If you are returning home this holiday season to spend time with aging relatives, take a few minutes to check things out and make sure they are still safe at home. You don’t need to make a big production out of it, but here are some things to keep an eye out for: Is there… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Elder Law
More Options For Seniors at Home
“I’m never going into a nursing home.” “I’m never putting my mom in a nursing home.” “Please don’t let them put me in a nursing home.” These are the things I often here from my clients or their family members. As someone starts to falter, they fear ending up in a nursing home or fear… Continue Reading
What’s Your Secret?
I often ask my happy, healthy older clients what their secret is. Do you know what the answer most often is? Walking. It’s true: my clients who remain healthy and active (and at home) the longest are those who have a regular, daily habit of walking. Some of them walk around the block a few… Continue Reading
Ground Rules for Living With an Aging Parent
So you reviewed the last post on whether to have your aging parent live with you and you’ve decided to give it a try. Here are some ground rules for making it work: 1. Plan respite care and support before you need it. Don’t set yourself and your parent up for failure by trying to… Continue Reading
Should Your Parent Move In With You?
Very often when I’m meeting with older parents and their adult children, they will say “If mom becomes unable to care for herself, she’ll just move in with us.” This works differently for different families – sometimes I hear that it is working for everyone, other times I get a call asking for referrals to… Continue Reading
Enjoying the Holidays With Someone With Memory Loss
Interacting with a family member who has memory loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be stressful on everyone. Especially if you are going home for the holidays (or they are coming to your house) and haven’t been around them for a while. I always recommend that my clients hire an Alzheimer’s coach for… Continue Reading
How The Estate Plan Process Works
One of the biggest obstacles that people seem to come up against when thinking about drawing up a Will or making some plans for retirement is uncertainty about the process. It’s common to avoid things that make us nervous, and many people put off calling an attorney about their estate plan because they don’t even… Continue Reading
You Are Not Alone
Many times when I’m meeting with clients or families, as they tell me their stories I can see in their eyes that they feel like they are the only ones going through this particular issue. I listen to them, and when I say “you are not alone. I see this quite frequently.” their spirits lift,… Continue Reading
Alcohol & The Elderly: Legal Consequences
The elderly in Massachusetts face the same penalties for drunk driving as any adult over the age of 21. For a first offense OUI charge, if you refuse the breath test you lose your license for 180 days (6 months). If you fail the breath test, you lose your license for 30 days. Additional penalties… Continue Reading
What Is Holding You Back?
If you are like a lot of people, sometimes it is the first step in a new direction that holds you back. Maybe you want to change jobs, but can’t even bring yourself to open a new computer document and call it “Resume.” Or you need to get healthy to lower your blood pressure and… Continue Reading