Blog Posts in 2014
Posted on Nov 3, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
The Florida Medicaid long-term care program provides much needed services to its participants. However, even with Medicaid in place, there are still services that family members continue to provide to ...
Continue reading "A Personal Services Agreement Can Be Used With Florida Medicaid" »
Posted on Oct 13, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
When a spouse needs to turn to Florida Medicaid to help pay for the costs of long-term care, it can create anxiety for the well spouse for a number of reasons. First, there is worry about the spouse ...
Continue reading "Florida Medicaid and the Community Spouse" »
Posted on Sep 28, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
You decide that you want to make a gift to a favorite family member or friend. You write a check and send it off in the mail with that warm feeling that generous acts can inspire. Who would ever stop ...
Continue reading "A Gift Isn't Treated The Same Under IRS and Florida Medicaid Rules" »
Posted on Sep 8, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
"Does it avoid probate?" That is an important question to ask when evaluating ideas for how to leave assets to your beneficiaries. However, does avoiding probate automatically make it the ...
Continue reading "Should Avoiding Probate Be Your Primary Estate Planning Goal?" »
Posted on Aug 27, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Understandably, seniors want to maintain their independence in their homes as long as they can. However, as their needs for assistance increase, sometimes staying in their homes alone all day can ...
Continue reading "The PACE Program Helps Seniors Stay In Their Homes" »
Posted on Aug 18, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
When spouses say "I do" they automatically acquire certain rights in each other's property. In Florida, one of those rights is called homestead rights. The homestead is the house that ...
Continue reading "The Florida Homestead Rules Can Create Surprises When Making a Will in Second Marriage Situations" »
Posted on Aug 6, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
You have finally admitted to yourself that it might not be safe to live alone any longer. You and your children have visited several assisted living communities and have decided which one feels right ...
Continue reading "There Is A Waiting List for Florida Medicaid Assisted Living Benefits" »
Posted on Jul 28, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Being a caregiver for a senior family member who is starting to lose their independence can be an emotionally and physically draining act of love. The caregiver shoulders the burden of keeping their ...
Continue reading "Respite Care Can Give Caregivers A Much Needed Break" »
Posted on Jul 22, 2014 By EdwardsCMS
If we knew which year the hurricane was going to hit our house, we may decide to buy homeowners insurance only for that particular year and not "waste" our money buying it in other years. ...
Continue reading "Do You Have A Plan In Place For An Incapacity "What If"" »
Posted on Jul 14, 2014 By EdwardsCMS
When your parent or spouse starts to lose independence, it can be a stressful and emotional time for everyone involved. Many times mom doesn't want to acknowledge that staying in her home alone is ...
Continue reading "Adult Day Centers Can Be A Safe Solution" »
Posted on Jul 7, 2014 By EdwardsCMS
Effective July 1, 2014, the monthly personal needs allowance for Florida Medicaid participants residing in a skilled nursing facility (the nursing home) increased from $35 per month to $105 per month. ...
Continue reading "Florida Medicaid Increases the Monthly Personal Needs Allowance" »
Posted on May 12, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Many of my clients are unfamiliar with the concept of assisted living communities. In their minds the choices if they can no longer live independently at home are to move in with one of their adult ...
Continue reading "An Assisted Living Community Is Not The Same Thing As A Nursing Home" »
Posted on Apr 28, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Many times when it becomes apparent that mom or dad can’t safely live along any longer, the first reaction is for the family to consider having mom or dad move in with an adult child. This is a ...
Continue reading "The Cottage Is Another Option For Aging in Place" »
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
If you die without having a will to distribute your assets, then you have died intestate. Dying intestate means that your assets will be distributed in accordance with the plan outlined in the law, ...
Continue reading "Not Having a Will May Lead to Results That Don't Reflect Your Wishes" »
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
When I am talking to clients about possible sources of financial assistance for long-term care costs and I mention the Veterans Administration, often I get the response that they have been to the VA ...
Continue reading "There Are VA Benefits That Can Help With the Costs of Long-Term Care" »
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Who needs help with the costs of long-term care? The answer may surprise you. Most of the people who come to see me about a long-term care crisis are people who worked hard their whole lives and saved ...
Continue reading "Who Needs Help With the Costs of Long-Term Care?" »
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. It is a type of advance directive that is designed to give seriously ill patients the ability to say what type of life sustaining ...
Continue reading "What Is The POLST Advance Directive?" »
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
Many times, as parents get older they feel that they need to add a child as a joint owner on their financial accounts. They do this for many reasons. Some feel that it is the best way to plan for ...
Continue reading "A Joint Account With Your Child May Not Be The Best Idea" »
Posted on Apr 7, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
As we age, sometimes the number of medications that we have to take on a daily basis increases. Trying to keep track of which medication to take at which time or even remembering if we took all the ...
Continue reading "Automated Medication Management is a Resource to Help You Continue to Live Independently in Your Home" »
Posted on Mar 24, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
As we get older, we may find ourselves unable to take care of everything the way we used to. It might be harder to pull the trash can back and forth from the curb on trash day. It might be harder to ...
Continue reading "As You Age, Asking For Help Doesn't Have to Mean the End of Your Independence" »
Posted on Mar 18, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
When someone dies and needs a probate, that probate is usually conducted in the state in which they are a resident, which is their home state (sometimes a person may appear to be a resident of more ...
Continue reading "Even If You Are Not A Florida Resident You Might Need a Florida Probate" »
Posted on Jan 28, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
As I was checking in this week for a routine medical procedure, I was asked by the nurse if I had a living will. I was a little surprised because although I do have a living will, I didn’t stop ...
Continue reading "A Living Will Is An Essential Part of Your Incapacity Planning" »
Posted on Jan 14, 2014 By Edwards Elder Law, P.A.
When you enter the world of estate planning, an interesting phenomenon sometimes occurs. Your oldest child becomes a super hero. This is because your oldest child sometimes becomes the child ...
Continue reading "Does Your Estate Plan Think Your Oldest Child Is a Super Hero?" »