Finances

• Article - Medicare: A Beginner's Guide

  Medicare: A Beginner's Guide. What is Medicare? Who's eligible for Medicare? What's covered by Medicare? How much does Medicare cost?

• Checklist - 7 Questions to Ask an Estate Liquidator

  An estate liquidator can help your parents downsize. Find a reputable and effective agent who'll take care of your parents' possessions and emotions.

• Article - Power of Attorney for Finances: A Step-By-Step Guide

  This guide shows you how to set up a power of attorney, from figuring out if your parent actually needs one to choosing who will act as their agent.

• Article - Power of Attorney for Finances: A Beginner's Guide

  Power of attorney designates who handles financial affairs when your parent is incapacitated. This article covers the basics of power of attorney.

• Article - Warning Signs That Your Parents' Finances Are Off Track

  Eight warning signs that your parents may need help with bill paying, financial planning, and daily money management.

• Article - How to Deal With Theft by a Caregiver

  What you need to know to protect your parent from financial abuse and theft. Plus, what to do if a theft has occurred.

• Article - Estate Planning Basics

  Estate planning manages money and property during life and passes it to survivors after death. Know what the basic estate planning documents can do.

• Article - How to Protect Your Parents from Fraud

  Common financial scams that target the elderly -- and how you can help your parents avoid them.

• Article - Reverse Mortgages: A Beginner's Guide

  Reverse Mortgage: A Beginner's Guide. A free informative guide on reverse mortgages.

• Checklist - Family Meeting Agenda: How to Manage Friends and Family

  Use this agenda as a guide for a family (or friends) meeting on how to help your parent.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Elder Suicide: Know the Warning Signs

  Seniors have the highest rates of suicide of any age group. Know the suicide warning signs if someone you love is depressed or at risk.

• Blog Post - Insurance Coverage: Denied!

  What do you do when your parent's insurance company denies coverage for the care that his doctor has ordered?

• Blog Post - The Adult Diaper Wars: A Call to Arms!

  A Canadian government official's threat to wear diapers triggers open talk of how to keep seniors who wear diapers comfortable and healthy.

• Blog Post - Cash and Counseling Program Offers a Paycheck for Care Giving

  Medicaid's Cash and Counseling Program lets recipients spend home-care benefits as they see fit -- including paying family members to care for them.

• Blog Post - How Retirement Is Changing

  A rundown of emotional and financial issues facing current and future retirees.

• Blog Post - Social Security Benefits: Getting Carded?

  Social Security recipients will soon be able to get their monthly benefits loaded onto a pre-paid debit card. If your parents are getting their checks via direct deposit, they should probably stick with that system and not switch over to the debit cards because of the fees and hassles that come with the Direct Express debit card. But for people who wait for the postman to deliver their monthly check, the new debit card may be a better option.

• Blog Post - I constantly feel guilty because no matter how much I do for my parents, I know it's never enough.

  My mom has advanced Alzheimer's and my dad is 92 and...

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - Seniors Hit Hard By Overdraft Charges

  High banking fees are hitting senior citizens hard, but seniors can protect themselves by monitoring their account online.

• Blog Post - To Protect Seniors in Natural Disasters, Talk About It Beforehand

  Communication is key in protecting seniors in natural disasters.

• Blog Post - Reverse Mortgages: Looking for Trouble?

  Reverse mortgages--a loan for people ages 62 and older...

• Blog Post - Falling: A Deadly Problem Helped by Prevention

  Falls are a deadly problem that can be helped through prevention.

• Blog Post - Going For Broke? Seniors Turn to Newer Loans To Avoid Cash Crunch

  Seniors hurt by the tough economy are raising money using reverse mortgages, life insurance settlements and 401k loans. In exchange for up-front cash, your parent may lose future equity or investment gains, so help them make smart money choices.

• Blog Post - A New, Cool, and Easy Way to Support the Fight Against Alzheimer's

  Caring.com and the Alzheimer's Association have partnered to create a purple ribbon campaign to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer's.

• Blog Post - My mother is gambling away every last penny -- and her financial independence. What should I do?

  Since my father's death two years ago, my 75-year-old...

• Blog Post - Help! My mom's in hospice and my sister and I are arguing about her funeral.

  Our mom has said she wants to be cremated "so you don...

