Estate planning is a critical process for ensuring that one’s wishes are honored after passing. However, it’s fraught with potential pitfalls that can undermine its effectiveness. Understanding these common challenges is key to creating a robust and effective estate plan.

• 1. Poor Drafting and Infrequent Updates: A major factor undermining the effectiveness of many estate plans is the poor drafting or inadequate updating of documents. This neglect often leads to a failure in reflecting personal life changes or adapting to new legal statutes, compromising the relevance of the estate plan.

• 2. Reliance on Generic Templates: The use of generic online templates or standard documents is another critical issue. These resources might not be equipped to address the unique complexities and legal subtleties of an individual’s situation. This inadequacy can result in complications and the potential disregard of a person’s final wishes.

• 3. Relying on Advice from Non-Experts: Taking advice from family members or friends can be problematic. They might not fully understand the specific circumstances or the nuances of different state laws, leading to the creation of documents that are irrelevant or incorrect for the person’s situation and state.

• 4. Importance of Tailored Legal Advice: Given these challenges, the need for personalized legal advice and regular updates to estate planning documents is vital. This ensures that the documents stay effective and in alignment with the current legal and personal context.

• 5. Inadequate Designation of Executors: Estate plans are often flawed due to the inappropriate selection of individuals to manage the estate or the failure to appoint alternates if the primary choice is unavailable. This can lead to difficulties in the execution of the estate plan.

• 6. Lack of Clarity in Documentation: Attempts to create estate documents that are either overly specific and rigid or too broad and undefined can be detrimental. Such documents may fail to provide clear and actionable directions for carrying out the deceased’s intentions.

• 7. Conflicting Information and Assumptions: A common mistake is the presence of conflicting information, such as pay-on-death beneficiaries or joint property ownerships, with assumptions that other documents will distribute these assets. Without specific language, these assumptions often do not hold true.

• 8. Consequences of Inconsistent Planning: Inconsistent estate planning can lead to a chaotic situation, hurt feelings among beneficiaries, and ultimately, the failure to fulfill the deceased’s wishes.

Conclusion: The Path to Effective Estate Planning

To avoid these pitfalls, it’s crucial to approach estate planning with thoroughness and precision. Regular consultation with legal experts, careful consideration in document drafting, and an awareness of the specific legal requirements of one’s state are essential. By doing so, individuals can ensure that their estate plan accurately reflects their wishes and is capable of being executed smoothly, thereby safeguarding their legacy and providing peace of mind.

The post Common Shortcomings in Estate Planning appeared first on CareAvailability.

Our living conditions become important variables for health and happiness as our gray hairs fall after retiring. Along with our graying hair comes the complexity of retirement housing, considering that rational decisions must be made in this essential life field.

The decision influences financial instability and total satisfaction level; some options include downsizing while other age-friendly communities. In consideration of the advantages that come with using a National Association of Realtors or SRES-trained real estate agent, we will analyze different retirement homeownership alternatives bearing in mind their special needs as seniors.

We strive, as specifically as an SRES expert, to provide you and your seniors with all possible confidence arising from a knowledge of disparities and opportunities within the senior real estate market.

Exploring Senior Housing Options

Looking to buy a house for your family member or maybe your future self as you age? With the assistance of an SRES awarded by the National Association of Realtors or NAR, you can investigate senior housing opportunities and adult needs.

The Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation is a certification that shows real estate agents can better serve senior homeowners. They can also help you understand the ins and outs of the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA).

If you don’t get the support of an SRES, you can still learn everything there is to know in the field of senior independent living.

Navigating senior housing options does not have to look complex knowing key information on retirement living options can help one make an informed decision. There are a diverse number of housing options which range from active adult communities based upon various requirements styles and also our priceless experience.

The Financial Considerations

There are several factors that have to be taken into consideration for active adults who are more than 50 years old, but one important factor is your finances, like payments and loan schemes.

A crucial step for a broker and the individual should be the assessment of their current property to ensure smart home selling. If there is a plan to sell the current home, they must consider improving curb appeal to market trends analysis.

Seniors may also be interested in reverse mortgages, which can provide immediate cash flow but have long-term implications, including the potential to limit their options down the road and can be an expensive way to borrow. Additionally, senior relocation services can greatly simplify transportation for seniors but these typically come with a fee.

Finding the Right Location

Once you’ve figured out your financial options, you can start deciding on location.

If you’re looking for a new place to live in, assess the proximity to medical services as this should be a primary factor. Assess the pedestrian airport connectivity, public transport, and leisure provision in line with individual preferences. Take a look at the overall area — are there nearby communities to be involved in? Easily accessible malls, groceries, hospitals, and more?

On a more personal level, do you want to be close to your family or friends? Consider this in your downsize or purchase.

