I see a lot of clients who are afraid of aging. And I always tell them that aging doesn't have to be a nightmare. If you understand it - and try to stay younger longer (both physically and emotionally) - this period of your life can actually be one of your most rewarding.
Wrinkles and gray hair? Well, unless you spend money on Botox and hair-color, there's not a lot you can do about it.
But aging, of course, affects our insides, too...but there is a lot you can do about that. And a lot of it is just common sense.
As you age, for example, your heart rate slows a bit, and blood vessels and arteries stiffen. This causes your heart to pump harder to move the blood...which can cause high blood pressure.
But you don't have to take it lying down. In fact, if you take it standing up - walking, jogging, hiking, running, even cycling - your heart will pump a lot more efficiently!
Physical activity should be part of your daily routine. It can actually lessen the stiffening in your arteries (as well as fight depression!).
It's also worth repeating that vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein (think fish) can all help keep that spring in your step - and your eye.
Smoking? No one's ever laid on their death-bed and wished they had smoked more. But millions have laid on their death-beds and wished they never smoked! And if you like an occasional drink or two...keep it to a drink or two.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law - and only Elder law. And we answer questions about the aging process a hundred times a day. Over the past 34 years, we've helped thousands of South Florida families through the aging process...with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can help your family, too. And we're just a phone call away.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The Five Wishes
For far too long, we've been discussing the process of dying in whispers, behind closed doors - and often without the person who's dying!
I believe this cheats the patient of the chance to express her wishes. It cheats the family of the opportunity to know their loved one's wishes, so they don't have to guess. And it cheats both parties out of a chance to spend precious family time together.
Now, though, there's a much easier way to have this discussion.
It's a living will called "The Five Wishes." It's written in plain English - not legalese. It gives you the opportunity to express personal and spiritual wishes in addition to medical ones. It ensures your caretaker will know your wishes. And it gives your family peace of mind, knowing they won't have to make decisions - or guesses - as to what you'd want.
Five Wishes tells your family, your doctor, and your caregiver...
* Who you'd like to make healthcare decisions for you if you can no longer make them.
* What types of medical treatment you want - or don't want.
* How comfortable you want to be.
* How you want people to treat you.
* What you want your loved ones to know.
The document meets all legal requirements in 42 states - including Florida.
At www.agingwithdignity.org, they'll walk you through it step-by-step. And at The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we can do the same thing.
This isn't a pleasant discussion for any family. But we'll walk you and your family through it. So your wishes are adhered to. And so they'll know what you want.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we've been walking South Florida families through this process for 34 years. And we've walked them through financial issues as well as medical ones, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can walk your family through it, too. And we're just a phone call away.
I believe this cheats the patient of the chance to express her wishes. It cheats the family of the opportunity to know their loved one's wishes, so they don't have to guess. And it cheats both parties out of a chance to spend precious family time together.
Now, though, there's a much easier way to have this discussion.
It's a living will called "The Five Wishes." It's written in plain English - not legalese. It gives you the opportunity to express personal and spiritual wishes in addition to medical ones. It ensures your caretaker will know your wishes. And it gives your family peace of mind, knowing they won't have to make decisions - or guesses - as to what you'd want.
Five Wishes tells your family, your doctor, and your caregiver...
* Who you'd like to make healthcare decisions for you if you can no longer make them.
* What types of medical treatment you want - or don't want.
* How comfortable you want to be.
* How you want people to treat you.
* What you want your loved ones to know.
The document meets all legal requirements in 42 states - including Florida.
At www.agingwithdignity.org, they'll walk you through it step-by-step. And at The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we can do the same thing.
This isn't a pleasant discussion for any family. But we'll walk you and your family through it. So your wishes are adhered to. And so they'll know what you want.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we've been walking South Florida families through this process for 34 years. And we've walked them through financial issues as well as medical ones, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can walk your family through it, too. And we're just a phone call away.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Obamacare - Today's The Day
Starting today, more than 35 million uninsured Americans can enroll in affordable health insurance. No one will be turned away for having a pre-existing condition. And most people who don't have insurance today will be able to pay $100 or less per month for coverage.
Even if you're already covered, make sure everyone you know signs up for health insurance. (You never know which of your friends might not be insured.)
Beginning in January, all Americans are required under the law to have health insurance or face a fine. Next year, that penalty will be $95 per uninsured adult or 1 percent of taxable household income, whichever is greater. But the penalties climb every year. By 2016, fines for not having coverage would be $695 per adult, or 2.5 percent of income (again, whichever is greater and capped at $2,085 per household).
Prices for health plans offered under Obamacare are expected to be published today at Healthcare.gov. The federal government recently forecast that a basic health plan for a 40-year-old earning $50,000 per year will run $328 per month. Premiums will vary not only based the kind of health plan people choose, but also on their state of residence and even the city they live in. In New York for instance, that 40-year-old cited above would pay $416 a month for a mid-tier plan. But in upstate Ithaca, where fewer health insurers are available, the same coverage would cost $446 per month, a difference of $372 per year.
People also qualify for free or lower-cost coverage through Medicaid, with some states expanding eligibility for the government program next year, or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
In Florida, the 11 exchanges "companies" offering plans are listed below:
One thing to remember: Private health insurers, not the government, will decide what plans to offer and set the rates.
Even if you're already covered, make sure everyone you know signs up for health insurance. (You never know which of your friends might not be insured.)
Beginning in January, all Americans are required under the law to have health insurance or face a fine. Next year, that penalty will be $95 per uninsured adult or 1 percent of taxable household income, whichever is greater. But the penalties climb every year. By 2016, fines for not having coverage would be $695 per adult, or 2.5 percent of income (again, whichever is greater and capped at $2,085 per household).
Prices for health plans offered under Obamacare are expected to be published today at Healthcare.gov. The federal government recently forecast that a basic health plan for a 40-year-old earning $50,000 per year will run $328 per month. Premiums will vary not only based the kind of health plan people choose, but also on their state of residence and even the city they live in. In New York for instance, that 40-year-old cited above would pay $416 a month for a mid-tier plan. But in upstate Ithaca, where fewer health insurers are available, the same coverage would cost $446 per month, a difference of $372 per year.
People also qualify for free or lower-cost coverage through Medicaid, with some states expanding eligibility for the government program next year, or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
In Florida, the 11 exchanges "companies" offering plans are listed below:
- Aetna Life Insurance Co.
- Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida)
- Cigna Health & Life Insurance Co.
- Coventry Health Care of Florida Inc.
- Florida Health Care Plan Inc.
- Health First Insurance Company
- Health Options Inc.
- Humana Inc.
- Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc.
- Preferred Medical Plan
- Sunshine State Health Plan Inc.
One thing to remember: Private health insurers, not the government, will decide what plans to offer and set the rates.
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