Who Gets Social Security Survivor Benefits?
When loved ones pass away, there are lots of considerations, including what happens to their Social Security. The decedent’s payments need to be stopped, but survivor benefits may be available to the spouse or, in certain cases, children. When a Social Security...
Notarizing Documents for Seniors With a Dementia Diagnosis
This article is written by Phillip W. Browne, VP of Communications of the National Notary Association An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis can be a challenging journey for the person and family alike. When the diagnosis occurs, a ticking clock begins on the timeline...
Staffing in Long-Term Care Communities: What To Know
For residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, lack of sufficient staff has become an increasingly urgent concern in recent years. While we in the Kansas City area are blessed to have many well-staffed communities, shortages in this critical area...
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and the Need for Care
Most long-term care involves assisting with basic personal needs rather than providing medical care. The long-term care community measures personal needs by looking at whether an individual requires help with basic activities. ADLs Meaning ADLs, or activities of daily...
The Role of Assisted Living Facility Staff
Seven out of 10 people will require assisted living care in their lifetime. In 1995, the National Center for Assisted Living created National Assisted Living Week to shed light on the critical role that assisted living communities play in many older adults’ lives....
Can Life Insurance Affect Your Medicaid Eligibility?
When applying for Medicaid many people often forget about life insurance. But depending on the type of life insurance and the value of the policy, it can count as an asset. This may affect your eligibility for Medicaid. What Is Medicaid? Am I Eligible? Medicaid is a...
Medicare Part D Enrollees May Pay Less for These 10 Drugs
Are you among the roughly 50 million seniors with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan? You may end up paying less for certain medications come 2026 – and beyond. Negotiating Prescription Drug Costs The cost of brand-name prescription medications has increased...
3 Tips for Prepping for Medicare Annual Enrollment 2023
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is just around the corner. In just a little over a month, those of you who are looking to enroll in a Medicare plan will have a chance to do just that. If you want to make the most of AEP, preparing for the event is key....
8 Frequently Asked Questions on Last Wills and Testaments
Starting an estate plan can be overwhelming, and you probably have many questions. You are not alone. Below are eight questions people often ask about last wills and testaments as they begin to think about estate planning. 1. Aren’t Wills Only for Wealthy People? This...
Selling Your Life Insurance Policy to Help Cover Expenses
The National Council on Aging reports that more than 16.5 million adults 65 and older experience economic insecurity, with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Rising housing and health care bills can burden seniors on fixed, limited incomes. Life...
Should You Use a Medical Credit Card?
According to the Health System Tracker, individuals in the United States have more than $195 billion in medical debt. Medical credit accounts for a portion of this debt. From 2018, to 2020, people in the U.S. used medical credit cards or loans with deferred interest...
Prior Authorization: Why Is It Holding Up My Medical Care?
You may be in need of a medical procedure, such an MRI, or are due to refill a certain prescription medication. And yet you may find yourself having to wait until your insurer approves coverage for it before you can move forward. At a minimum, this process, known as...
Probate v. Non-Probate: What Is the Difference?
When planning your estate it is important to understand the difference between probate and non-probate assets. What Is Probate? Probate is the process through which a court determines how to distribute your property after you die. Some assets are distributed to heirs...
What Makes a Will Valid?
Movies, television, and books like to present wills in dramatic ways--handwritten notes, videos, deathbed utterances--but what actually makes a will valid? The law varies depending on what state you live in, but there are some basic rules. The legal requirements for a...
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
Last Will and Testaments determine who gets an individual’s assets upon death. Generally, people can use wills to pass their estate to whomever they wish. Although state laws impose some restrictions, such as preventing married people from disinheriting their spouses...