If you want to move to senior-centric communities, make sure they include some (if not all) the following elements:

Aging in Place: Making Your Home Senior-Friendly

If you want to “age in place”, houses have to become an environment that would promote accessibility and safety. Some easy yet innovative changes to the existing residence for seniors can significantly change their lives. The strategies below can help avoid potential hazards in advance:

Legal and Estate Planning

When it comes to purchasing in active older adult communities, decisions around senior real estate such as wills and property rights issues are related to Internal Retirement Account or IRAs. The creation of a detailed estate plan can help tackle the few mentioned issues, including the allocation to property, and tax avoidance among others using wills or trustees.

Wills are legal documents outlining the distribution of an individual’s assets possibly including active adult community houses upon death. Trusts allow a person to administer assets in a much better fashion — confidential and flexible — mostly avoiding probate. They both perform essential functions in ensuring that assets are successfully transferred to heirs and beneficiaries.

A more experienced lawyer can further help deal with issues that may come up such as Medicaid planning, long-term care measures, and pondering about suitable loan schemes spanning the age bracket of 50 years old and above.

Navigating Real Estate Transactions

Your real estate agent should understand the peculiar circumstances and issues you personally have as a senior (or a future senior), and lead you through every stage of purchasing and selling transactions.

This includes property inspections, paperwork management, or closing processes facilitated by the agent. Senior citizens should be informed in every decision and transaction made.

For example, for those intending to sell, the senior should know the valuation of a property plus its preparation and presentation when it will be up for sale. For the seniors who are looking to purchase a new property, an informed SRES agent should be consulted based on the senior’s wishes, budget, and need for necessary features that make them accessible, and align this when transacting.

In both instances, a credible property agent can assist in accelerating this process.

Addressing Emotional and Lifestyle Considerations

One of the aspects that can easily be overlooked is the emotional and lifestyle principles behind real estate options for senior citizens — aging changes bring change in living situations, whether it be downsizing or assisted community home moving creating a variety of feelings.

As retirees, seniors may feel nostalgic as well as sadness or fear of the new things they have to adapt to in relation to buying and selling their homes.

Providing opportunities for open communication with family members or friends, chatting with a therapist, and participating in some sort of social life would alleviate the loneliness that might be encountered during adaptation to senior homeownership. This should follow suit when they find their new home, where their connections to family, and friends, new or old, should remain.

Understanding the Continuum of Care

Understanding the continuum of care is integral to making good decisions in senior real estate needs. Continuum of Care means guiding and monitoring aged individuals’ health and well-being through a system.

Specialist centers for housing the elderly provide a range of care programs that adapt according to the changing financial needs as well as lifestyles among home sellers and buyers allowing them to change levels in case.

According to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), assisted living provides a number of services in daily activities such as food preparation, and medication management that address real estate issues and requirements.

The most common activities of daily living that residents need assistance with include bathing and walking. Medication management is another essential service provided in assisted living to ensure the proper administration of medications to residents.

Knowing Your Rights and Protections

The advantages of working with specialized agents who are certified to meet the needs of adults over the age of 50 in senior-specific housing and real estate requirements include giving you knowledge of your rights and protections.

This starts with noting the level or kind of legal protection they receive under the housing laws.

Buyers’ rights and the Fair Housing Act protect senior home buyers from discrimination and unfair treatment in both national and cooperating associations outside the U.S. The Act prohibits discrimination based on various factors, including age, in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.

Seniors can make wise decisions free from abuse or favoritism with the assistance of a specialized real estate agent only if they correctly understand housing laws.

An example of a form of legal protection available is that it exempts three types of housing for older persons from liability for familial status discrimination. When seniors know their rights, they’ll have a clear picture of their needs and realistic properties that meet their tastes in retirement years.

Resources and Support for Informed Decisions

Various institutes of NAR, which support 1.5 million members, can provide resources and support to the already large number of seniors who made property decisions. There are several groups and bodies such as Seniors Real Estate Specialists that help with the various aspects of managing senior real estate traffic, including legal consultation, financial planning to housing among many others.

They support the use of various available resources such as the American Association of Retired Persons or the AARP, local senior centers, and legal aid agencies that specialize in needs related to housing for the older population.

By working with SRES agents, it is guaranteed that senior home buyers and sellers make informed decisions based on their needs.

For more insight on the selling and moving experience, check out this informative article at https://www.squarefoothomes.com/blog/home-selling/when-should-seniors-sell-their-home/ to gain valuable guidance and ensure a smooth transition into this new chapter of life.

Conclusion

In sum, investing in real estate requires a blend of knowledge-based decisions with an individual touch and visibility. As home buyers and sellers, senior citizens have the ability to find a housing type that will fit them best; they can also easily identify financial, legal as well as emotional concerns present in moving.

Nevertheless, the relevance of using credible sources like authorized real estate agents who work with good-standing seniors in a cooperating union should not be forgotten. In this transformation journey, make changes that coincide with your views of a happier retirement using help from local agents.

Beyond support from SRES, you can attend a class that will enable you to have the required knowledge, such as loan plans for older people interested in buying property. Your interest and comfort should be your top priority, alongside making the process of buying and selling real estate easier for you as you or your loved ones get closer to the golden years.

The post The Golden Years: Navigating the Real Estate Landscape for Seniors appeared first on CareAvailability.