• Blog Post - Do Parents With Dementia Need a "Sexual Power of Attorney"?

  New questions about the sexual rights of elders with dementia.

• Blog Post - Should Family Members Who Provide Alzheimer's Care Be Paid?

  Paying family caregivers is controversial and has pitfalls to beware of if you go this route.

• Blog Post - Parents Are From Venus, We're From Mars

  A simple online test promises to assess your "conversational relationship" with your parents. The bottom line: If you're not talking about the big stuff now, you'd better start.

• Blog Post - My mother gave power of attorney to her new husband, who is putting her life in danger. How can we get it away from him?

  My mother's new husband has power of attorney for her, but I feel he puts her life in danger. How can we get her to reappoint power of attorney?

• Blog Post - Your Parents' Estate: Not a Windfall Anymore

  Our parents are living longer and are faced with astronomical expenses, which means that most of us shouldn't count on becoming huge inheritances.

• Blog Post - My mother's growing needs are putting a strain on my marriage, and I find myself wondering which will fall apart first -- her, my marriage, or me. What can I do?

  Since my dad died five years ago, my mother has had...

Questions & Answers

• Question - Where can I get financial assistance for monthly expenses we...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my dad to stop taking questionable financial advice from his friends?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does a beneficiary have to pay finances charges on property?

  Finance charges on inherited property -- especially on vehicles -- are likely negotiable. Just get the facts on your side first.

• Question - How old must a child be to get money at a parent's death?

  Money left to a minor will usually be managed by an adult until that child legally becomes an adult, too.

• Question - Can my parent give durable power of attorney for healthcare to one child, and durable power of attorney for finance to another?

  My brother thinks my parents should give durable power of attorney for healthcare to one sibling and durable power of attorney for finance to another.

• Question - What authority is needed to gather a parent's documents for Medicaid?

  When you want to access your parent's health records, do you need a durable power of attorney for healthcare? Or can HIPAA prevent it even with one?

• Question - What's the emergency procedure for obtaining durable power of attorney for finance or health care?

  What's the emergency procedure for obtaining durable power of attorney for finance or health care? Get answers on obtaining durable power of attorney.

• Question - How can I get financial help for things like a ramp and hand rails to accomodate my disabled mother who now lives with me?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do you get financial help if you are between 55 and 60 years old?

  A few government financial benefits are available to someone under age 60.

• Question - From what money are final expenses paid first?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there financial benefits available to a primary caregiver?

  A caregiver who becomes a certified home care aide could receive small benefits from Medicaid, or be paid from long-term care insurance.

• Question - Is there any financial support available for "sitters",...

  You may need financial aid to hire a caregiver for a parent, whether he needs hospice or home care. Do Medicare or Medicaid offer financial aid?

• Question - Does a living trust protect money from Medicaid consideration?

  A living trust does not "protect" assets from consideration by Medicaid when deciding someone's eligibility for coverage of nursing home care.

• Question - How can I find financial aid to care for my mother in her home?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Any suggestions for talking to my father, who has Alzheimer's, about his finances?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any financial aid for a child to quit their job and care for their parent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a financial planner (book) one could purchase for...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who is responsible for paying for my mother's care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Financial help when a parent leaves a nursing home to live with family?

  A low-income elder who leaves a nursing home to live with family may get help from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

• Question - What, if any, financial help can a person, at the age of 52, apply for when the SSDI, SSI, and Medicaid programs are unaccessable to a man who has been diagnosed as being disabled significantly?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Where do I get financial help for my 88 year old mother?

  A senior with low income and assets can qualify for SSI benefits of $600 to $800 per month, Medicaid and a very low-cost prescription drug plan.

• Question - What is the best way for my 87 year old mother to invest her money?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a parent revise or revoke a durable power of attorney for healthcare or finances?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Financial Aid for Caregivers?

  I am caring for my parents and need to be home with them day to day. Is there any financial aid that I can get since I will have lost my income?

• Question - Why has my mother-in-law become so irresponsible with her money since her stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - When does a power of attorney take effect?

  Read the fine print to determine the specific powers granted in a power of attorney -- and make sure they're not overbroad.

• Question - Will my stepmother be financially responsible for my dad's care once his insurance money runs out?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is my father responsible for money borrowed on his credit card?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will there be any difficulty withdrawing funds from joint accounts that my mother and I share?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What is my mother's legal obligation to pay donation pledges she has given over the phone?

