by Twyla Sketchley | May 23, 2016 | Estate Planning, Financial Assistance
One of the big questions standing in the way of seniors selling their homes is whether they will have to pay taxes when they sell? Many seniors have lived in their homes for decades and are concerned with selling because of the tax liabilities. If you or an aging...
by Twyla Sketchley | May 17, 2016 | Exploitation
Elder exploitation is a growing problem in the United States. Some estimate that Americans lose as much as $2.9 billion a year due to financial exploitation. Often exploitation goes undiscovered until all an elder’s money is gone. Determining whether an...
by Twyla Sketchley | May 11, 2016 | Caregivers, Resources
If you are one of the millions of Americans who are helping manage someone else’s money, you are likely required to provide an accounting. An accounting is an itemized explanation of how you spent the money you were managing. If you are a trustee, guardian,...
by Twyla Sketchley | May 11, 2016 | Assisted Living
As the population ages, the use of assisted living facilities to provide long term care for aging parents increases. Often, adult children are asked to sign the admission contract on behalf of a parent who will reside in the assisted living facility. These contracts...
by Twyla Sketchley | Apr 25, 2016 | Caregivers, Exploitation
Does your elderly loved one receive a lot of mail – particularly junk mail? This may be a sign that he or she has fallen victim to scammers and identity thieves. C. Steven Baker, Federal Trade Commission Director of the Midwest Region says, “Scammers...
by Twyla Sketchley | Apr 18, 2016 | Estate Planning, Exploitation, Financial Assistance
Our financial planners have their hands on our life savings and access to our personal and financial information. We confide in them about our goals, our dreams, and the future of our children. But, what do we really know about them when we give them access to our...
by Twyla Sketchley | Apr 11, 2016 | Elder Law, Estate Planning
Most people have heard of an “advance directive”, but many do not know what one is. An advance directive is a document you sign, when you are competent, that states your preference regarding your medical care. Advanced directives go by many names: ...
by Twyla Sketchley | Apr 3, 2016 | Caregivers, Disability
April is Autism Awareness Month. In my law practice, I have clients whose families are affected by Autism. My own family has a history with Autism. When I think of Autism, I don’t think of blue shirts or puzzle piece ribbons. I think of my cousin, John, as a...
by Twyla Sketchley | Mar 31, 2016 | Caregivers, Nursing Home
A Medicare Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) is referred to as a BFCC-QIO. It is an organization that reviews complaints, “quick appeals”, and quality of care issues for Medicare recipients. The “quick...
by Twyla Sketchley | Mar 25, 2016 | Caregivers, Nursing Home
When a Medicare recipient is denied coverage of a service, she can appeal the decision. However, if she is dealing with health problems, it may be difficult to do. A Medicare recipient can appoint a representative to assist with the appeals process. She can...
