I’ve always been told to be careful about assumptions. It’s really a wise recommendation when it comes to aging. Generalities that once might have held a thimble of truth have been blown out of the water by the Greatest Generation and the beloved Baby Boomers. When social security was first signed into law, not many […]
There are so many emotions that go along with caregiving. We’re trying to help. We’re trying to do what’s best for our loved one. When you add in the dementia element, the caring gets a whole lot harder. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here, but it can get downright exasperating. You’re trying to […]
“America’s commitment to its veterans are not just lines on a budget,” President Obama assured members at a recent Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. “They are bonds that are sacred — a sacred trust we’re honor bound to uphold.” That assurance is extremely important for aging veterans who face the same challenges that confront seniors […]
The phone rings. At the other end is a distraught person. Ever since grandpa died, the family has been in constant conflict. As a personal property appraiser, I quickly discover that what everyone thought was a close-knit family has suddenly fallen apart. The fight over the estate causes heartache. The reason is obvious: once money […]
Even though you have signed your will, and even if you also set up a living trust, your estate planning is not complete. You still need to address several “what ifs”. In fact, these “what ifs” are important for people of all ages to address, not just the elderly or those worried about elderly parents. […]
Your father is terribly disorganized. In fact, he is a messy slob whose idea of filing means stacks of papers in drawers, shoe boxes and closets. He always has been, but his slip-shod habits have only gotten worse with age. This worries you — and it should — because as his potential heir, you eventually […]
Most myths contain a modicum of truth. What causes misinformation to endure is an unwillingness or inability to look more closely to ferret out the facts. This is especially true in understanding hospice care, which is closely allied with sickness, death, and dying—fraught topics that many avoid rather than confront head-on. It’s estimated that nearly […]
