by Twyla Sketchley | Nov 14, 2013 | Caregivers
Many people request their cremated remains be scattered in a place that held meaning to the loved one and their family. However, scattering cremated remains in a public place raises public health issues as well as concerns regarding the sanctity and proper treatment...
by Twyla Sketchley | Nov 8, 2013 | Caregivers
More than 60 million Americans are providing care for family members who, due to the infirmities of aging or impairments related to disabilities, need daily care to ensure their health, welfare and safety. The vast majority of these caregivers receive no payment for...
by Twyla Sketchley | Nov 7, 2013 | Caregivers
Every day, I work with adult children who discover, usually in crisis, they were appointed to act on behalf of a parent using a durable power of attorney. The vast majority of those appointed do not know what they are supposed to do or that there may be liability...
by Twyla Sketchley | Nov 2, 2013 | Estate Planning
When an individual become incapacitated, others may need to assist by making financial and medical decisions on behalf of the individual. These decision makers can use a variety of tools to make decisions, depending on documents the incapacitated individual created....
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 31, 2013 | Financial Assistance
Medicaid Mills and Pension Poachers are companies usually run and staffed by non-attorneys that prey on individuals’ fears of paying catastrophic long term care costs, in order to sell financial products, create legal entities and dispose of the victim’s assets...
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 31, 2013 | Financial Assistance
On October 30, 2013, two weeks late due to the government shutdown, the Social Security Administration announced the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2014. COLA is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), produced by the Bureau of Labor...
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 24, 2013 | Estate Planning
Turning 65 is a milestone birthday, bringing with it Medicare eligibility and the accompanying choices. In addition, there are a number issues to be addressed. When you turn 65, these are the 10 things you need to do: 1. Sign up for Medicare. This requires you to...
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 22, 2013 | Financial Assistance
Beginning on August 1, 2013, Florida began transitioning Medicaid recipients receiving or applying for long term care benefits into the new Florida Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care Waiver, also known as Medicaid reform. The transition began with Region 7, which...
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 17, 2013 | Caregivers
We have all heard stories of an impaired elderly driver causing accidents that harm people and damage property. While age does change how we respond to stimuli, age does not automatically cause individuals to become so impaired they cannot drive. Not every older...
by Twyla Sketchley | Oct 10, 2013 | Financial Assistance
On August 1, 2011, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) submitted an application to the federal government’s Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting a waiver of federal Medicaid rules for the state. This waiver requested...
