Living Will

• Article - Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills: A Step-by-Step Guide

  How to set up a living will or health care directive. How to figure out what your parent wants and make sure it's reflected in the documents.

• Checklist - 5 Legal Documents You Need for Your Parents

  These documents will ensure that you can assist your...

• Article - Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills: A Beginner's Guide

  A living will or advance health care directive lets medical providers know a person's preferences when they're unable to do so independently.

• Article - Conservatorship and Adult Guardianship: A Beginner's Guide

  When and how to appoint a conservator, or adult guardian, for your parent if she can't make important health and financial decisions for herself.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - My mother has asked not to be resuscitated if she has a medical crisis, but my siblings disagree on what constitutes a medical crisis.

  Before she showed signs of dementia, my mother decided...

• Blog Post - My mother's caregiver is too controlling and won't take direction from us.

  My mother has Alzheimer's and has had a live-in caregiver...

• Blog Post - Elder Co-Housing Offers the Best of Both Worlds

  Elder co-housing is an innovative retirement housing option for seniors who want both a sense of community and a feeling of control.

• Blog Post - A Famous Mom Dies of Alzheimer's

  The inspiration for "Mommy" in the cartoon "The Family Circus" dies of Alzheimer's at 82.

• Blog Post - Aging Artfully - Part II

  Research shows a powerful link between creativity and healthier, happier aging.

• Blog Post - A Stay-at-Home "Nursing Home"

  The I-House, a stay-at-home nursing home, is a "smart house" for seniors, the latest entry in a trend toward high-tech aging in place.

• 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 - "Leisureville" Paints Retirement Community Seniors as 24-Hour Party People

  Leisureville, a new book on a massive child-free retirement community, portrays seniors as 24-hour party people.

• Blog Post - What Do You Give an Old Dad for Father's Day?

  What aging dads really need for Father's Day can't be wrapped.

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

  Communication is key in protecting seniors in natural disasters.

Questions & Answers

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 is the difference between assisted living and nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are living trusts and living wills the same?

  When it comes to living wills and living trusts, only the names are similar. One concerns itself with controlling medical care; the other, passing title to property.

• Question - How do I advise my mother that it is time to move to an assisted living facility?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - I live in alabama my mom lives in Columbus Georgia she is...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Would my mom's power of attorney and living will have to be changed if she moves to a different state?

  Unlike may laws, the laws controlling advance directives can actually make your life easier. Your parent may not need to write up new documents if he or she moves to a new state.

• 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 - Why do you need a living will?

  Whether you need a living will may depend on your trust and experience with the medical establishment.

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

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

• Question - My mother needs assisted living but my sister wants her to continue to live with her so my mother can pay her mortgage. How can I deal with this?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - 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 - An assisted living center, that my grandmother never ended up living in, is harassing me for 1 month's rent. Do I really owe this money?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Should I take my 80-something parents with me to check out assisted living facilities for them or go alone?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How can I prescreen assisted-living facilities so I don't have to tour every one?

  When you're looking for assisted living, how do you narrow down the choices? Here are tips for screening assisted living facilities ahead of time.

• 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 - How can I help my mom, who has chronic pulmonary disease, from across the country?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can I do to encourage my dad to wear his emergency response device?

  This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

• Question - How can I persuade my mother to sign a living will?

  Many people fear that signing an advance healthcare directive means giving up on living. It may take an objective source to convince them of the truth.

• Question - I am looking for an assisted living home for my mother in...

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

• Question - How can we convince my father, who has cancer and can not live alone but insists, to move in with us?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I cope with an aging parent living in my home?

  Since my mother came to live with me, our relationship has gone down hill and my home feels like a prison.

• Question - How long do people live with congestive heart failure?

  Typical life expectancy with congestive heart failure.

• 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 - How can I convince my mother that she needs an assistant to run errands instead of expecting me to do it when I live two hours away?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we help my mom, who has moved into an assisted living facility, "say goodbye" to her old home?

  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 - How can I help my demanding father -- without neglecting the rest of my life?

  My father is in a comfortable living situation, yet still seems to need constant attention

• Question - What can I do about my emotionally dependent mother?

  My mother is dependant and miserable -- and making me miserable, too.

• Question - How do find time for your own privacy when living with the...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What kind of living arrangements are available for those under 65, but disabled, without a lot of money?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is it wise to put an elderly parent's home in trust?

  Whether it's wise for parents to put a house in a living trust depends on the context: their health, their goals, what else their estate plan provides.

• Question - My parents are 81 & 82, my father was in a bad car accident...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 can I do if my mom's nursing home is mistreating her and I live out of state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - I don't think my 78-year-old mother has dementia, so why does she get sundown syndrome?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What do I do when my mother seems to have lost the will to live?

