One of the most FAQs I receive from families is what questions to ask during an assisted living tour. If you google it, you’ll find some pretty exhaustive lists. I’ve distilled down the best topics and insight to focus on as you consider an assisted living community.
Planning ahead for IRMAA surcharges has become more important as the bracket tiers narrow and Medicare premiums increase.
Caregivers must be mindful of potential challenges that can arise, including accusations of fraud. Sometimes things start off on the right foot, but can land on a sour note unexpectedly. Here are some steps well-meaning caregivers can take to protect themselves.
Learn how everyday families can benefit from estate planning to ensure their intentions are seen through and how to avoid common estate planning mistakes.
Effectively benefiting the next generation comes in all shapes and sizes, learn about your options to gift relative to your net worth.
Choosing the right type of care community for a loved one depends on their specific needs, health conditions, and preferences. Here is my overview of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes to help you make an informed decision.
Is it right to be giving more “stuff” to someone who is planning to or has already downsized? Maybe a different approach should be considered when gifting to seniors.
Open enrollment is here, so as I offer every year, here is my latest recap that goes over the different Medicare Part/Plan options and their costs for 2024.
Medicaid in Massachusetts, known as MassHealth, provides long-term care coverage to eligible low-income seniors within the state. Applying for this coverage can be daunting, but understanding the big picture can be helpful.
Pre-paying a funeral is a way to plan and cover the costs associated with your end-of-life services in advance. Pre-paying can come into play to ensure services are carried out as intended, to help with Medicaid eligibility, and provide a little reprieve of responsibility as loved ones grieve.
Writing an obituary can be a challenging task, as it requires capturing the essence of a person’s life and honoring their memory. Here are some guidelines to help you write a great obituary for your loved one.
Here are the top three suggestions on how a senior may be able to make use of ChatGPT in ways that are different than what’s already available through other popular technologies.
Caregivers of an aging loved one often feel like they’re stranded on an island with no support. But take heart that there are options if you know where to look.
Read how you may be able to save a bit on taxes if considering a CCRC. You may potentially be able to deduct a portion of the initial buy-in and ongoing rent.
Determine what existing travel coverage you have first, and whether additional travel insurance is a good idea.
Is it right to be giving more “stuff” to someone who is planning to or has already downsized? Maybe a different approach should be considered when gifting to seniors.
Open enrollment is here, so as I offer every year, here is my latest recap that goes over the different Medicare Part/Plan options and their costs for 2023.
Open enrollment for Medicare is here (October 15 – December 7), and POWWOW encourages clients aged 65+ to work with a trusted resource to ensure existing coverage is still suitable.
There are big differences in the quality of nursing homes and the care they provide. 2 Sisters Senior Living Advisors help us identify and prioritize criteria for this difficult decision.
Adult children often find themselves unprepared in the position of primary caregiver for their parents. Finances (and even more importantly TIME allocated toward supporting family) can be very dicey for members of the Sandwich Generation.
When agreeing to move forward at a retirement community, be prepared for the paperwork so you don’t encounter delays.
June 24 & 25. Programs are free and open to the public. To register for sessions and/or keynote speakers please call the senior center or register online
If you’ve owned a LTC policy for 10+ years you’ve likely received a premium increase. Should you accept it or adjust coverage instead?
It’s the holiday season and we’re in shopping mode. Kids and significant others may be relatively easy to navigate, but what about our parents? What
Open enrollment is here, so as I offer every year, here is my latest recap that goes over the different Medicare Part/Plan options and their
Medicare enrollment is happening NOW! Connect with a Medicare enrollment expert to review your Supplement, Part D or Advantage plan. Even if your health and
POWWOW, LLC was recently featured by Linda Lecomte, REALTOR® in her new Andover-area inspired website and newsletter Shop Dine the Andovers.
Passive income can unintentionally cause tax penalties for late or underpayments. This is avoidable by making estimated tax payments.
Health Savings Accounts are a tax-trifecta savings vehicle that are often overlooked due to bias against the less popular Flex Savings Accounts.
On April 13, Quentara will review what to consider financially when assessing care options and how to increase your chances of retaining independence. Via Zoom. RSVP here.
65% of people with long-term care needs rely exclusively on family and friends to provide assistance. What’s your plan in the event aging loved ones didn’t fair well during COVID?
When receiving treatment options for a diagnosis, learn when you may want to reach out to a doctor vs a health advocate.
If you’re worried about downsizing your home, you really shouldn’t be. While finding the right home for your budget and planning a move can feel
Even if you’re not providing hands-on physical care for an aging parent, you’re still likely spending a ton of time in a project management role.
If you’re related to a loved one in the hospital, rehab or living in a retirement community, you may have received a message by now
I recently read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, MD. His insight perfectly blends medicine and emotion when it comes to the inevitable challenges of aging.
As a veteran you may feel like you’re participating in an Easter egg hunt to find all your benefits. This may be because most state
As a Certified Financial Planner™ specializing in elder care I am asked this question daily. Unfortunately, all too often the family’s immediate reaction is that
It’s your birthday, and mom, age 81, gives you a call. After pleasantries, she mentions how short-tempered your brother has been. She appreciates his help
Whenever I discuss elder care I can count on being asked one question… “What if I run out of money?” Long-term elder care solutions come
“I can’t hear you… LALALALALALALALALALALA” I recently presented on elder care to seemingly dissimilar groups. Despite their backgrounds, they all had the common bond of
Quentara Costa visited Bayberry at Emerald Court alongside Patrick Curley of Curley Law Firm in Wakefield, MA to discuss elder care planning. Quentara addressed “The
“The person you named 10 years ago to be your power of attorney isn’t necessarily the correct fit for today and could be the wrong
… Even from hundreds of miles away! Most of us want to have a role in caretaking our aging loved ones, but many of us
“Making the call [on elder fraud] is simple when the thief isn’t related to the client. But when the miscreant is a child or grandchild,
“A recent Merrill Lynch Age Wave survey showed 37% of people over 50 believe they may need long-term care during their lifetime, but the reality
“Where will your clients live, and for how long? What roles will their children or other caretakers play? Have they considered what they’ll do if
I often receive questions about reverse mortgages, particularly on whether they’re a viable solution to afford elder care. The first thing to realize here is
XY Planning Network offers consumer blogs that follow specific interests and subject matter. This is a great (and FREE) way to receive focused information from
Is it worth considering? Age 50-60 has traditionally been the sweet spot for reviewing long-term care insurance options. New research is even indicating that the
I’m a big believer in discussing elder care with my clients as young as age 50. I use this age as my starting point for
I’m thrilled to share an article highlighting the reasons for my commitment to help seniors and their family. “As a caregiver for her ailing father,
Last night 60 Minutes did a piece on Alzheimer’s research. While scientists believe they have found the cause, preventative treatment is administered too late. Until
90% of people say that talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important. 27% have actually done so.* Initiating conversation can make the
“The only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.” The quote by Nancy Kriseman is a simple reminder to make decisions
Elder planning is a touchy but important subject. Whether it’s for yourself or that of a loved one, the impact of poor planning is rarely
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