  There are some ways to cut back on hectoring calls from charitable organizations--and guidelines about whether a person must make good on pledges.

• Question - Is there any financial help with the costs associated with assisted living facilities?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What do I need to know before I sign a nursing home contract?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How should my mother decide when to file for Social Security?

  Is it best to file for Social Security benefits early, at age 62, if a parent needs money or wait until 65 or 67 to file for Social Security benefits?

• Question - What are reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long-term care?

  Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long term care? Medicare will cover 100 days in a nursing home if certain qualifications are met.

• Question - What are the risks with reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help my elderly mother deal with the loss of her pets?

  When someone moves into assisted living, does he have to give up his pets? If so, what should you do with his pets once he moves into assisted living?

• Question - Can a Wisconsin resident disinherit a spouse?

  If a will does not mention a surviving spouse, the law will likely look at the document carefully -- and make some assumptions giving the survivor a share.

• Question - With both parents in a nursing home and me with power of attorney, can I protect their savings and house?

  Once both parents are in a nursing home, it's difficult to protect their assets. They'll have to use most of those assets to pay for their own care before Medicaid kicks in.

• Question - How do I get my grandmother to stop being scammed by psychics?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - As my father's guardian, am I responsible for his financial needs if he is unable to meet them?

  There are a few situations in which a guardian or conservator may be personally liable for debts, but they are rather rare and obvious.

• Question - Does power of attorney make me responsible for medical bills?

  accepting authority under a power of attorney for health care does not make someone financially responsible for medical or long-term care bills.

• Question - Can my mother help pay for her grandchildren's education and still qualify for Medicaid?

  Will a parent risk Medicaid benefits by helping with grandchildren's education? It's essential to consider whether Medicaid will be lost this way.

• Question - What are annuities and do they make sense for someone over 80?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What kind of financial aid programs are available to full-time caregivers?

  You might get paid to take of your spouse by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for people with low income and assets.

• Question - How do I handle finances when I share POA with my sister and both parents have dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the difference between dpoa and just a poa?

  A durable power of attorney remains in effect if and when the person granting the authority becomes unable to make and communicate decisions.

• Question - Any financial aid to help us care for Mom full-time?

  Family caregivers can get paid to take of a parent by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

• Question - What help is available to pay for prescription drugs?

  Can your parent get financial help to pay for prescription drugs? Does Medicare cover drugs, or are there other ways to get help paying for prescriptions?

• Question - In the state of MO, how many years before a parent has to go into a nursing home is it legal to turn all real estate property and money over to the adult son or daughter?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What kind of financial aid programs are available to full-time caregivers?

  Family caregivers can get paid to take of a parent by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

• Question - How much money is allotted for burial services?

  How and how much a public conservator will pay for burial services depends on where you live.

• Question - Can the children of a nursing home resident distribute his assets as a “spend down” to qualify for Medicaid?

  Can the children of a nursing home resident distribute assets as a spend down to qualify for Medicaid? Get expert answers on spend down guidelines.

• Question - What financial help is available for caregivers who had to quit their jobs?

  Does financial help for caregivers exist when they give up a job to help? Not from the government, but other kinds of financial help are available.

• Question - what financial steps should I take to both protect my wife as she progresses and steps of Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Am I responsible for my parent's debt?

  Am I responsible for my parent's debt? I recently discovered that my father has several thousand of dollars of debt. Are parent debts transferable?

• Question - Where can I get free help with legal questions?

  There are several places to look for free legal help because of poor treatment at a VA hospital.

• Question - How do I make sure my mother's personal information travels with her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can I do to get my money from a trust fund?

  You may have to take legal action to get a stubborn trustee to live up to his or her duties.

• Question - Is there any financial aid available for buying a home to house my family and my parents, who need me to care for them?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can I be held responsible for my mother's medical bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If a couple is separated but own a house jointly, does one filing bankruptcy affect the other's financial affairs?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do we preserve my deceased father's estate when my mother remarries?

  To find out whether you are slated to get family property when your mother remarries, you have to look at the underlying estate plan.

• Question - With both my parents in the hospital, how can I pay their bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - What documents, besides a will, do my aging parents need?

  Parents need an advance health care directive, a release for health care records, a durable power of attorney for finances, and maybe a living trust.