  Redirectlng your mother's time and attention to other people and activities may help give her a new zest for life.

• Question - Should I get a personal emergency response system (PERS) for my mom, who has early-stage Alzheimer's?

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

• Question - My mother doesn't want to know how long she has to live, so how do I say the things I need to say before it's too late?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Since my parents own property in several states, how will their estate be administered?

  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 - How can I be sure my mother, who lives on the other side of the country, is driving safely?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I set up a real estate trust?

  You may be able to set up a simple living trust own your own; other types of trusts may require some guidance from a legal expert.

• Question - How many aides per resident are required in an assisted living facility?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - As trustee for my parents' living trust, can I manage their affairs in they're unable and do I still need power of attorney?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How does retiree health benefits work when you move out-of-state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I persuade my dad to be honest with others about his vision problem?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - I take care of my mother 16 hours a day and she lives in...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - Is a home given away more than five years before still considered the parent's asset?

  Long-term care facilities can't attach assets given to adult children but Medicaid may consider such assets in deciding eligibility.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get help, such as someone to assist with housework, for a relative undergoing cancer treatment that also lives alone?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - What is the best way to remove a dog from a parent with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Elderly mother living alone, has numerous medical problems...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - When is it expected for a living spouse to be social again?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Are we entitled to my great-grandmother's property?

  Whether you have a legal claim to a distant relative's property depends on whether they did any estate planning -- and who survived whom.

• Question - Is guardianship recognized across state lines?

  It's most important that a guardian or conservator know the best interests of the person who needs help, but practical problems can arise where there is a geographical divide.

• Question - Are online estate planning documents legal?

  When looking for an online product to help product your estate planning documents, shop carefully.

• Question - How can I can my mother to talk about end of life planning?

  There are ways to help ease the way to discussions about estate planning and end of life issues with parents. But it's also wise to recognize that they may listen to other voices more readily.

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I help deal with the frustration I feel with my siblings over our mother's care?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Would it be safe for my mother to travel by plane to come live with me?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - What are the moral and legal obligations for adult children in caring for a parent with early Alzheimer's/memory loss?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 can I get my parent to eat without nagging?

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

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What's the best gift I can give my dying mother?

  When someone is terminally ill, you may not know what gift to give for a birthday or other event. Material goods may not be what a dying person needs.

• Question - What are the risks with reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my 82-year-old mother overcome her fear of falling?

  If a parent has a fear of falling, it can actually make things more dangerous. Here's expert advice on how to help a parent overcome fear of falling.

• Question - Can we travel with parents with dementia?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Do we tell my grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimers, about a death in the family?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why won't my parent's doctor order a blood transfusion to boost his platelets?

  When platelets are low, should doctors do a platelet transfusion? Most doctors hold off transfusing unless a patient with low platelets is bleeding.

• Question - How can I convince my father to have coronary bypass surgery?

  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 - Why won't my parents and their friends use the word Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do we get my mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer's, to allow us to clean her house or bathe her?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I handle my elderly mother who doesn't want me to travel at all?

  An elderly parent may worry or get upset when you travel; she may even claim she'll die while you're away. Should you give up travel to ease her mind?

• Question - Does the VA/State have the right to take over my parent's assets?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I get my siblings to realize that it is important to be with our parents during the holidays?

  My siblings never visit my parents during the holidays. What can I do?

• Question - How can I help my parents with dementia accept the care they need?

  Refusing help is common in parents with dementia. Get advice on dealing with parents with dementia who refuse help from assisted living staff.

• Question - Why does my father keep refusing to take his medicine, and how can I get him to take it?

  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 - 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 - How do I get my brother and sister to share more of the burden of caring for our mother, who has ovarian cancer?

  Brothers and sisters may disagree on how to share the burden of caring for a parent. Read expert tips on delegating work and avoiding resentment.

• 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 - Does a note on a house affect a trust?

  Putting a house in a living trust has little affect on a mortgage still owed on it.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any program that offers free or low-cost dental care for seniors?

  Can seniors get low-cost or free dental care from Medicare, Medigap, or Medicaid? Or are there other resources for senior dental assistance?

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My mother is dying and has stopped eating. How long can the body sustain itself without food?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Am I responsible for my father's nursing home bill?

  A person's debts may follow them after death, but children are not usually responsible for their parents' nursing home debts unless they agreed to take them on.

• Question - Should I put my mom in a nursing home as her care has gotten too much for me?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a resource to find a nurse who will travel to rural areas?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can my half-brother keep me from seeing my mother, who is in a nursing home?

