Life changes occur for people of all ages, and for those in the senior population the choice of living options can become very important. Stairs could be more difficult to use, or an extra bedroom might be needed for a caretaker, or the bathroom may be impractical or downright dangerous for a person with poor balance. Here are some thoughts on the choices for living options.
Everyone wants to pass on some of their hard earned estate to their heirs. There are important things to consider when those assets are passed on. If the children are minors, or even young adults, they either cannot handle money, or may not have the experience and judgement to handle a sudden inheritance. A twenty year old may think a flashy new car is needed. Married children could be faced with divorce or health problems for themselves or their spouse. How can you protect your heirs who due to age, inexperience or family situations may not be able to hold onto their inheritance?
Rumors, fears, and casual conversations about Medicaid often lead to false and erroneous beliefs that deter a family from seeking help paying for home care, or nursing home care. One common belief is “the state will take everything”. In fact the state does not take anything. What it does do is make people spend their assets in accordance with the Medicaid rules until they are eligible. For example, a person living at home could pay off a mortgage, could buy furniture or a lift chair, could do prepaid funerals and could make improvements to their home. These are only a few examples of what the rules allow for a spenddown.
If you are taking a long road trip to a place you have never been, you probably are going to look at a road map to help make decisions on the route to choose. But nowadays, the GPS on phones or cars has provided a new method of guidance from start to finish. If you then deviate from the route, it recalculates and tells you a new route or routes to follow.
You worked hard to earn a living, take care of your family and like most people, want to pass on something to your family. What do you really have to worry about, and what are the possible solutions? Here are some thoughts.
Memory loss can creep up over time or be a sudden devastating hit with a stroke. Let’s face it, it’s something we would prefer not to think about. But we must, because the Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that managing personal finances is one of the first life activities to decline with cognitive impairment and early stages of memory loss. What should be done to protect your financial plan if your memory fails?