When seniors are considering downsizing, having an appropriate estate plan in place is crucial. This involves several key documents which are essential to ensure that their wishes are honored and their assets are managed and distributed according to their preferences.

Here are the primary documents that should be considered.

Will

This is the fundamental document in estate planning. It outlines how the individual wants their assets to be distributed after their death. It can also specify guardians for any minor children.

Trust

Trusts can be used for various purposes, such as avoiding probate, increased privacy, reducing estate taxes, or providing for a disabled family member. There are different types of trusts, and each serves different needs.

Durable Power of Attorney

This document allows seniors to appoint someone to manage their financial affairs if they become unable to do so. This can include paying bills, managing investments, and handling other financial matters.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Also known as a healthcare proxy, this document designates someone to make healthcare decisions on the senior’s behalf if they are incapacitated.

Living Will

This outlines the individual’s preferences for medical treatment in situations where they are unable to communicate their wishes, particularly concerning life- sustaining measures.

Beneficiary Designations

Often overlooked, these designations on financial accounts, insurance policies, and retirement accounts can override instructions in a will, so they need to be kept up to date.

Letter of Intent

While not a legal document, a letter of intent can provide guidance to family members about personal wishes and directions regarding the individual’s estate.

Digital Asset Inventory

As more aspects of our lives move online, it’s important to have a plan for digital assets, like social media accounts, online banking, and email accounts.

Each of these documents plays a critical role in estate planning, especially when seniors are downsizing. It’s advisable for them to consult with an estate planning attorney to ensure that their documents are properly drafted and reflect their current wishes and circumstances.

The post Legal Considerations for Downsizing Seniors appeared first on CareAvailability.

1. What is Medicare Advantage Plan?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees Medicare. The CMS contracts with private companies that create Medicare Advantage plans that are offered to eligible seniors. A Medicare recipient can then enroll in regular Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. The Medicare Advantage plan aims to keep you healthy, provide quality care, and improve wellness. An original Medicare plan would be considered a Fee For Service plan. 

2. What are some of the key differences in health benefits that are offered through Medicare Advantage plans?

Teeth, Eyes, and Ears! A Medicare Advantage plan can include additional benefits that regular Medicare does not provide. For example, many Medicare Advantage plans provide dental, vision, and hearing (audiology) benefits; otherwise, the senior beneficiary would have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, most Medicare Advantage plans offer drug coverage which can be very expensive if one pays out of pocket. Some additional benefits that some plans offer are over-the-counter benefits, meals, remote access, acupuncture, and transportation. Some of these benefits are also helpful to the home caregiver who is caregiving for a loved one. Each year the benefits change, for example, a couple of Medicare Advantage plans increased their levels of in-home support for 2023.

3. What are the costs of regular Medicare versus Medicare Advantage Plans?

Although costs vary, generally speaking, the premiums are lower or even $0 with the Medicare Advantage Plans. Copays can be lower as well. When looking at costs, it’s good to consider to include the savings from the additional benefits received from the Medicare Advantage Plans. Each firm can provide several different plans you can choose from which differ in cost. For example, UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest firms(companies) offering Medical Advantage plans, but within UnitedHealthcare, there are several plans to choose from. In 2023, there were a total of 9 firms offering a total of 43 plans. 

4.  What is the key difference between Medicare Advantage plans and traditional Medicare?

The most significant difference you’ll notice with the Medicare Advantage plan is the network of providers and doctors you can see. Each Medicare Advantage plan has a network of doctors and providers you can choose from, and the doctor or provider you currently see may not be a part of that network. 

For example, you’ve been seeing Dr. Jackson for several years and continued seeing Dr. Jackson after you turned 65; now you’re 70 and enrolled in a Medicare Advantage. Dr. Jackson is not in the network of the Medicare Advantage plan, and you have other Dr.s and providers to choose from. The Medicare Advantage plans you choose will give you a list of all the providers you can choose from. 

Note: Emergency visits and urgent care visits are typically covered nationwide. 

5. Are the Medicare Advantage plans a new thing? 

Medicare Advantage plans have been around for over fifteen years. Recently, its popularity has significantly grown due to the lower costs of premiums and the services it provides the Medicare Advantage plan members. Many Medicare Advantage plans include additional benefits that regular fee-for-service/traditional Medicare doesn’t offer. Medicare Advantage plans were created to drive innovation and plan design. 

In Jan 2023, the number of individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans surpassed 30 million people, and the number of traditional Medicare was just under 30 million people. Therefore, more individuals are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans than the regular fee-for-service. Additionally, Medicare Advantage plans understand the importance of staying healthy at home, and offer a variety of services that traditional Medicare doesn’t provide, some plans, for example, provide Part B rebates, telemonitoring, transportation, and bathroom safety. 

6.   Does the traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan leave you exposed to additional out-of-pocket expenditures?