• Question - Is there financial assistance when a parent lives in my home?

  A family caregiver can get paid to take of a parent by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

• Question - Can I safeguard my mother even if I'm not designated her guardian?

  The first step is to see what actual legal authority your brother has to act. The second is to take action to do or undo the situation.

• Question - How should my father balance estate planning, tax planning, and Medicaid planning?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I set up a conservatorship for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is it possible to buy a house despite credit card debt?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What happens to a single person's house when leaving it for a nursing home?

  If Medicaid will be paying nursing home bills for a single person, the person's house must be used to reimburse Medicaid.

• Question - What financial assistance is available for caregivers?

  Medicaid can pay for in-home care and might even pay a home-bound senior directly, who can then pay a familymember.

• Question - Do we need a court order for the bank stating my mother is unable to handle her financial affairs any longer?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do we buy a house back that had a reverse mortage?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is a Medicaid annuity a scam?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What documents does Medicaid ask for from an applicant?

  Medicaid asks applicants about all income and assets of any type, as well as support from others and any transfers of property within five years.

• Question - What do I need to apply for Medicaid for my mother, for whom I'm guardian?

  To apply for Medicaid, you need records of income and assets. If it's for nursing home care, you need financial transactions from the past 5 years.

• Question - How can we persuade my mother, who's caring for my dying father, to bring in hospice help?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should I interfere in my mother's social life if she has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If you receive money from an estate in trust for another individual, who pays the income tax on it?

  Hiring a professional for help with figuring tax rates and exemptions for trust income may be money well spent.

• Question - How can I get my brother to help with Alzheimer's care?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How can I help my mother if she refuses my help?

  I want to help my mother, but she won't let me.

• Question - My mother was recently involved in an internet dating scam...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What happens to an elderly person's credit card at death?

  First, get the facts to back up suspicions that an elderly person is being financially abused. If it's true, act quickly to stop it.

• Question - Is there help for someone under age 65, who has serious illness and little money?

  For someone under 65 and disabled, government programs can help: Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

• Question - My ill mother refuses to live with us, what can be done?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Do CDs in trust count in determining Medicaid eligibility?

  Medicaid counts a CD in trust as an asset if revocable trust, and counts for nursing home coverage if put in irrevocable trust in past 3 or 5 years.

• Question - Can I take classes and become certified for home care for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can we protect our elderly mother from being taken advantage of?

  If you're sure that it's money and not love that is prompting an alleged suitor to call on your mother, act quickly to avoid financial scamming.

• Question - What is the difference between assisted living and nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who are the best long term care providers and reverse mortgage companies?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How soon after my parent's death do I need to begin administering her will, and what's involved?

  How soon after my parent's death do I need to administer their estate and other financial affairs? What other legal matters should I be aware of?

• Question - Are there programs that can help with the cost of in-home care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does stress affect my parent's blood sugar levels?

  My mom is diabetic and has a tendency to get upset and anxious. Does stress have an impact on her blood sugar level, and if so, what can I do to help?

• Question - Does self-help software produce legal documents?

  Some self-help law products produce perfectly legal documents. The key is to shop wisely -- and you can always use a lawyer as a backup.

• Question - How can we keep from selling my mother's home to pay for her final expenses?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Which forms do insurance companies and Medicare require in order for me to become a Patient Advocate for my elderly father?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I get my father, who lives with us, to respect the rules of our household?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - When should my husband relinquish the checkbook?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How does one go about hiding assets?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can you pay for care when your assets are too high for Medicaid?

  You can still qualify for Medicaid in many states if your assets are above the normal eligibillity limit but you have high medical bills.

• Question - Can a widow's veterans pension be protected from nursing home costs?

  A veterans pension has no protection from nursing home costs. It's difficult to protect some funds by paying for services from an adult child.

• Question - Is there a minimum amount below which Medicaid doesn't bother to check asset transfers?

  For nursing home coverage, Medicaid may look at how the applicant has spent any amount, or transferred property, over the previous five years.

• Question - How do we deal with my mother, who requires oxygen 24/7, while enduring air travel?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I protect my parents' home from being taken by the state if they ever need public aide?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I take over care-making decisions when my brother has power of attorney?

  Try getting to the root of your family member's unwillingness to carry out the duties required in a power of attorney; then, consider other action.

