Families

Helping Seniors Avoid Social Isolation

Helping Seniors Avoid Social Isolation

Isolation among seniors is very common, even more so right now with pandemic restrictions. Social isolation can significantly impact health, well-being, and quality of life for seniors. Here are seven ways to help seniors avoid social isolation.

Remarriage and Estate Planning

Remarriage and Estate Planning

n a first marriage, the estate planning goals of each spouse are typically aligned: take care of the surviving spouse for as long as he or she lives, and then divide what’s left equally among the children. This also makes sense because most couples jointly own their assets, and estate taxes favor the surviving spouse.

But in a subsequent marriage, or when marrying later in life or after amassing significant wealth, the goals may not be so perfectly aligned.

Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 - December 7

Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 - December 7

Every year, Medicare health and drug plans make changes to costs, coverage, providers, and pharmacies in their networks. Between coverage changes and health condition changes, it is wise to revisit health plans during the open enrollment period annually. Medicare’s annual open enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7.

How to Visit a Nursing Home

How to Visit a Nursing Home

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are beginning to allow visitors again. If you are considering visiting a friend or family member, it continues to be important to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even if nursing homes in your state are allowed to resume visitation, individual nursing homes may remain locked down due to local or facility-specific circumstances.

Estate Planning Tools for a Beneficiary with a Substance Use Disorder

Estate Planning Tools for a Beneficiary with a Substance Use Disorder

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month. In 2017 alone, 19.7 million adults in America experienced a substance use disorder. For people trying to support a family member struggling with addiction, estate planning can be particularly emotional.

HIPAA: An Overview for Young Adults

HIPAA: An Overview for Young Adults

The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to provide guidelines to the healthcare industry for protecting patient information and privacy. For minors, this is a non-issue because parents, as legal guardians, have access to their children’s medical information and are the ones making most of the medical decisions, as well as paying the expenses.