Are you a caregiver to elderly parents? Are you looking around and wondering why your siblings aren’t helping you? Quite often, caring for aging parents becomes the responsibility of just one person. It’s often a daughter.

By Mary Jo Johnson, MPA, CMC

Let me tell you about what happens when the Superhero in your life encounters Kryptonite, the destructive, weakening agent known to strip away superpowers. For many of us, this Kryptonite is Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Your Superhero becomes unable to fight the battle alone. The cape comes off. They need you.

Does this change in your Superhero’s strength or abilities mean that he or she no longer has an identity, a role, or significance?

If someone you love needs nursing home care, brace yourself for sticker shock. Depending on where you live, the monthly cost can be $8,000 or more—often much more. In some parts of the country nursing home care can cost upwards of $15,000 per month.

What are the most common mistakes people make when attempting to qualify an elderly loved one for Medicaid? Matthew Bravette has seen it all. As one of the attorneys at Bratton Law Group, a Life Care Planning Law Firm with offices in the Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. Matthew has helped thousands of clients navigate the complicated and confusing Medicaid application process, and he has seen more than his share of mistakes.

One of the biggest involves believing the rumors you hear from friends, family, and neighbors.

By Pati Bedwell

We’ve all heard about the Nigerian prince scam. It’s been around for a while, so long that most older adults have heard about it. Many are certain that they would never fall victim to something so obvious. These are famous last words for many, who may not have fallen for the Nigerian prince, but for the same scam wearing different clothes

Just bringing up the possibility of someone in your family becoming mentally or physically incapacitated is often difficult. We tend to think of only the very elderly needing long-term, hands-on care, but a 2022 report by the Alzheimer’s Association found that one in nine Americans age 65 or older currently have Alzheimer’s. With the baby boom generation aging and people living longer, that number may nearly triple by 2050.

Life Care Planning Law Firms help families with every aspect of an aging loved one’s care, including the process of finding ways to pay for long-term care. When families need to access Medicaid benefits, attorneys oversee the process, but they are supported by other staff members, including paralegals.

When families visit a Life Care Planning Law Firm, they’re often surprised to learn that the staff includes non-legal professionals. One of the most important non-legal roles belongs to elder care coordinators, the compassionate professionals who serve as a family’s guide during the long-term care journey.