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Selling Your Life Insurance Policy as a Viatical Settlement or Senior Settlement to Pay for Senior Care
Updated December 2025 As Benjamin Franklin’s said – “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If you own a life insurance policy, and continue to make premium payments on time, the life insurance company will be expected to pay out the face value of the policy, less any liens or advances paid. This only applies […]
Resources for Family Caregivers
The following list of organizations and companies is provided for informational purposes only. This directory is not comprehensive, but it does include some excellent resources to help you jumpstart your research. While visiting these websites, be aware that some are reputable government sites; others are commercial businesses that may request you fill out a form […]
“Need help changing a light bulb?”— It Takes a Village to Care for an Aging Population
Updated January 2026 The African proverb “it takes a village” meant raising a child, but today it also applies to caring for an aging population. Today’s new villages are an integral part of the growing movement to provide the support and services that will help America’s rapidly aging population “age in place” in their own homes […]
My Mother Lives in the Backyard: The Granny Pod Evolution
Updated December 2025 If that’s your answer to queries about where your elderly mother lives, you and your mom are part of one solution for the looming problem of how to care for America’s rapidly aging population, which is growing at the rate of some 4 million seniors each year. Maybe your mother lives in […]
Don’t Be Blindsided: What Medicare Won’t Cover
Updated February 2026 Your parents are enrolled in Medicare and they’re insured for hospital, outpatient visits and drugs, so their basic health needs are covered. Well, yes and no. Don’t be blindsided. There are some glaring gaps in coverage–especially when it comes to an aging population–and you should be aware of those gaps and what […]
Preparing for Medicare Open Enrollment: Should Your Elderly Loved One Change Plans?
Every fall, Medicare recipients–your parents included–are bombarded with notifications about the upcoming “open enrollment” period and their options for switching coverage. As you read them, be aware that these notifications basically are advertisements for the different plans. This annual “open enrollment” period, currently from about October 15 through December 7, should not be confused with […]
Why You Should Sign Up for Medicare When You Hit 65
Updated February 2026 Most people, including your parents, sign up for Medicare when they “retire” and hit 65, unless one or both of them still works and they may be covered by an employer’s health plan. But retirement at age 65 is not as fixed as it once was. Maybe because people are living longer, […]
Understanding Your Elderly Parents’ Medicare Coverage
Most people over 65 know all about Medicare, what it costs, what it does and doesn’t pay for, even why it makes financial sense to pay extra for a Medigap or supplementary insurance policy to help with deductibles and co-payments. These policies are sold by private insurance companies, but exactly how these policies supplement the costs […]
Speaking from Experience: Advice for Hiring Caregivers for an Elderly Parent
When the tides turn and you become the one responsible for the care of an elderly parent or family member, you will need to develop a plan of care. That plan may include hiring a day-to-day caregiver. Finding the right match for your elderly parent, aunt or uncle can be challenging – and overwhelming. If […]
Advice for Caregivers Part 4 – Easing the Burden: How to Survive Caregiving for Mom and Dad
Caregiving is exhausting, both physically and emotionally, as well as time-consuming. That means that caregivers need–and should take advantage of–all the help and support they can get. It helps to have someone else check in on your parents periodically to assess their living situation. You need to recognize that your parents may not be totally […]