• Question - Should my parents keep Medicare and private insurance?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What would be a reasonable bonus to pay a home health care worker who has taken care of an ill parent after that parent has passed away?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we deal with the expenses associated with the cost of burying my mother when her life insurance policy doesn't cover everything?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I address the use of the stove with my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Having limited resources, how do I get into a nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What short-term in-house care options when caregivers need to go out of town?

  Some guidance for those seeking temporary in-house care for their aging parent.

• Question - Can my mom try out an assisted-living home before she commits to it?

  Is it possible to try out assisted living before committing to it? Yes, some assisted living homes allow people to live there for a short time first.

• Question - My mom asked to be moved to assisted living, and now she is miserable. What can I do?

  I'm worried because my mother is miserable in her assisted living facility -- and she seems to be rapidly going down hill.

• Question - Does any government program pay for assisted living?

  In a few states, Medicaid can pay for assisted living in an approved facility.

• Question - How do I get into a nursing home with limited resources?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - What will happen to my brother's share of inheritance if he cannot be found?

  If a beneficiary cannot be located when a will is probated, the property will go to back-up takers in a particular order.

• Question - What is maximum income a widow can make to receive her husband's Social Security?

  If you claim Social Security survivors benefits before you reach full retirement age, they're reduced if you earn over $13,560 for the year.

• Question - is it a good idea to put your IRA in a revocable living trust?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get a break from caring for my mother 24/7?

  My mother, who lives with me, is blind and needs constant care. How can I get some time for myself?

• Question - Can I get paid to be my mom's caregiver?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Are powers of attorney different from state to state?

  Life -- and dealing with powers of attorney -- might not be as confusing if all state laws were identical. But they're not.

• Question - What can I do if my co-executor will not meet with me?

  Co-executors are both legally responsible for winding up an estate within a reasonable time. If you can't get the other person to cooperate, act quickly to right the wrong.

• Question - What are the tax implications for the beneficiaries of my father's IRA and joint stock/mutual fund accounts when he passes away?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What legal rights to do grandchildren have in determining whether grandma is fit to live alone?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What rights do I have as a healthcare agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help my mother cope with my father's death?

  The best way to help your mother grieve your father's death may be by helping her recall the good memories.

• Question - What is the legal cost if a court appoints a non-relative to serve as conservator?

  There are laws that allow a person to be paid for acting as conservator of an estate, but the actual amount due is generally left to murky standards.

• Question - My father is withdrawing money from his accounts but can't remember where he's spending the money. What can I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get guardianship over my mother in order to add her to my health insurance?

  An adult guardianship may be a way to get health insurance coverage for a parent.

• Question - Should we get a home equity line of credit in order to pay for nursing home care until my parent's home is sold?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who is responsible for my brother, who has severe dementia, if the nursing home asks him to leave?

  A court-appointed guardian or conservator may be the best option when there is no one else willing and able to take on caretaking duties.

• Question - How can I get affordable legal help with a guardianship?

  Local courts and special interest groups may help point the way to affordable legal help with conservatorships or guardianships.

• Question - What is the difference between power of attorney and a conservatorship?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can I do if I think the trustees are acting illegally?

  When a trustee is acting illegally, you may have no choice but to hire legal help to right the wrong.

• Question - What's an assisted-living community fee and how much is it?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who is responsible for the final costs of my almost ex-husband?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are guardians required by law for mentally incompetent elders?

  There has to be some pretty good evidence of neglect or mismanagement before a court will require a legal guardian or conservator.

• Question - How can I get my brother to help out more in caring for our mother?

  Ideas for how to handle sibling rivalries and misunderstandings between sibling caregivers.

• Question - With a spouse in a nursing home paid by Medicaid, how much can the other spouse keep?

  If Medicaid pays one spouse's nursing home costs, the spouse who lives at home may keep some income and assets. The amounts vary state to state

• Question - Does divorce protect one spouse's assets from the long-term care costs of the other spouse?

  When funds and other property are jointly held, some people consider divorce, at least on paper, to protect some assets from long-term care costs.

• Question - How can I get my father to stop yelling at me?

  My father is miserable, and taking it out on me.

• Question - Do I Need Medicare Part D If I Have Blue Cross/Blue Shield from work?

