Do you love Halloween? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Halloween is the nation’s second most popular holiday (Christmas holds the top spot).

Though Halloween is a beloved tradition, it creates unique challenges for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For those who suffer from confusion, disorientation and other symptoms, Halloween can be a truly frightening holiday.

If you’re looking after an older adult who suffers from one of these cognitive conditions, here are a few things to keep in mind.

When Older Adults Live Alone

Every so often, a story pops up in your news feed about a high-profile family conflict following a celebrity death. Maybe the celebrity died without a will. Maybe the family disagrees with the will. Maybe there’s feuding between the celebrity’s children from an earlier marriage and the current spouse.

Conflicts like these happen all the time—and not just to the rich and famous. They happen to your neighbors. They happen to your friends. They could happen to you if you are not careful.

If you’re thinking of applying for VA Pension benefits for yourself or someone you love, you need to know that it could be a long, hard slog. The VA isn’t known for its efficiency. Though you don’t have any control over the employees of the VA and their skill (or lack thereof) at processing applications, you do have control over what you submit. Here’s what to do if you want the best possible results.

By William H. (Kim) Kimbrough, Jr., J.D., LL.M.

Frauds aimed at older adults are becoming more creative. Scammers stay on top of whatever is new, such as the popularity of Zoom, COVID-19 vaccines, and online shopping, and then move fast to create ploys that best fit the moment. They also capitalize on the availability of public information to bilk unsuspecting seniors.
It's not just vulnerable older shut-ins who are targeted. Everyone is--even me. That's why I wanted to give you a glimpse of two scam letters I received recently.

When it comes to elder care, Julia Price hasn’t just had a front row seat. She has been in the ring. In fact, if you look up the term “Sandwich Generation,” there’s a good chance you’ll find Julia Price’s picture next to the definition. “Six years ago, I didn’t even know that elder care law was a thing,” said Julia. Today, she helps people access public benefits to pay for long-term care in her role as a VA accredited attorney at Elder Law of East Tennessee, a Life Care Planning Law Firm with offices in Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee.

An older loved one needs care. A family member steps up. The elder’s condition worsens, and the burden on the caregiver increases. Outsiders can see that the elder needs more help, but the family caregiver can’t let go. What are the options? We posed this question to Carolyn Northrop, the elder care coordinator at Strohschein Law Group, a Life Care Planning Law Firm in St. Charles, Illinois.

You’ve moved your mom or dad into a nursing home. You’re breathing a sigh of relief. The stress of caring for your parent is now behind you. You can rest easy knowing that they’ll be well cared for by skilled nursing staff, right?

Unfortunately, long-term care is expensive. In some parts of the U.S., it can run as much as $12,000 per month. Do you know where the money will come from to pay for your parents’ care? What if your mom or dad can no longer pay the bill? Can you, the adult child, be held responsible?

Blended family situations can create challenges when a spouse needs long-term care. An attorney in a Life Care Planning Law Firm outlines the risks.

If you’ve been married more than once and there are children from former marriages in the picture, estate planning is often tricky. Things can be even more challenging when you or your current spouse need long-term care. How can blended family situations create problems?