Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


medicaid worries
Long-Term Care Costs Increase Sharply
October 19, 2017

Genworth Financial has released its 2017 survey of long-term care costs. The picture is not encouraging. Although the cost of care has always been shockingly expensive, and increased annually without fail, the rate of increase seems to be picking up….

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seniors-worried
Penn Treaty fails: What does this mean for you if you want long-term care coverage?
April 9, 2017

Thousands of people across the nation hold long-term care policies from Penn Treaty Insurance Company. The company and its American Network Insurance subsidiary have been in dire financial straits since at least 2001. With the company short the $4 billion…

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campbell
Six years post diagnosis, Glen Campbell’s wife reports on the Rhinestone Cowboy
March 21, 2017

As reported in a 2013 post, acclaimed country music singer-songwriter Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2011. This was not entirely a shock to his fans, who had noticed the Rhinestone Cowboy forgetting lyrics during performances. At home, he…

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Elder Law
Services a Florida Elder Law Attorney provide you and your family
March 15, 2017

Just what does an elder law attorney do? What are our services? Why would you want to consult with an elder law attorney? Can younger people use our services? Are our services different from those that an estate planning lawyer…

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David Cassidy
David Cassidy, 1970s teen hearthrob, suffering from dementia
February 27, 2017

Fans knew something was wrong when he could not remember the lyrics to songs he’d sung for decades. But for David Cassidy, it was a long-held fear come to fruition. The 1970s teen heartthrob who gained fame on the Partridge…

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Businesswoman filling out contract on a glass table.
How NOT to sign a nursing home admissions agreement
December 20, 2016

A recent Florida Supreme Court ruling underscores the importance of having a valid power of attorney, as well as the importance of being careful when signing a nursing home agreement for a loved one. Juan Mendez Sr. was admitted to…

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financial abuse
Bad Medicaid advice and a questionable guardian equal a double nightmare for Palm Beach County resident
December 18, 2016

We frequently remind blog readers of two important planning steps to take: First, get guidance from a Florida Bar Certified Elder Law Attorney when pursuing long-term care Medicaid benefits. Second, make plans to avoid court-ordered guardianship in the event of…

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myths and facts
Florida Medicaid Myths
November 8, 2016

In Florida, the average annual cost of a private room at a long-term nursing facility now hovers upwards of $90,000 annually, with a semi-private room around $83,000. With the oldest Baby Boomers turning 70 and the escalating incidence of chronic…

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nursing home arbitration
Nursing home arbitration clauses no longer permitted
October 7, 2016

SEE NOVEMBER 10, 2016 STATUS UPDATE ON THE NEW CMS RULE. CLICK HERE. Pre-dispute binding arbitration clauses will no longer be permitted in nursing home admissions contracts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ruled. The new rule goes…

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Caregiver
Medicaid Personal Services Agreements must be properly structured
July 19, 2015

A Medicaid Personal Services Contract, also known as a Personal Services Agreement, can be a great strategy that permits an aging person to pay adult children for caregiving, while still preserving the parent’s eligibility for long-term care Medicaid benefits. In…

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