May 2024

The Care Your Family Needs

May is Elder Law Month

Join us on May 16th at 2 p.m. in our Norwood office for a special event featuring topics that are of interest to you - independent living vs. assisted living vs. skilled care, alternatives to nursing homes, Medicaid eligibility and pre-planning, VA Aid and Attendance, how to protect your home and assets, community based programs, health care proxies and durable powers of attorney, Homesteads and Life Estates.

All across the country, elder law attorneys are contributing to their communities by educating older adults and their family about available resources. We have reserved this date as our contribution and continued commitment to you and your loved ones. Please join us for this free educational and social event. We always look forward to seeing you!

RSVP at (781) 821-8800. Light refreshments served.

What Is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

Wills and trusts are foundational estate planning tools. While each is used to distribute your hard-earned assets to your loved ones, they do so in different ways. Each also has its own distinct uses and advantages.

Be Aware of the Dangers of Joint Accounts

While joint accounts can be useful in certain circumstances, they can have dire consequences if not used properly. Adding a loved one to a bank account can expose you to their creditors and affect Medicaid planning.

Senators Propose Boosting Seniors' Social Security Benefits

In late March 2024, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act. The Act centers on changing the formula that the SSA uses to calculate Social Security benefits for older adults.

States With the Highest and Lowest Assisted Living Costs

Seniors seeking information on assisted living options may find recent data from the Seniorly Resource Center useful. Its new 2024 report sheds light on the costs of assisted living - from the most to the least expensive - across the U.S.

Could Medicaid Payback Rules Come to an End?

As of late 2023, the median monthly cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home in the U.S. was close to $9,000. The vast majority of people cannot afford to pay these prices out of pocket over the long term.

Supplemental vs. Special Needs Trusts: Any Difference?

You may have heard the terms "special" needs trust and "supplemental" needs trust and wondered what the difference is. The short answer is that there's no difference. Here's the long answer.

Avoiding Property Tax Foreclosures for Older Adults

If you are a homeowner who is falling behind on your real estate taxes, you may end up facing foreclosure on your property. Because your property taxes hinge on the value of your property, you may find your taxes rising beyond what you can afford.

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