A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in April would change the way income from a community spouse’s annuity is counted for Medicaid eligibility purposes. Rep. Markwayne Mullen (R-Okla.) introduced a section amending Medicaid law that would provide that if the annuity pays income solely in the community spouse’ name, one-half of the…
If you are a living breathing creature, you need exercise. A story I read last week says this, “All seniors know they need exercise…” It’s not that seniors specifically need exercise and everyone else can continue on until they reach a magical age and then exercise. It’s that once you become a senior you need…
Homeownership represents stability in a housing market with vastly fluctuating rent payments. Thanks to the Recession, fewer Americans own homes but amongst the older generations, home ownership remains significantly higher than renting as a housing option. Even if a homeowner’s retirement plan does not include remaining in the same home over time, ownership provides options…
Printer Friendly VersionHave you noticed that your Medicare card carries a familiar number? The ID number on Medicare cards is the same as your Social Security card. Yet, for decades we’ve all been warned to not carry our Social Security number in our wallets. It’s been decades too since writing a check required a Social…
Printer Friendly VersionMultilevel housing, senior housing that takes an independent person or an individual with some assistant living needs and moves with them through a progression of greater and greater physical and/or mental needs, boasts the benefits of never having to move again. What many of those places don’t say is that while you can…
Every day, people leave this firm with documents in hand that leave another person in charge of their health care or finances or transfers title to their property to someone else on their death. While that’s an oversimplification of what occurs in any law office, whether the document is relatively simple or it took hundreds…
According to the 2012 U.S. Census data, approximately one third of U.S. citizens between the ages of 45 and 63 are single, an increase of 50 percent since 1980. Also doubled is the number of adults without children, from 10 percent in 1980 to approximately 19 percent. Dr. Maria Torroella Carney highlighted this data in…
By Karen Jarstad Evergreen Eye Center If you or a loved one is bothered by glare from oncoming car headlights at night (not just the Xenon blue ones – they make everyone squint), you could be having symptoms from the early stages of cataracts. Dr. John Jarstad, board certified ophthalmologist and chief eye surgeon for…
When I was a kid, my aunt worked at the only bank in my hometown. The classy décor included wood paneling, large windows and a quiet usually associated with libraries. In fact, that bank resembled Gringotts Wizarding Bank from Harry Potter fame (though not as large and unfortunately missing the fabulous underground passage containing the…
About 1.3 million Americans receive care each day in nursing homes certified by either Medicare or Medicaid or both according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Low staffing levels, inadequate oversight and documented hazards are just some of the reasons for substandard nursing home care in America. For the frail and vulnerable, those deficiencies can mean…
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