Nothing makes me angrier than to see veterans suffering while the
government dithers about their benefits. And my interest is very
personal.
My Dad, who recently passed away, was a World War II
veteran. He didn't speak very often about his experiences in the War.
But when he did, the emotions came tumbling out. The horror of what he
saw never left him. And, as a result, it's never left me, either.
My
clients know me as a determined fighter for veterans' benefits. And
when I hear of veterans being treated unfairly, it makes my blood boil.
I
recently read about an 18-year Navy veteran who's spent his entire
post-military life battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder...and who's
spent the past seven years battling the VA. He filed a disability claim
in 2006. And he's still waiting to hear.
This gentleman filled out
all the required files, answered all the required questions. But he's
still waiting. And he's not alone in his frustration.
According
to one study, nearly a million - a million! - veterans have been
waiting an average of nine months for the VA to rule on their claims.
And many are dying before their claims are addressed! In fact, in a
recent one-year period, the VA awarded nearly half-a-billion dollars in
retroactive benefits to survivors of nearly 20,000 veterans - after
their deaths. In the United States of America, this is unacceptable!
In
its defense, the VA says it's converting from a paper system to a
digital one. But that's small consolation to veterans who have served
our country, but who have to wait until our country responds in kind. Or
until they're dead!
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld
& Associates, we practice Elder Law. And we hear stories like this
all the time. If you've got questions - or problems - about your
benefits, we can help.
In fact, we've answered questions
about veterans' benefits for the past 34 years, for thousands of South
Florida families. And we've answered their questions, as well, about
comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney,
long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with
Medicaid.
We take veterans' benefits very personally. And we're just a phone call away.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Caregiving: The Toughest Job on Earth?
In many states, the number of people 60 and over is expected to double in the coming years. Not only that, those 60-plus-ers will be living longer, too. This means the number of family caregivers they’ll need will double.
I tell my clients that, if they know of a tougher, more demanding, more emotionally-draining – and more thankless – job than being a caregiver, I’d like to hear about it.
As they reach their mid-70’s, nearly half the population will experience physical problems that may result in limited mobility, or limited ability to care for themselves. And they’re going to need help.
In most cases – up to 80% - this help comes from family members, directly or indirectly (paying for it). And it can include anything from assistance with housekeeping, finances, meals, and bathing to dressing, shopping, and transportation.
Caregiving can end up leaving the caregiver a physical and emotional wreck, as well. And it can result in depression, anxiety, loneliness, and illness.
That’s why it’s important for family members to work as a team, and to develop a plan to help out the main caregiver. Without an occasional break, the caregiver herself is in danger of breaking. And family relationships are in danger of unraveling.
To avoid these problems, I always encourage family members to develop a long-term strategy and a list of tasks divided into time, money, and labor categories, so that everyone shares the caregiving responsibility. I also encourage regular family meetings, (by phone if necessary), to discuss their loved one’s condition, or to renegotiate caregiving responsibilities as needed.
If not done right, caregiving can tear a family apart. It’s a tricky minefield. But we can help.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law – and only Elder Law. And over the past 34 years, we’ve walked thousands of South Florida families through the caregiving process. And we’ve helped prepare them for the Elder Journey, as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA.
We can answer your caregiving questions. And we can walk your family through the Elder Journey.
We’re just a phone call away.
I tell my clients that, if they know of a tougher, more demanding, more emotionally-draining – and more thankless – job than being a caregiver, I’d like to hear about it.
As they reach their mid-70’s, nearly half the population will experience physical problems that may result in limited mobility, or limited ability to care for themselves. And they’re going to need help.
In most cases – up to 80% - this help comes from family members, directly or indirectly (paying for it). And it can include anything from assistance with housekeeping, finances, meals, and bathing to dressing, shopping, and transportation.
Caregiving can end up leaving the caregiver a physical and emotional wreck, as well. And it can result in depression, anxiety, loneliness, and illness.
That’s why it’s important for family members to work as a team, and to develop a plan to help out the main caregiver. Without an occasional break, the caregiver herself is in danger of breaking. And family relationships are in danger of unraveling.
To avoid these problems, I always encourage family members to develop a long-term strategy and a list of tasks divided into time, money, and labor categories, so that everyone shares the caregiving responsibility. I also encourage regular family meetings, (by phone if necessary), to discuss their loved one’s condition, or to renegotiate caregiving responsibilities as needed.
If not done right, caregiving can tear a family apart. It’s a tricky minefield. But we can help.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law – and only Elder Law. And over the past 34 years, we’ve walked thousands of South Florida families through the caregiving process. And we’ve helped prepare them for the Elder Journey, as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA.
We can answer your caregiving questions. And we can walk your family through the Elder Journey.
We’re just a phone call away.
Redefining Aging: Who Says You Have to Stop Being Active?
Watching NBC News the other day, I saw something fascinating. In a Senior Track meet overseas, two men, one from Finland and one from Belgium, were lined up at the starting line in a 100-meter race. The Finnish man was 95, and the Belgian 94.
The Finnish man took off like a shot. But, slowly and steadily, the Belgian man kept catching up. He just nipped the Finn at the finish line (“Finnish” line?).
This proved something I’ve been telling my clients for a while: Even though your body may be aging…that doesn’t mean you have to stop using it!
