In August we warned you that the Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement Act, better known as the Secure Act, was likely to become law and that it would ultimately cause more of your retirement accounts to be paid to the IRS. Well, it was signed...

 It may be hard to believe, but once again the Christmas season is upon us.  Along with the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ come stressors such as shopping, decorating, baking and possibly traveling.  For those who also care for a loved one suffering fr...

In the 1990 comedy movie Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin plays the role of Kevin McAllister, a young boy mistakenly left behind while his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation. While the movie was a huge success, such is not the case for seniors who are remain...

 The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) ordinarily releases updated figures for Medicaid qualification. Typically these updates are released in late summer and most importantly, they reflect the cost of living increases that all of us exp...

 The elderly are increasingly relying on their families to provide care.  Unfortunately, as the growth of the elderly population outpaces the younger generation, there will be fewer available caregivers. This will cause significant stress on caregivers as they...

 Because Congress has an insatiable appetite to spend (even when they have to borrow to do it), it seems it’s always looking for new ways to take more of your money.  The latest example is the Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE...

A durable power of attorney - where an agent is appointed to handle the financial affairs for a principal - has been used for decades. Until recently, it was unusual for these documents to ever be challenged or exploited. Unfortunately, with the rise of elder abuse, ba...

As we have discussed in previous newsletters, one of the best kept secrets of the Department of Veterans Affairs is the veteran’s pension for a non-service connected disability.  This benefit – a pension program – does not require a wartime injury.  It is...

   Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Yet in spite of everyone having an expiration date, many people live as if they have endless tomorrows. When the inevitable happens, it commonly causes serious consequences part...

Kaiser Health News recently published a story, Frail Seniors Find Ways to Live Independently which detailed the positive impact of a program for frail low-income seniors called: “Community Aging in Place - Advancing Better Living for Elders” (CAPABLE).  According to a...