Elder's Advisor articles from September 2002

Elder's Advisor archives from September 2002

From the editor.
September 22, 2002... Each time I teach elder law, students are required to leave the classroom in order to get a firsthand look at such phenomena as senior housing, programs, or litigation. Their creativity often produces novel, detailed observations about the...

Private sector long-term care planning. (Issue Forum: Long-Term Care Planning)
September 22, 2002... America's long-term care future is fraught with risks and opportunities for a better old age. Elder law attorneys and financial professionals who understand this complex and evolving world will better serve their older clients. This author...

Spending assets prudently for quality assisted living.
September 22, 2002... Most residents in assisted living communities depend on their after-tax annual incomes to pay their bills. Some also rely on contributions from family members. However, new methods of payment must be found if the senior housing industry is to...

Mediation in estate planning: a strategy for everyone's benefit.
September 22, 2002... How much better would this world be if we all believed that most disputes could be avoided? Mediation is offered as a tool to reach agreement, but the hard work of mediating a dispute requires a knowledgeable, experienced professional These...

Grandparent visitation legislation: the controversy didn't begin or end with Troxel v. Granville.
September 22, 2002... The Supreme Court case Troxel v. Granville assured the states the definitive say in grandparents' visitation rights. It also endorsed the traditional right of the parent or parents to decide who their children visit. What paths will the state...

Elders in the workforce: advantages and disadvantages of staying on the job.
September 22, 2002... Is it wise to encourage older employees to delay retirement? Some statistics say yes. While there are benefits to continuing to work, however, there are also financial consequences. This article discusses the advantages and drawbacks of...

Post-mortem IRA planning for the surviving spouse. (individual retirement accounts)
September 22, 2002... In 2002, the IRS issued simplified regulations governing required minimum distributions (RMDs) for IRAs. The new rules make elections at the time of one's required beginning date obsolete, and shift the deadline for many of the planning...

"Super charging" your clients' retirement portfolios.
September 22, 2002... Most retirees' main objective is to maximize income and ensure that they do not run out of money. This is different from the preretirement years, when maximizing total return is typically the client's goal. The often-neglected immediate fixed...

Alcohol abuse: a hidden epidemic among elders.
September 22, 2002... Among elders with physical or emotional disorders, even modest alcohol consumption can seriously impair their already fragile health. Successful treatment requires identifying the problem, understanding the medical and social complexities...

The "income first" rule: the Blumer case.
September 22, 2002... Burnett and Irene Blumer had a problem. In 1994, Irene had been admitted to a nursing home while Burnett remained in the community. At the time of admission, the couple had $145,644 of savings and investments--hardly a princely sum. However,...

Abuse in nursing homes: consumers are being left in the dark.
September 22, 2002... Horrific reports of physical and sexual abuse plague our nation's nursing homes. A key information resource for consumers, the federal Nursing Home Compare website, is failing to provide adequate information. While government officials are...

A Natural Right to Die: Twenty-Three Centuries Of Debate.(Book Review)
September 22, 2002... Many people are concerned about the right to choose how and when to die, for themselves and their elders. This book explores our changing attitudes about death throughout U.S. history, and looks to natural law to clarify the contemporary...