Elder Law News

If a loved one is experiencing memory loss or suddenly making poor decisions, you may want the court to appoint a guardian, which requires a declaration of incompetence. Determining whether someone is incompetent to make their own decisions is a complicated process. 

Thanks to current federal rules, the people most at risk of death from Covid-19 — the 62 million seniors and people with disabilities who receive Medicare — can’t be reimbursed for rapid at-home Covid tests purchased at retail stores and pharmacies. 

Serving as a trustee of a trust can be a huge responsibility, so trustees are entitled to compensation for their work. The amount of compensation depends on the type of trustee and the complexity of the trust. 

California is making big changes to how it determines Medicaid eligibility for long-term care by eliminating the requirement that applicants have limited assets. While the rules apply only to California right now, other states may follow suit.  

Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it will add data on staff turnover rates and weekend staffing levels to its Care Compare website, giving consumers another tool when choosing a nursing home. 

Overwhelmed by the stress of long hours, low pay and exposure to the COVID-19 virus, nursing home workers are quitting in record numbers. The labor hemorrhage has turned what was already a chronic staffing problem into a full-blown crisis.

When several siblings are heirs to a parent’s estate, who pays the capital gains tax when the home is sold? Does each heir pay on his or her portion of the proceeds or are taxes paid from the estate before funds are distributed?

The amount you can gift without filing a tax return is increasing to $16,000 in 2022, the first increase since 2018. The federal estate tax exclusion is also climbing to more than $12 million per individual.

My mom needs Medicaid for a possible future stay in a nursing home. She has not given any of her children power of attorney, and she refuses to sign anything, including any Medicaid application papers. Is there any way to apply for her without her signature?