to hire...
March “Senior Sense”: How to Talk to Parents About Needing Care
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care Clara always had a contentious relationship with her fiercely-independent mother, and things didn’t...
A rock and a hard place: A family caregiver’s account of her mother’s final months
Caught between my dying mother and my teenaged son, I felt as if I couldn’t do anything right. Or could...
5 top online, low-cost will services for estate planning
According to a recent Gallup poll, 56% of Americans do not have a will. Dying without a will means that state laws will...
Why more people are using advance directives for people with dementia
Financial planners, family-law attorneys, and medical professionals have long urged people to write advance directives—legal statements that stipulate what sort of...
April “Senior Sense”: What To Expect When You’re Expecting An Inheritance
By Jody Gastfriend, LICSW, VP Senior Care Several months ago my sister made a surprising suggestion: Let’s sit down with...
Staying in my lane: Caring for the caregiver
I first learned about what I call the lanes of parental caregiving when I was 35. That’s when my mother...
How to choose the right wheelchair for your senior loved one
Finding the right wheelchair for someone can be a daunting task, as it depends on a variety of factors ranging...
Why I hired a comedian to visit my mother with Alzheimer’s
The most harrowing plane ride I’ve ever had was a trip from the East coast to the West coast last...
What is a trust—and why they’re not just for the super wealthy
You might think trust funds are reserved for the super-wealthy, but in reality a trust can be a smart estate-planning...
Trust vs. will: Which is better for you?
Determining if you need a trust or a will can get confusing, because on the surface both appear to do...
May “Senior Sense”: 5 Unexpected Ways Life Changes when you Become a Caregiver to your Parent
By Liz O’Donnell I heard about parenting all the time: “Your life completely changes when you become a parent,” my...
How to make a living will
A living will is a straightforward, easy-to-complete document that allows you to specify what should happen in the event that you’re...
Checklist: Everything you need to do after someone dies
After a loved one dies, it can be hard to think of anything beyond your immediate sadness and grief. But...
Life insurance: What are the types + how to buy it
Don’t have life insurance? You’re not alone. Over 100 million Americans don’t have a policy, according to Life Happens, a...
How to spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid
Many aging adults need help with daily personal tasks—things like bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, or taking medications. Medicare doesn’t...
What’s the difference between delirium and dementia?
When interning at a nursing home, I encountered a patient who was complaining that her medication was causing hallucinations. But...
Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia in people with Alzheimer’s and dementia
People with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can be beset by hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Sometimes, these distortions can be directly caused by changes...
When does your loved one need a guardian or conservator?
Choosing to become a loved one’s guardian or conservator is a serious matter that requires court approval. This role requires...
4 ways to avoid probate
It is a truth universally acknowledged that probate is a major pain. It requires that an executor or other representative appear in...
What is an executor and what do they do?
Naming an executor is one of the most important elements of a last will and testament. After all, an executor...
Should you set up a testamentary trust? What you need to know
The two most common types of trusts are revocable living trusts and irrevocable living trusts. But those are hardly your...
Should you consider an irrevocable trust?
The word irrevocable evokes permanent, set-in-stone arrangements. And that’s exactly what it means in describing this type of trust. Once...
Digital estate plans: Why you need it and how to create yours
You already know an estate plan can make it easier to transfer your financial assets and physical property after death....
Do you need a health care proxy if you’re married?
A health care proxy, also known as a durable power of attorney for health care or a medical power of attorney, is...
Best online end-of-life planning and document services
The multitude of documents required to create an end-of-life plan can feel overwhelming. For health care, there are medical directives...