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Brighton Office:  10299 Grand River, Suite N  |   Brighton, MI 48116  |  (810)229-0220
West Branch Office:  2116 M-55 | West Branch, MI 48661 | (989) 418-3500
 www.nawrockilaw.com 

October, 2020

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A special message from Nancy Nawrocki of the Nawrocki Center:

Lisa Beatty Becomes Partner at Nawrocki Center
I am pleased to announce that Lisa Beatty, Attorney at Law, is now a Partner at the Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special Needs and Disability Planning.
Lisa joined our firm in 2013 as an Associate Attorney, bring with her 15 years of knowledge and experience as a Staff Attorney at UAW Legal Services.  Lisa was also a respected Adjunct Professor at the Thomas Cooley School of Law in Lansing.  Since joining our firm, Lisa has worked diligently to learn the nuances of Elder law and has honed her abilities in working with clients and staff with strong advocacy, compassion, sensitivity, and understanding.
She meets the "three C's" I require to become a partner at the Nawrocki Center.  She has consistent: 1) Character; 2) Commitment; and 3) is Conscientious in her relationships with those who seek out our services.
Please join me in congratulating Lisa Beatty, Attorney at Law, in becoming a Partner at the Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special needs and Disability Planning!

Check out our FREE Webinars!
The Coronavirus Crisis has forced us to cancel our live, face-to-face seminars and events for the time being, until we have a better understanding of when and how we can hold them...

Nawrocki Center Masterclass: How to Find, Keep, and Pay For Long-Term Care without Losing Your Life Savings
This FREE online masterclass is for people who are worried about the rising cost of long-term care, who are concerned about the financial hardships that paying for this care may c...

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15: Is It Time to Change Plans?
Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Now is the time to start shopping around to see whether your current choices are still the best ones for you.

Nursing Home Residents Face Even Greater Barriers to Voting Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has forced nursing homes to placeĀ a number of restrictions on their residents. These constraints are having the unintended consequence of making it more difficult for nursing home residents to vote.

Medicare Beneficiaries May Be Eligible for an Extra 100 days of Skilled Nursing Coverage Due to Pandemic
Medicare beneficiaries who qualified for skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage may be eligible for an additional 100 days of coverage.Ā WhetherĀ beneficiaries can actually get the extended coverage is another question.

The Ins and Outs of Guardianship and Conservatorship
Every adult is assumed to be capable of making his or her own decisions unless a court determines otherwise. If an adult becomes incapable of making responsible decisions, then the court will appoint a substitute decision maker.

Reverse Mortgages: A Way to Remain at Home Longer
Reverse mortgages make it possible for house-rich but cash-poor elders to use their housing equity to pay for home care while they remain in the home, or to use the money for anything else.

Which Nursing Home Rating System Should You Trust?
Choosing a nursing home for a loved one is a difficult decision and it can only be made more confusing by the various rating systems. A recent study found that using both Medicareā€™s Nursing Home Compare site and user reviews can help with the decision

Can You Transfer Your Medicare and Medicaid Plans When You Move to Another State?
If you plan to move states, can you take your Medicare or Medicaid plans with you? The answer depends on whether you have original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Medicaid.

Movement Grows to Add Dental Coverage to Medicare
Medicare does not offer much in the way of dental benefits, but advocates for Medicare beneficiaries are arguing for that to change.

Will Restrictive Immigration Policies Cause a Shortage of Caregivers for the Elderly?
As the population ages, the need for caregivers is growing, but restrictive immigration policies, whatever you may think of them, could have a negative impact on a caregiving industry that is already facing workforce shortages.

Most Are Taking Social Security at the Wrong Time
A new report finds that almost no retirees are making financially optimal decisions about when to take Social Security and are losing out on an average of more than $100,000 per household in the process.

Tips for Preventing, Detecting, and Reporting Financial Abuse of the Elderly
Reports of elder financial abuse continue to increase, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to scams or to financial abuse by family members in need of money.

What to Look for When Buying an Annuity
An annuity can be a useful tool for long-term care planning, but annuities are also complex financial products that are hard to understand. If purchasing an annuity, you need to consider your options carefully.

How to Plan Your Funeral
Thinking about your funeral may not be fun, but planning ahead is helpful. It both lets your family know your wishes and assists them during a stressful time.

A Final Retirement Account Distribution Must Still Be Made After Death
Federal law requires that after you reach age 70 1/2, you must begin withdrawing a minimum amount from your retirementĀ accounts.Ā But what if you die after age 70 1/2 and before all the account funds have been distributed?

Medicare's Different Treatment of the Two Main Post-Hospital Care Options
Hospital patients who need additional care after being discharged from the hospital are usually sent to either an inpatient rehabilitation facilityĀ or a skilled nursing facility, and Medicare offers very different coverage for each.

Tips on Creating an Estate Plan that Benefits a Child with Special Needs
Parents want their children to be taken care of after they die. But children with disabilities have increased financial and care needs, so ensuring their long-term welfare can be tricky.

How Parents Can Provide for a Caregiver Child
Taking care of a parent can be a full-time job. Parents who want to compensate a child who takes on the burden of caregiving may do so in one of several ways.

Using a Donor-Advised Fund May Be a Way to Get a Charitable Tax Break Under the New Tax Law
Donor-advised funds are a growing trend in giving that may get more popular due to the new tax law.

Don't Wait Too Long to Purchase Long-Term Care Insurance
The older you get, the harder it is to qualify for long-term care insurance. If you are interested in buying this insurance, it is better to act sooner rather than later.

Costs of New Long-Term Care Insurance Policies Vary Considerably
We’ve all heard the advice “It pays to shop around,” but this has never been more true than with the current market for long-term care insurance. 

Guns and Dementia: Dealing With A Loved One's Firearms
Having a loved one with dementia can be scary, but if you add in a firearm, it can also get dangerous.  To prevent harm to both the individual with dementia and others, it is important to plan ahead for how to deal with any weapons. 

Why Not Just Use an Off-the-Shelf Power of Attorney Form?
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It is important to get it right, so you shouldn't use a do-it-yourself form. 

The Best and Worst States for Protection Against Elder Abuse
The older the population gets, the greater the potential for elder abuse. States have laws in place designed to combat elder abuse, but some states are doing a better job than others.

Understanding Medicare's Hospice Benefit
Medicare's hospice benefit is one of the most comprehensive benefits and can be extremely helpful to both the terminally ill individual and his or her family, but it is little understood and underutilized. 

Be Careful About Putting Only One Spouse's Name on a Reverse Mortgage
A recent case involving basketball star Caldwell Jones demonstrates the danger in having only one spouse's name on a reverse mortgage.

For First Time, Median Cost of Private Nursing Home Room Hits Six Figures in Annual Survey
The median cost of a private nursing home room in the United States increased to $100,375 a year in 2018, up 3 percent from 2017, according to Genworth's annual Cost of Care survey.

Brighton Office:                      West Branch Office
10299 Grand River, Suite N     2116 M-55, Suite B

Brighton, MI 48116                   West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: 810-229-0220             Phone: 989-418-3500
               Website: www.nawrockilaw.com

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