Author Archives: Linda Fisher
Estate Planning for a Second Marriage and Blended Family
It takes a certain kind of courage to embark on second, third or even fourth marriages, even when there are no children from prior marriages. Regardless of how many times you walk down the aisle, the recent article “Establishing assets, goals when planning for a second marriage” from the Times Herald-Record advises couples to… Read More »
Caring for a Loved One from a Distance
Trying to coordinate care from a distance becomes a challenge for many, especially since as many as 80% of caregivers are working. Add COVID-19 into the mix, and the situation becomes even more difficult, reports the article “When your parent is far away and you are trying to care for them” from the Pittsburgh… Read More »
Can I Afford In-Home Elderly Care?
Staying at home isn’t always affordable, according to a recent US News and World Report article. The article, entitled “Can You Afford In-Home Elderly Care?”, says about 80% of seniors are concerned about being able to afford home health care costs, based on a 2019 SCAN Health Plan survey. Paying for personalized in-home senior… Read More »
Protect Your Estate with Five Facts
It is true that a single person who dies in 2020 could have up to $11.58 million in personal assets and their heirs would not have to pay any federal estate tax. However, that doesn’t mean that regular people don’t need to worry about estate taxes—their heirs might have to pay state estate taxes,… Read More »
Seven Bad Reasons to Put Off Estate Planning
1. My family and I don’t own much. Can’t we put off planning until we can afford it? You shouldn’t. It is crucial to give legal authority to a person of your choice, to care for your children if anything should happen to you. You don’t want your children to become wards of the… Read More »
Senior Home-Sharing a Growing Trend During COVID-19
Senior home-sharing is not a new idea, but it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity among American seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. The danger of COVID-19 infection in nursing homes and other long-term care living facilities, coupled with the isolation seniors have been facing, makes the idea of two, three, or more people 55… Read More »
What Can an Elder Law Attorney Do For You?
The senior citizen population of the United States is increasing rapidly as the baby boomer generation ages, and the influx of international migration continues. Although the US average life expectancy has seen a slight three-year decline, many Americans, men and women, live well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond. An elder law attorney works… Read More »
Ten Lesser-Known Military Benefits You Need to Know
The US Department of Veterans, through Tricare and the GI Bill, offers numerous basic health care and education benefits to veterans. Even with these programs that help veterans and their families, other little-known services can improve their lives and ease the financial burden of medical care and other expenses. Check your veteran status to… Read More »
Ten Tips to Help Seniors Reduce the Risk of Falling
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports one out of five senior falls causes a serious injury like a broken bone or head trauma. Injuries of this sort can make life difficult for an older person to do everyday activities or live on their own. Half of the time, when a senior falls,… Read More »
Five Facts to Know About Dementia Caregiving
Dementia, in particular, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease in the American population, is creating difficult caregiving experiences for the family members who are primarily responsible for providing care. Even though you understand your loved one’s dementia behaviors are a symptom of the disease and not intentional or personally targeted to you, coping with them… Read More »