Generally speaking, the Medicare Advantage program can offer not only more security but also minimize the additional out-of-pocket risk associated with care requirements that can be expensive. Please read all benefits carefully of the Medicare Advantage plans, but the goal of the Medicare Advantage plan is to put a cap on medical expenses. Medicare Advantage plans continue to adapt and evolve to meet our current population’s needs and care requirements. In a traditional Medicare Fee For Service model, you may be exposed to risk of for a lot of expenses you did not account for. Therefore, out of pocket expenditures are typically higher in traditional Medicare Programs.

7.  I have specific needs or am a part of a particular population. Would a Medicare Advantage plan be right for me?

Medicare Advantage plans to continue evolving to meet specific populations’ needs, address particular diseases, and look at the population as a whole from a health equity standpoint. The nice thing about Medicare Advantage plans is you can choose which plan to enroll in. Various firms and companies have contracted with the CMS and developed Medicare Advantage plans, and one of them may be right for you or the person you care for. The CMS recognizes that Medicare Advantage plans are a critical par of advancing health equity. 

8. What if I sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan and I don’t like it? Can I switch back to regular Medicare?  

Yes. You can switch between Medicare Fee For Service and Medicare Advantage plan typically during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period and the Medicare Special Enrollment Period. Therefore, your “risk” of trying out a Medicare Advantage plan is ultimately one year. There are some plans where you can switch plans more often, and please ask the author for further detail. 

9.  I am a home caregiver taking care of a loved one. What benefits can a Medicare Advantage plan offer me to help care for my loved one?

With the innovation and the plan design of many of these Medicare Advantage plans, I’d encourage you to do your research and find a plan that is designed not only for the person you’re caring for but also for you as a caregiver. Some Medicare Advantage plans realize how vital home caregiving is and how resource-depleting home caregiving can be. The goal of the Medicare Advantage plan is to keep the individual healthy, and often, helping with home caregiving does just that. Therefore, look at the benefits that some of the plans offer such as transportation, bathroom safety, over the counter help, remote access and meals. 

10. I’m considering moving into an assisted living community. Is there a Medicare Advantage plan this is right for me?

Several senior living operators are realizing the importance of clinical outcomes and ensuring you live well and are healthy for a long time. Additionally, some senior living operators are partnering and collaborating with Medicare Advantage plans to keep the resident healthier for longer. When searching for a senior housing provider, ask what type of clinical outcomes they focus on,  what providers and therapy they offer, and what clinical programs do they have in place to reduce the risk of complications or incidences that can be costly. Ultimately, staying healthy means providing upstream prevention programs to minimize into downstream complications. 

Final Thought: Ultimately, the goal of a Medicare Advantage plan is to provide Great Access to Quality Care at an Affordable Cost. 

The post Top 10 Medicare Advantage Plan Questions for Senior Care, Cost, and Housing- Explained appeared first on CareAvailability.

1. Probate – Court supervised administration of your estate is never a pleasant journey. Despite the helpful court personnel, there are still filing fees, lack of privacy issues, and long waiting periods before distribution. And that’s if all goes well.

2. Asset Protection – Many people do not take advantage of the asset protection opportunities that can be achieved with relatively basic estate planning. Creating trusts for spouses and children with the right provisions means your assets can be protected from claims of creditors and predators for years to come. While we hope that our children would not fall victim to divorce, this is one asset protection conversation that must be planned for.

3. Tax Planning – This is never an easy issue as the various tax systems don’t always line up with each other. Consider the tension between gift planning, (giving away some of your assets) to shelter appreciation by moving them outside of your estate, and loss of basis for capital gains purposes. While not easy, this issue can really cost you money if not properly handled.

4. Family Disharmony – Estate planning is a way for you to say you care about your loved ones. But selection of your personal representative or trustee can also stir the pot and create issue issues for those not chosen. Sometimes it is best to name a non-family member to be in charge of your estate. Giving thought to how to help resolve these conflicts or at least, not make them worse, can help to avoid family conflicts.

5. Attorney’s Fees – The best way to control legal fees is to incur them while you are alive and able to oversee the planning process. Failure to plan is likely to increase the total amount of fees paid. Especially if family members decide that fighting is the best way to resolve disputes after you’re gone.

6. Successor Fiduciaries – Make sure that you name back up personal representatives and trustees, or provide the beneficiaries with a way to fill a vacant role, so that a court proceeding is not required.

7. Contingent Beneficiaries – Make plans for your estate in the event that your immediate family members die and are unable to inherit your estate. Pick a charity or a group of more distant relatives or close friends.

8. Updating Beneficiary Designations – Life insurance and retirement accounts are controlled by the beneficiary designations you make when you purchase the life insurance or open a retirement account. They are most notably the small boxes you checked at the end of your application. Make sure these stay updated. We have seen more than once a policy which still names a client’s first wife or husband many years after a divorce and remarriage.

9. Joint Accounts – Often used as a convenience during life and a will substitute at death. Because these accounts go to the survivor, make sure that this lines up with your overall plan of passing assets to your heirs. Leaving money in a joint account for one child with the idea that they will spread the wealth around after your death can be a recipe for disaster.

