An elderly couple sitting on the couch with their dog. Millions of older adults fall prey to financial scams each year. Financial abuse currently affects about 20% of Americans age 65 or older and costs them nearly $3 billion per year. In fact, it has become so widespread that The Wall Street Journal has called it an “epidemic.”  Some of the more common scams include: 1. The grandparent scam.  A con artist telephones a loved one pretending to be a grandchild in the midst of

I am frequently asked about how to handle all the personal possessions a loved one has accumulated over the years. It is not uncommon to hear that a loved one "kept everything" dating back decades and now the family is at a loss of how to even begin to deal with all the stuff. Most people unfortunately spend years accumulating personal property - some of which can be quite valuable - with little thought given to what will happen to it after they die. As expected, addressing t

It wasn't that long ago that the on-line world was something used primarily by the younger generation. Now it

Every January, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) releases updated figures for Medicaid qualification. For 2025,

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 stress

This week is part three of my Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Planning. Lets look at some case studies for qualifying for Medicaid:

Last week I shared part one of my Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Planning. This week I would like to focus on part two of the guide which deals with what assets a single person or if married, the couple are allowed. I will also address some of the frequently asked questions I encounter from clients. There are very specific guidelines of this benefit program that must be followed. Often, qualifying requires careful planning. Failing to follow these steps may delay benefits

As the founder of the Elder and Estate Planning Law Firm, I specialize in helping Michigan families protect their estates. Whether you are worried about nursing home expenses that cost an average of almost $12,000.00 per month, assisted living expenses, having your estate avoid probate court or planning for a special needs child or grandchild, I have helped thousands of families obtain peace of mind when faced with such issues. Often this involves qualifying for Medicaid or V

The elderly are increasingly looking to their families to provide care for their needs. Unfortunately, as the growth of the elderly population outpaces the younger generation, there are fewer caregivers available to take care of elderly loved ones. This causes significant stress on caregivers as they try to handle the care for a loved one (often on their own) while also managing their own family. The typical family caregiver is a female in her mid to late forties, works full-

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than five million older Americans and is the most common form of age-related dementia. Yet despite decades of research, there exists no definitive biological test to identify it – no blood test or brain scan for example. A diagnosis is commonly based upon a number of cognitive and physical assessments with sometimes inaccurate or conflicting results. Research by the National Institute on Aging suggests that about one-third of Alzheimer’s dia