  You may not need a Medicare Part D drug plan, and won't be penalized for not signing up, if you have employer-sponsored drug coverage.

• Question - How do I keep my spirits high when caregiving in a challenging situation?

  Caring for mother is taking over my life. Is there anyway to make things easier?

• Question - How do we decide between a reverse mortgage for my father or a personal loan from me?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Am I entitled to property from my brother's estate if both of my parents are alive?

  Whether a sibling is entitled to another sibling's property at death may depend on whether or not there was a will in the picture.

• Question - What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship?

  What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship? I want to know because my elderly parent refuses to sign a power of attorney.

• Question - How Can I Convince my Brother Not to Leave His Nursing Home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How to create a non-contestable will?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I get Medicare to pay for my wife's glasses?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If I hire an aide for my father should I be responsible for payments?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What are restrictions on bringing parents to the US for long term care?

  Advice on moving aging relatives to America. Finding culturally specific senior housing.

• Question - What's a Totten Trust and how does it work?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get a power of attorney without my parent's signature?

  To prevent fraud and be sure that a power of attorney is just what is needed and wanted, the law usually requires your parent to sign it before it will take effect.

• Question - Who is meant to receive our brother's inheritance if he can't be found?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I get out of half-ownership of a beach house left to me as part of my deceased parents' revocable living trust?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How does a reverse mortgage affect the equity 5 to 10 years down the road?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do we convince my in-laws to seek alternative housing?

  Assisted living is one solution when ailing parents need help. But instead of moving, they could get a PERS and make modifications to the house.

• Question - Should I get a reverse mortgage or a bank loan for my elderly folks?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

  Medicare Part D drug coverage is very inexpensive for people eligible for Medicaid and in nursing homes.

• Question - If I'm the partner on a friend's checking account, is it legal for me to distribute the funds after death?

  Being a joint owner on a bank account basically entitles you to treat the money as your own.

• Question - Is there a time limit on making a revocable trust before entering a nursing home?

  A revocable trust does not protect assets from consideration by Medicaid regarding eligibility for nursing home coverage.

• Question - How do I get my mother to update her trust and power of attorney?

  To help overcome your mom's resistance about updating her estate planning documents, you may need to heed why she feels a roadblock.

• Question - Siblings disagree over selling parent's house

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I legally get payment from my mother in law for a property we co-own?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Does an inheritance affect my Medicare (due to disability) eligibility?

  Neither income nor assets has anything to do with qualifying for any part of Medicare coverage.

• Question - How can I reconcile the debt of my late father?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My mom, who cares for my dad with Alzheimer's, has developed a gambling problem. How can I help?

  My father has Alzheimer's and my mother is his primary caregiver. She has developed a serious gambling problem. How can I help?

• Question - My Mother lives in Michigan, she wants me to relocate back...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are adult children legally responsible for a parent’s unpaid nursing home bills?

  Adult children aren’t legally responsible for their parent’s uncovered nursing home costs, unless they signed a contract with the nursing home making themselves responsible.

• Question - How do I find out if I will inherit property?

  It may take a little time and forbearance -- or a brash inquiry -- to find out whether you're slated to get property by trust or will.

• Question - Any advice on how to handle a situtaion where my father's caregiver is taking advantage of the situation?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - my husband doesnt understand severe fibromyalgia and how my...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can Medicare bankrupt my parents?

  Do you have to be bankrupt to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid home care? Can Medicaid take your house? Medicaid does have very low limits for assets.

• Question - When a good in-home caregiver loses enthusiasm, how can I get her back on board?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are some budget-friendly ways to keep my mom safe during bathing?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Can Medicaid take a house to pay for nursing home care?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - For Long-Term Income, Opt for an Insured Reverse Mortgage

  Many private reverse mortgages aren't insured...

• Tip - Make Sure Your Parents Sign Up for Medicare at Age 65

  Even if your parents have private healthcare insurance...

• Tip - Beware of prepayment plans

  Never pay in advance for funeral goods and services. Here's why not, and why a Totten trust is a better way to save for funeral expenses.

• Tip - Little-Known Veterans Benefit Can Pay for Your Parent's Nursing Home

  A little-known Veteran's Benefit might help pay for nursing home care and other medical expenses. Learn what it is, how to qualify and apply.

• Tip - Dead Box

  My grandparents kept a box with all their end-of-life...