10. Failing to start – Procrastination is probably the leading cause of problems in estate planning. Once a disability or death occurs, planning becomes very difficult and lots more expensive, if possible at all.

The post Top 10 Estate Planning Issues appeared first on CareAvailability.

Would your family be able to access your insurance policies, financial records, electronic medical records, photos, or social media accounts if something were to happen to you? Most people recognize the importance of completing a will and other estate planning documents, even if they haven’t done them yet. However, many families don’t realize the importance of organizing and securing their digital estate, until it’s too late and their families are locked out of assets and treasured memories.

What is your digital estate?

A digital estate is comprised of anything that is (or could be) connected to the internet– in other words, your online assets and accounts, any digital assets you may own, and any digital devices (like your computer and cell phone).

Many people will think “oh, Mom doesn’t use the internet” so they think that there is no digital estate. However, over 70% of adults in their 70s have smartphones today, and between online banking, online pharmacy accounts, electronic medical records, and even smart home devices, people have many more online accounts than they realize.

In today’s digital world, many of us have more files online than we have in our office. Information that used to arrive in our mailbox now is locked behind a username and password, meaning our loved ones may not even be able to find our accounts, let alone access them, if we don’t plan ahead.

Many families underestimate how expansive their digital estate actually is, especially for older adults who didn’t grow up with technology. 65% also admit to reusing passwords, putting their identity and assets at risk. In fact, the average household now values their digital estate over $55,000!

Just like the rest of your estate, it’s important to ensure that all these items are organized for your family in case something happens to you.

However, digital estates are constantly changing– it’s modified every time you add a new account, buy a new device, or even just change a password. In today’s digital world, with online billpay and paperless statements, digital assets are often invisible or inaccessible if something happens to you. By planning ahead, you can ensure your family isn’t locked out of your legacy.

The 7 Steps of Digital Estate Planning

We’ve broken down digital estate planning into 7 simple steps so that your identity and assets are secure, and your loved ones can still access what they need if anything happens.

Step 1: Inventory your digital estate

Your digital estate is probably bigger (and more valuable) than you think! Items included in your digital estate include:

• Online accounts
• Digital photos, videos, other media
• Digital books and movies
• Digital files (e.g., Dropbox, Drive files)
• Social media posts
• Domain names
• Websites you own
• Digital account statements (e-statements)
• Digital devices (computer, cell phone, etc.)
• Credit Card Points
• Airline Miles
• Online financial accounts (e.g., Venmo, Paypal)
• Cryptocurrency
• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
• Video Game Assets

Step 2: Secure what you have

As mentioned above, over 65% of people admit to reusing passwords. Many older adults who didn’t grow up with technology also don’t realize the importance of securing devices (laptops, tablets, cell phones) with a password.

An important first step is making sure you and your family members have secure, unique passwords for each site. If you or your family has been reusing passwords across accounts, start by signing up for a password manager, like Easeenet or LastPass. Then, as you or your family log into your online accounts, take 20-30 seconds and change your password to something that is unique to that site (most password managers will offer a password generator tool if you don’t feel like being creative). You’ll also want to make sure that your executor/ legacy contacts can locate and access both account passwords and device passwords if something happens to you.

Some people will use a spreadsheet for this task, but security concerns make this a less-than-ideal option. There’s also the access concern, since unless you email the spreadsheet (major security issue) or store it in a digital vault, your executor will have to physically be where the document is to access the information; for families who live out-of-state, this can cause inconvenience and delays.

However you choose to secure this information, make sure the tool you choose doesn’t rely too much on manual entry, since your digital estate is updated so frequently– if you use a spreadsheet or any other manual capture, you’ll have to remember to go back and update your records every time, so your family isn’t accidentally locked out because they have the wrong passwords.

Keep in mind that accounts are only one piece of this – you’ll also want to organize and preserve important documents, including any estate planning documents you have (like your will and durable power of attorney). Other important documents may include tax returns and titles to your car and house.

Step 3: Establish good habits

Once you have your tools in place, you’ll need to establish good digital hygiene habits to ensure that your legacy is protected. This means making sure that your password manager is installed on all of your devices, so you have a single record of truth, remembering to upload important documents (like tax returns and a digital copy of estate planning documents), and documenting your critical life details.

This doesn’t need to be a huge chore, however. Once it’s set up (usually less than 15 minutes), your password manager will actually save you time– and if you take even a few minutes per month in updating your documents and life details, you’ll save your family countless hours of stress and frustration if anything happens.

Step 4: Make sure your family is protected legally

Digital Asset laws are relatively new and untested, and vary by jurisdiction, though in the few cases that have made it to court, mostly the courts have sided with an estate’s executor in terms of accessing necessary accounts. You’ll want to check the specific rules in your jurisdiction to ensure that your family/executor is protected.

In the United States, as of 2020, RUFADAA has been enacted in 45 states, all except California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Washington DC. RUFADAA allows people to designate a digital executor, and sets up a hierarchy for control of digital assets.

