Becky Cholewka: Hi everyone. I wanted to offer a few more tips for having really tough conversations with family members who have reached their senior years. As parents approach their senior years, sometimes we need to make sure that they are in a
Will Your Heart Outlast You?
I was born in February so my birthday parties always incorporated hearts. A red heart cake, pink confetti hearts, heart-shaped balloons. My family has heart problems. Weak ones as it turns out. My dad died from his second heart attack—four days after
What is Your Legacy?
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remain and is immortal." Albert Pine I often hear the term Legacy Planning. Some think it is planning for and accumulating a substantial amount of money to leave behind. Other
Tragic Lessons from Bobbi Kristina Brown
We've been following the tragic story of Bobbi Kristina Brown—Whitney Houston's daughter— who was found unresponsive in her bathtub and hospitalized since January 31. It's a tragic story really. Not because of the fact of who she is, but because we don
Springing Powers (Not Spring Flowers)
Powers of Attorney (POA) are state specific documents. That means each state has its own rules on what each document must say and how it must be executed. Because of this, a POA from Arizona may not work in Ohio and vice versa. In Arizona, there are th
Estate Planning Can Save A Bundle
The expense of dying as well as the time leading up to it can be very costly. View image | gettyimages.com Preplanning for your death and the time leading up to it can save you thousands, says story on uppermichigansource.com. The initial step
Long-Term Care Premium Deductible Upped
The IRS has announced that the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2015 taxes for buying long-term care insurance has been increased. Premiums for so-called "qualified" long-term care policies are deductible as long as they, along with other unreimb
Don’t Gift Things Away in Order to Qualify for Medicaid/ALTCS
When you apply for ALTCS, Arizona's Long Term Care System, they will require you to disclose any gifts made within the last 5 years, that's 60 months. A gift happens any time you give or transfer something of value to another person or entity and you di
Planning for Longer Lives
As medical science continues to improve, Americans are living longer lives than ever before. Unfortunately, however, cognitive decline often goes hand in hand with longer life spans. Therefore, as a recent article explains, families should have a plan to
What Assets and Income are Counted when Applying for Mediciad/ALTCS?
When you apply for Medicaid long-term care benefits, there are asset and income restrictions that must be met before you can qualify for the benefits. When you apply, ALTCS, Arizona's Long Term Care System, will look at all assets held in the applicant
Eligibility Retirements for Medicaid/ALTCS
Eligibility Retirements for Medicaid/ALTCS Needs based program Must be a citizen or meet other citizen requirements Income limit of $2094 per month Asset limit of $2000 for the applicant (some assets are not counted toward this limit) Medical
The Cost of Long-Term Care
Without proper planning, the costs for long-term care can destroy any wealth that you have accumulated over your life. Skilled nursing home care easily costs upwards of $6000 per month. If you want a private room, it costs even more. With the average
