Using survey data from more than 8,000 adults aged 65 and older, researchers have identified eight social factors that may lead to early death in older adults. As part of the study, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of California, San...

Medicaid long-term care benefits traditionally pay mainly for nursing home care, but the federal government can grant “waivers” to states allowing them to expand Medicaid to include home and community-based services. The downside is that receiving care in a nursing...

Seniors who need assistance with everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, and eating are eligible for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people who qualify for these services – but wish to receive them in...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. As a spectrum disorder, ASD impacts individuals differently and to varying degrees. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...

Safe housing that meets older adults’ needs is essential to healthy aging in communities. Many seniors with low, fixed incomes struggle to balance housing expenses with the costs of health care, transportation, and groceries. Finding inexpensive, safe, and accessible...

Wills contain important information about who receives money, possessions, and property upon a person’s death. Who can view this information, and is it a public record? Once your will goes through probate, it becomes a public record. The probate court must maintain...

Many older adults can no longer safely live on their own. However, they may not need the highly specialized care of nursing homes. Intermediate care facilities present one option for older adults who cannot live independently but require daily assistance. As a...

It is easy to burn out when you are responsible for providing full-time care to an aging or disabled loved one. In some cases, caregiver burnout can result in resentment toward the individual they care for, despite their love for them. The fact is, we all need a break...

Many adult children wonder what their aging parents may need and how can they can help provide it for them. You may constantly worry about your parents or other older loved ones, especially if you live far away from them. You can, however, take some simple steps to...

As of March 2023, states are on the hook to ensure that home- and community-based housing services for its participants are meeting the federal government’s minimum standards. This includes protecting certain basic civil and constitutional rights of the individuals...

Many older Americans choose to have their family members care for them as they age. Despite the comfort a familiar face may provide, there is a significant cost for the loved ones who sacrifice their time, and often their upward economic mobility, to ensure that they...

Many parents and families planning for the care of their loved one with special needs will consider setting up a special needs trust. (Special needs trusts are also often referred to as supplemental needs trusts and SNTs). These trusts allow assets to be left to a...

Medicaid law provides special protections for the spouses of Medicaid applicants to make sure the spouses have the minimum support needed to continue to live in the community (i.e. at home) while their husband or wife is receiving long-term care benefits, usually in a...

It has been a tumultuous few years. Amid a continuing pandemic, tense midterm elections, and a war in Ukraine, we have grappled with more than our fair share of grim news. However, in 2023, there are some silver linings — in particular for seniors, and here are 5 of...

Are you a taxpayer who has purchased long-term care insurance (LTCI)? Take note of your policy details and your premium amount, as you may be able to deduct the cost – or at least part of it – from your income. If your total eligible medical expenses (including your...