Given highest priority under RUFADAA is a website’s own online tool where users can select their legacy contact (such as Facebook’s Legacy Contact, Google’s Inactive Account Manager, and Apple’s Digital Legacy function), since users can change their wishes in real time. While your digital executor may be able to gain access without using their proprietary tools, it’s recommended to leverage the tools they’ve built for ease of access and expediency.

Second priority is given to a digital executor designated in your will or power of attorney, and if neither of these exist, the website’s terms and conditions have authority. Since terms and conditions generally favor the company that wrote them, it’s critical to ensure you’ve designated a legacy contact or digital executor, so that your wishes regarding your digital assets are enforceable.

Step 5: Get your memories in order

The average person now takes 150 photos per month, and many older adults still have boxes of physical photos too. For people who are on social media, they also have treasured memories stored in their posts and photos there. If you spend some time organizing what you have in advance, your family will be incredibly grateful that they don’t have to navigate boxes of photos or thousands of digital photos.

One of the good habits you can establish is spending some time cleaning out old photos regularly. For example, spending 15 minutes once per week selecting the best digital photos you took that week and deleting the rest, or making a date with mom to go through a box of old photos and digitizing the ones you want to preserve, including who is in the photo and when/where it was taken.

Some software is available to help with this, and some even offer facial recognition or automatic tagging. Cell phones usually have this built in, so you can search by person, place, or even object (“dog”, “beach”, etc. will surface photos of those objects without manual tagging) but for boxes of old photos, you’ll need to do this manually.

Many people don’t realize you can also download your posts, photos, and other information from Facebook. You can do this at any point for yourself, and if you’ve designated a Legacy Contact and granted permission, that person can download your account after you’re incapacitated.

Several of the social media accounts can also be “memorialized” if you choose, so friends can continue to send well wishes after you’re gone (for example, on your birthday) so it’s a good idea to make sure your loved ones know your wishes regarding your accounts ahead of time, and ensure your accounts are set up properly to accommodate your wishes.

Step 6: Establish your backups (including helpers)

In most places, your will becomes public record, so you do not want to include a detailed inventory of your digital estate (especially not passwords or secret keys) in your will directly. In some places, even having these details in an addendum can open it up to public eyes. Your best plan is to reference your digital estate inventory, stored separately in a place that can remain private.

It’s also important to think about how you want your legacy to live on beyond social media, whether you want your accounts memorialized or deleted, and include that information in your inventory.

Since digital assets can be tricky to navigate and some people aren’t comfortable with technology, you may consider naming one or more people who can act as a digital estate advisor, especially if you have cryptocurrency or NFTs. There are advisors you can hire, or you may have trusted friends who are knowledgeable in this space.

Step 7: Communicate!

One of the most important pieces of any estate plan is to ensure that you’ve communicated it to your executor. Make sure they know what tools you’re using, and that you’ve listed them as your digital executor/ legacy contact both in your will and in any relevant online tools. Notify them about where to find the information about what you have in your digital estate, copies of important documents, and where you have your secret key stored (if applicable). You don’t have to give them immediate access to anything while you’re still around, if you use a digital vault.

Most of all, remember that pre-planning is necessary for digital estates–there are no guarantees that all of your accounts will be able to be located, let alone accessed, if you haven’t taken the steps to organize and preserve your digital estate in advance

Checklist:

• Inventory your digital estate
• Designate a Digital Executor in your will/power of attorney
• Set up a password manager
• Ensure every password is secure and unique
• Organize important documents
• Get your memories in order
• Make sure your Digital Executor can find and access everything

The post Your Digital Legacy appeared first on CareAvailability.

Senior Homecare Options: How to find the right fit for you

It’s never too early to choose a home care agency that you can rely on when life doesn’t go as planned. Whether it’s a little help around the house or more involved care, you should look for a home care agency that can safely meet all of your needs every step of the way.

Are you or a loved one resistant to the idea of receiving care?

Chances are that you just haven’t found the right agency. Simply starting the conversation with a reputable home care agency and building trust can do wonders for melting away resistance. We hope you find this guide helpful as you go forward in search of the right In Home Care Provider in your community.

When is the right time to hire home care?

Most of us want to remain as independent as possible. Sometimes, all that may be required is a simple medication reminder.  However, if getting ready for your day has become more difficult and you require some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming and getting dressed, there are caregivers that can assist with these tasks.  The first step is realizing that you need additional support and then asking for it.

Asking for help and the fear of losing independence and control can be challenging.  There are community resources available to discuss these very topics, including: Registered Nurses and social workers.  These professionals are well versed on what resources are available in your area.

Next, take some time to consider whether or not you’ll stay in your home or move to community.  Monthly charges range from $2,000 to $12,000 per month (depending on the level of care). Your financial situation and family support system will likely influence your decision to stay at home with extra help; or move to a community.  This is a tough decision and may require downsizing and selling your home.

How do I pay for home care services?

Although paying for home care can be expensive, there are many options for seniors and their families. Learning more about Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care insurance, and various state programs can help older adults as they navigate the financial aspect of long-term care.

