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...
by Twyla Sketchley | Mar 25, 2016 | Caregivers, Nursing Home
A benefit period under Medicare is also referred to as a “spell of illness”. It defines a period of time over which Medicare benefits pay and certain co-pays apply. A spell of illness begins on the day a Medicare patient is admitted to a hospital or...
by Twyla Sketchley | Mar 13, 2016 | Caregivers, Disability
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals age 65 or older or individuals with a disability. To qualify for Medicare, an individual or his spouse must have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. An individual is also eligible if a...
by Twyla Sketchley | Mar 2, 2016 | Elder Law, Financial Assistance, Resources
Billions of dollars in unclaimed property are held by state governments throughout the United States. Individuals (or their legal representatives) who own that property often never know it exists. You or a loved one may be one of them. What is Unclaimed Property?...
by Twyla Sketchley | Feb 15, 2016 | Disability, Resources
In our last blog post, Should My Elderly Parents Stop Driving, we discussed the warning signs indicating an elderly parent is an unsafe driver. If you determine a parent may be unsafe to drive, there are three ways to address it: First, have a conversation with your...
by Twyla Sketchley | Feb 8, 2016 | Caregivers, Elder Law, Resources
Driving is a vital part of nearly every American’s life. Remember when you received your first driver’s license? The ability to drive represents freedom and independence. It is understandable that for the elderly the thought of losing the ability to drive...