Several years ago, a 90-year-old ran in the Los Angeles Marathon, and a 101-year-old ran in the London Marathon. In the New York Marathon a few years ago, the toughest competition was said to have been in the 80-90-year-old women’s group. And, just two years ago, Charlie Futrell, 90, became what is believed to be the oldest person to finish a USA Triathlon (running, swimming, biking!) when he crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 38 seconds during a Central Florida event!
What’s going on here ??? Well, many seniors have decided they’re not going gently into old age. In so doing, they’re redefining the process of aging. They’re showing us that age doesn’t necessarily have to be a barrier to remaining active. And they’re proving that getting old doesn’t mean acting old!
Redefining your own aging process can be tough. But we can help.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’re Elder Law attorneys. We’ve been helping South Florida seniors and their families redefine their aging processes for 34 years. And we’ve been helping them prepare for it, too, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care plans, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can help you redefine your personal aging process…and provide security for yourself and your family. We’re just a phone call away.
The Finnish man took off like a shot. But, slowly and steadily, the Belgian man kept catching up. He just nipped the Finn at the finish line (“Finnish” line?).
This proved something I’ve been telling my clients for a while: Even though your body may be aging…that doesn’t mean you have to stop using it!
Several years ago, a 90-year-old ran in the Los Angeles Marathon, and a 101-year-old ran in the London Marathon. In the New York Marathon a few years ago, the toughest competition was said to have been in the 80-90-year-old women’s group. And, just two years ago, Charlie Futrell, 90, became what is believed to be the oldest person to finish a USA Triathlon (running, swimming, biking!) when he crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 38 seconds during a Central Florida event!
What’s going on here ??? Well, many seniors have decided they’re not going gently into old age. In so doing, they’re redefining the process of aging. They’re showing us that age doesn’t necessarily have to be a barrier to remaining active. And they’re proving that getting old doesn’t mean acting old!
Redefining your own aging process can be tough. But we can help.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’re Elder Law attorneys. We’ve been helping South Florida seniors and their families redefine their aging processes for 34 years. And we’ve been helping them prepare for it, too, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care plans, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can help you redefine your personal aging process…and provide security for yourself and your family. We’re just a phone call away.
What is a Patient Advocate?
Many caregivers of elderly parents feel lost in the maze of our healthcare system.
Trying to negotiate the maze of bureaucracy, medical/legal jargon, governmental agencies, expensive (and sometimes unnecessary!) procedures, and pressed-for-time doctors and nurses is enough to exhaust anyone.
Medicine has seen some positive changes in recent years, among them the technology, medications, and treatment options for various diseases. The doctor-patient relationship, however, has declined. And the main reason is the lack of time spent by the doctor with each patient.
In fact, it’s estimated that one-third of elderly patients don't even know what medications they’re taking…or why.
So what’s a caregiver to do? Well, you can educate yourself. You can go to support groups. You can accompany your loved one to the doctor. Or you can find a Patient Advocate.
“Patient Advocate” can apply to private professional patient advocates, or those who work for the hospital, insurance company, or non-profit organizations. Cost structures, as you might expect, can vary widely.
A private professional patient advocate is hired by the patient (or family) to represent the patient in the healthcare system. It could be a social worker, case manager, medical billing expert, nurse, physician, and even lay people with personal experiences as a caregiver. Costs are not covered by insurance, and can vary widely.
If you can afford it, though, it may be worthwhile. It can help emotionally to know that someone who understands the system is in your corner. It might, conceivably, improve the patient’s health outcome. And it might even save you money in the long run, by preventing unnecessary treatments or tests.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law. And we work every day with families who are emotionally drained by trying to navigate the Elder Care Maze. In fact, over the past 34 years, we’ve helped thousands of South Florida families navigate this maze. And we’ve helped them, as well, 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 you, too. We’re just a phone call away.
Trying to negotiate the maze of bureaucracy, medical/legal jargon, governmental agencies, expensive (and sometimes unnecessary!) procedures, and pressed-for-time doctors and nurses is enough to exhaust anyone.
Medicine has seen some positive changes in recent years, among them the technology, medications, and treatment options for various diseases. The doctor-patient relationship, however, has declined. And the main reason is the lack of time spent by the doctor with each patient.
In fact, it’s estimated that one-third of elderly patients don't even know what medications they’re taking…or why.
So what’s a caregiver to do? Well, you can educate yourself. You can go to support groups. You can accompany your loved one to the doctor. Or you can find a Patient Advocate.
“Patient Advocate” can apply to private professional patient advocates, or those who work for the hospital, insurance company, or non-profit organizations. Cost structures, as you might expect, can vary widely.
A private professional patient advocate is hired by the patient (or family) to represent the patient in the healthcare system. It could be a social worker, case manager, medical billing expert, nurse, physician, and even lay people with personal experiences as a caregiver. Costs are not covered by insurance, and can vary widely.
If you can afford it, though, it may be worthwhile. It can help emotionally to know that someone who understands the system is in your corner. It might, conceivably, improve the patient’s health outcome. And it might even save you money in the long run, by preventing unnecessary treatments or tests.
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law. And we work every day with families who are emotionally drained by trying to navigate the Elder Care Maze. In fact, over the past 34 years, we’ve helped thousands of South Florida families navigate this maze. And we’ve helped them, as well, 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 you, too. We’re just a phone call away.
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