• Medicaid: Funding for those with limited financial resources may receive assistance with some or all of their home care expenses from Medicaid.
• Medicare: Available to all adults 65 and older. However, Medicare is meant for acute health episodes, and not long-term care. Those that are homebound, need skilled services, and require intermittent help may be able to receive some home health care services under Medicare funding.
• Long Term Care Insurance:  Each policy is different, with some covering only nursing home costs- but many current policies allow for homecare services.
• State Programs: Older adults that do not qualify for larger government programs like Medicaid may qualify for more local state programs, because states have greater freedom in establishing requirements for their programs.
• Private Pay: Many families choose to perform many of the home care services for a loved one themselves. Yet, some seniors require skilled services. For families that do not meet eligibility requirements of certain programs, out of pocket funding may be unavoidable.
• Non profit support: There are many other non-profit organizations, volunteer groups, or faith based organizations that may also help. Check your local area agency on aging for more information.

Comparisons & Definitions for Care At Home

There are so many choices for caregiving services at home. Which one is right for me, my loved one or my client? Let’s define each avenue, looking at the differences to help you determine the best fit.

Full Service Home Care:

• Licensed Agency; Services not limited with memory loss or dementia
• Provides non-medical, skilled caregiving, case management & nursing services
• Required to screen, employ & supervise caregiver
• Cost based on services provided, comparable at non-medical level
• The most comprehensive package of services

Non-Medical Home Care:

• Limited to non-medical services, and companion care
• May provide medication reminders or assistance to oriented client only
• No skilled services provide, No Nurse on staff
• Required to screen, employ & supervise caregiver
• Cost comparable at non-medical level

Caregiver Registry:

• Licensed Caregiver Registry Agency
• Screens & verifies competency of caregivers
• Does NOT employ or supervise caregiver, client takes on employer responsibilities & risks
• No skilled care, case management or nursing services
• Cost Registry Fee + Caregiver Cost; comparable-higher at non-medical level

Case Management Company:

• Not Licensed to provide caregiving or nursing services
• Does not employ caregivers, client takes on employer responsibilities & risks
• Professional Case Manager’s & RN’s supervise, usually $70-$110.00/hour
• Cost Professional fee + Caregiver Cost; comparable-higher at non-medical level

CEP (Client Employed Provider) Program:

• Not Licensed; Caregiver Registry; State of Oregon; Medicaid
• Program does not screen, employ or supervise, client takes on employer responsibilities & risks
• Screens with Criminal Background Check only
• Operates much like an on-line listing service

Elder care tips: Ensuring a beneficial relationship with a care provider

Developing an elder care plan for your aging loved ones enables you to ensure your parents get the care and assistance that will meet their physical, cognitive, medical, mobility, and emotional needs on a daily basis.

While it is completely normal for you to want to take on all of the responsibilities of caring for your seniors, handling all of these tasks on your own would likely not work out in the long term. Trying to add all of these responsibilities to everything you already do to take care of your own personal lives can leave you exhausted and incapable of giving your best to any of your responsibilities.

Hiring an elderly health care services provider as part of your elder care plan enables you to entrust that professional with some of the responsibilities of caring for your parents so that you can focus your time and energy more efficiently and effectively.

Use these tips to help your parents enjoy the best relationship possible with their care provider:

1. Plan Thoroughly: 

Have a clear idea of what you and your parents expect from the relationship with your care provider. Clarifying these expectations enables you to pursue the factors of the relationship that you see as most important and allows you to narrow your focus when seeking out a care provider.

2. Think Family First: 

Before you get a care provider involved, consider your family contribution to the care plan first. Determine how much you can practically do for your parents and ask how much your siblings would like to do. This makes it easier for you decide how much responsibility the care provider will need to take so you can give clear guidelines from the beginning and avoid confusion.

3. Communicate Openly: 

It is important to see the elderly health care services provider as an employee rather than someone who is doing you a favor by taking care of your parents. Communicate openly with the care provider about your expectations, your standards of performance, and your feelings about their care for your parents so that they can continue to improve.

4. Support Individuality: 

You want to be an active part of your parents’ care, but in order to support a quality relationship, you need to give them the space and freedom to create and build that relationship on their own. Support your parents’ ability to get to know the care provider and enjoy spending time with them on their own terms, including participating in activities, going on outings, and creating their own approaches to handling care tasks.

The post A Guide to Homecare appeared first on CareAvailability.

Why work with a referral agency?

A Senior Care Advisor is your expert in the challenges of aging. It is someone who can sit down and learn everything about your situation to best guide you. Some examples of information an advisor should ask are: Medical/Health Information,  Geographic Needs, Financial Requirements, Veteran Status, Long-Term Care Insurance, Mobility Concerns, Cognitive Abilities, Personal Care Needs, Meal Preferences, Socialization/Hobbies, and/or Estate Planning.

