The crippling cost of medical care continues to be a major issue for many Americans, disproportionately impacting seniors and individuals with disabilities. It is important to know your options and rights.
Nonprofit Hospitals
The Affordable Care Act did address the issue of medical debt, and provides some relief for patients seen at nonprofit hospitals.» Read More
Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was the latest government agency to issue an advisory to financial institutions regarding the financial exploitation of older Americans. The update urges financial institutions to make a report whenever they suspect that an older adult is the target or victim of financial exploitation.» Read More
The New Jersey legislature has unanimously passed a bill that promises to dramatically improve the implementation of Medicaid throughout the state. The bill has strong support by all stakeholders. Although it is expected that Gov. Murphy will sign the bill, advocates are urging the public to call and encourage him to do so.» Read More
We recently got a frantic call from the daughter of one of our clients. Her mom, who was 89 but lived independently, had started to hallucinate and was brought to the Emergency Room of the local hospital. She was seen by the hospital physician and sent to a room. » Read More
Last week I was in the airport returning from a visit with my father when I read a poignant New York Times article that describes a too-common scenario. Families find themselves facing the unexpected loss of a loved one and end up grappling with a mundane but important task – accessing the digital life of the deceased.» Read More
Special needs planning requires special expertise. I sat down with a new client last week and asked to review her old estate planning documents. Her Will included a special needs trust for her young adult child with autism. The document was prepared by a prestigious firm, so I was shocked to find that the trust was completely wrong.» Read More
The good news is that Medicaid does pay for home care under both traditional Medicaid and the MLTSS (Managed Long Term Services and Supports) Program. However, the bad news is that the level of care provided is unworkable for many beneficiaries. » Read More
Caregiving is stressful. But how much stress is too much? There’s a fine line between “normal” stress and a level of stress that is harmful and debilitating.
Often people say they feel burnt out, but what does caregiver burnout really mean?» Read More
I am often asked what Lori Kayne, the firm’s geriatric social worker, does. Anyone who has dealt with an aging parent understands the benefit of a social worker immediately, but others may not realize what a tremendous resource an experienced professional like Lori is.» Read More
Families whose loved ones need long-term care are often overwhelmed and confused about what level of care is most appropriate. As a social worker, I assess the client in their home gaining important insights into this decision. Each client is different so there is no “right answer” as to when to choose home care versus assisted living or nursing home, but there are generally five factors that should be considered.» Read More
