Delaney Delaney & Voorn, Ltd.

 The current economic crisis in our country and in our State is going to dramatically affect seniors. In Illinois, Medicaid payments to supportive living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, adult day care programs, and community care are behind by nine months. This means that any facility must maintain enough capital to cover their costs for at least nine months. What does this mean for seniors?

On Sunday, March 21, 2010, in an historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, clearing it for signature by President Obama. This comprehensive health care reform bill previously was passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009, and contains a number of provisions which affect older adults.

 A guardian is an individual appointed by a probate court to be legally responsible for a person (and his estate) when that person is not capable of handling his or her financial and healthcare affairs independently. Generally, a guardianship can be avoided through the use of a power of attorney, whereby the individual (prior to the onset of any disability) executes legal documents appointing an agent or power of attorney to act on his or her behalf in the event of incapacity.

The Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under-used, special monthly pension benefit called 'Aid and Attendance'.

 It is very important to keep in mind that there are certain deductions available for seniors which are not commonly deductable for most individuals. I prepare many amended returns for clients whose tax preparers were not aware. Please keep them in mind and communicate the appropriate information to your tax preparer, so you, too, receive the appropriate deductions. Here are just a few items you may wish to consider. 

 The following are suggestions for what to do after you have executed your Power of Attorneys. These suggestions will allow for the documents to work best for you:

 My client (Who, for her confidentiality will be referred to as "Millie", as all other individuals mentioned in the article will be referred to with a ficticious name.) came to me about ten years ago with her husband “John”. Millie and John were a lovely couple with three very successful children, all of whom resided out of state. Unfortunately, a few years after my initial meeting with Millie and John, John died unexpectedly, leaving Millie his widow. Although Millie was very saddened by the loss of her husband of 49 years, she fully intended to live her life as John would have wanted her to. She became involved in the community, volunteered at a local women’s shelter, and joined a support group for grieving spouses.

 Over the past years, living wills have gained more attention due to cases in the media addressing the difficulties encountered when facing end of life decisions. Unfortunately, many individuals have misperceptions about living wills and when the documents apply.

 This handy desk reference provides basic information for community spouse resource allowance, monthly maintenance needs allowance, and personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients in a nursing home.

 One of the greatest fears of older Americans is that they may end up in a nursing home. This not only means a great loss of personal autonomy, but also a tremendous financial price. Depending on location and level of care, nursing homes cost between $35,000 and $150,000 a year.

 Where Do I Begin?

Finding a nursing home for a loved one can often be a stressful and overwhelming task. It's a job that no one wants to do and can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. When undertaking such a life changing decision, there will inevitably be an array of questions going through your mind and you will probably wonder where to begin in finding the answers.