An advisor really must have a clear understanding of everything that is going on before they can start looking at next steps. This process can be equated to assembling a puzzle. You give an advisor an idea of what the end result should look like, hand them all of the pieces needed for assembly, and let them go about piecing everything together. A quality advisor will know all of the options and help navigate this confusing industry to find the perfect solutions for your needs. Keep in mind an advisor is not making decisions on your behalf; this is why it’s crucial you find an advisor you connect with and trust.

The advisor is typically compensated by the long-term care facilities; because of this compensation model an advisor should not be a sales person pushing one particular solution. Their goal should be to provide the highest quality options and present them so you can make the best decisions possible. Given that they have already visited hundreds of these long-term care options, you do not have to start from the beginning. They can quickly recommend the best options and you only have to visit a handful of places. This gives you the ability to focus time and energy on your loved ones. So if you find yourself in need of guidance in these areas, find a quality Senior Care Advisor for help.

Benefits of a Referral Agency

People tend to fall into two broad categories when it comes to big decisions or difficult tasks… the first are those who are determined to take care of it themselves, just wade right in and see what happens; and the second are those who look for input from those who may have been there before or at least have seen how things turned out.

Neither one is right or wrong, just different.  For example: there are two families needing to find suitable housing for an elderly parent who has specific needs and definite preferences to be addressed, referral agencies are well-equipped to be of help to both camps.

For the “do-it-myselfer”, the referral agency can help by giving information on what the senior housing industry looks like, what major things to look for, and avoid, and to provide some explanation of terminology.  This family is then better prepared to go out and find options for their elder.

For the “I-could-use-some-help” types, the referral agency is a trove of information and experience regarding the whole issue of helping seniors move along on their journey.  The agency gathers pertinent information regarding care needs, likes, dislikes, geographic preferences and financial parameters.  With this information the agency provides the senior and/or family with options, tours the options with the family, answers their questions and provides a sounding board to allow them to make an informed decision.

 

 

The time saved by the family seeking help from a referral agency is better used to get the senior integrated into their new environment and to get the whole family back on track.

 

The best parts about actively taking a referral agency’s help are:
(1) they know the options, (2) they know the providers and (3) they take on the leg-work. Oh, and the best part, (4) the referral agency helps you for free. 

How you benefit from having a neutral third party

Referral agents begin by asking questions to become clear on how they can best help you. Whether you choose to look at options on your own or whether you enlist the help of a referral agency, the rent and care fees you pay are the same. 

The senior referral industry is regulated by your State’s Department of Human Services.  In some states,  senior referral agencies are required to register with the state as well.  In Oregon, all agents must meet DHS guidelines to register and must follow the rules set forth by DHS to ensure families are receiving quality information by qualified individuals. Referral agents do not make decisions for you, but they help frame situations to allow you to understand what options you have and they support you in your decision-making process.

 

Be extremely cautious about providing your contact information to online referral agencies when searching for the options. 

Placing your name into various websites can launch a barrage of phone calls of solicitations from businesses and agencies that aren’t even of interest to you. If you plan to work with a referral agency, select a local senior advisor that will tour and be with you each step of the way.

 

 

Security and Online Senior Living Referral Services

While researching Senior Living options online for yourself or a loved one you may be unaware of what happens with your information, and the level of your own security.

If you google search Assisted Living, a list of Online Senior Referral companies will appear. They require you to enter your information that includes: phone number, email, address, health and finances. All before being directed to a list of options.The  companies also put you on a “list.” That list is sent to numerous communities where your information will be entered into multiple databases and viewed by anyone that can access that data. You will then receive emails and phone calls from every community on the “list.”

Once the online service puts you on their list they “own” you as a “lead.” This remains true whether you move in soon, years later or even correspond with that company. This is how they receive compensation.

DO NOT give out your information to receive pricing or a list of communities.

 

 

A secure way to narrow down Senior Living options is to use a Local Senior Living Advisor. They will be willing to meet with you, in person, to assess your loved ones’ specific needs. The Advisor will then, recommend the best options, coordinate the tours and take you to see those recommended options. A Trusted Senior Living Advisor visits communities regularly and knows whom has stable staff, happy residents, good food and quality care. Online Referral companies are unable to provide this level of service.

A Local Senior Living Advisor will be your one point of contact. Only that advisor will have your information unless you wish to give it to the toured communities. This will eliminate needless contact from multiple communities and from the online referral service itself. A Local Advisor can assist you with negotiating costs, recommend resources for: downsizing, selling a home, moving and assist with the necessary paperwork to get moved into a community.

An Important Difference:

On CareAvailability, we do NOT require your contact details to search, and we provide the contact information for each provider. CareAvailability is NOT a referral agency, only a database of providers and we list all of them to create a comprehensive list. You can contact the community when you are ready and you can decide what information you wish to share.

The post Navigating Senior Housing Options appeared first on CareAvailability.

Plan Ahead

Healthcare crisis management is one of the biggest reasons people seek out an elder law attorney.  But, the best time to find an elder law attorney is before a crisis. Advance planning avoids many problems, and helps achieve peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.

The post Talking About Aging, Planning Ahead & Finances appeared first on CareAvailability.