  Make sure you've tried to get to the bottom of a family member's attempts to block you from seeing your ailing mother. Then, you may need to take matters in your own hands.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I become my adult child's legal guardian?

  Once a child becomes a legal adult, a parent needs to secure a guardianship or conservatorship to be authorized to continue making decisions about care and finances.

• 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 - What can I do to bring some pleasure to my mom who has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can chemo cause side effects for those exposed to the patient receiving it?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we convince our parents that they need to move so we can care for them?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Does Medicare cover me while I'm in Canada?

  Medicare does not cover regular medical care or most emergency care in Canada, but can cover emergencies in a few situations.

• 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 - Is there any legal action we can take against our sister's conservator?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My father is a paraplegic and alcoholic who is refusing all help. What, legally, can I do to get him assistance?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does guided imagery really control cancer-related pain?

  Is guided meditation or guided imagery helpful in relieving pain from cancer or other diseases? Studies have shown that guided meditation can help.

• Question - How do I make sure my father with Alzheimer's remembers to take his medicines?

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

• Question - When a person with Alzheimer's repeatedly makes mistakes, is it OK to correct her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - The nursing home wants my father to leave because he's hard to manage; what are my options?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - Since her cancer diagnosis, my mother has seemed very depressed. Does she need professional help?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My mother has been depressed since her cancer diagnosis; how can I persuade her to see a therapist?

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

• 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's the best way to respond when my parent with memory problems keeps repeating himself?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I convince my dying mother to write a "goodbye" letter to her grandchildren?

  Should your parent write a goodbye letter to loved ones? Expert advice about whether to nudge her to write a goodbye letter as part of her legacy.

• 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 - 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 can I convince my father to stop chemotherapy that's no longer working?

  When is it time to stop chemotherapy? My father wants to continue chemo, even though it's stopped working, because he wants to "keep on fighting."

• Question - My mother, who has breast cancer, asks me to visit her every time she thinks there's a crisis. What should I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I persuade my mother, who has stomach cancer, to quit smoking?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - When is the right time to call in hospice?

  Hospice care is generally reserved for those who are diagnosed to be near death. But other options for help with care may be available.

• Question - How can I make a hospital stay easier for my mother with dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - Why do teens get especially upset about their grandparents' Alzheimer's disease?

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

• 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 - How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What's the diplomatic way to handle wild accusations by a parent with Alzheimer's?

  Coping with accusations by an Alzheimer's patient diplomatically is tough. Here's how to respond to accusations and keep friends from being alienated.

• Question - What if I'm worried about my dad's Alzheimer's but he and my mom aren't?

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

• Question - How can I get my father with diabetes to eat appropriately?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why doesn't my mother's doctor want to perform a red blood cell transfusion, just because she's never had one before?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - Since he lost his license, my father seems to have lost all interest in life. What can I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 notify creditors of an estate?

  Laws in all states set out a simple procedure for notifying creditors and potential creditors of a death.

• Question - Will my husband's aunt's jointly owned CDs in a credit union automatically be transferred to her trust or us upon her death?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

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

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can you transfer power of attorney in late-stage Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I help my mother, who becomes agitated every evening before dinner?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my dad, who is losing his vision from macular degeneration?

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

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Will Medicaid or Medicare pay for my indigent father's nursing home bills?

  Medicare pays only brief, skilled nursing home care, but Medicaid can pay the full cost of long-term nursing home care for a parent with few funds.

• Question - What options are there if your white blood count is too low for chemo?

  When your white blood cell count (wbc) is low, can you get chemo? Or will your doctor refuse to give chemo because of your low white blood cell count?

• Question - How can I help get my father's sleep schedule back on track after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my father, who is bedridden and has numerous health problems, face the end of his life?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could you please give me suggestions on how to treat pressure sores?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can people "protect" their home and have Medicaid pay for nursing home care?

  One spouse may qualify for Medicaid nursing home coverage while the other spouse remains in a home they own.

• Question - How can I evaluate the insurance companies that offer Medigap plans?

  You can check on the reliability of a company selling a Medigap policy through Medicare and your state's insurance department.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - My mother, who has dementia, refuses to go to assisted living. How do we get her involved?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My elderly mother has anxiety disorder and is fine when feeling well but uncontrollable when ill. Is it time for assisted living?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I convince my mother to move to be closer even though she's overwhelmed with the thought of moving all of her stuff?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - When making a minor change in a will, do I need to have it done by a lawyer?

  If a will revision is truly minor, you may be able to accomplish it on your own.

• Question - Where can I find transportation information for my dad?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - I'm trying to decide which personal alert (device) program is best for my father. Which is best?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I deal with my mom, who has Alzheimer's, refusing care and assistance?

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

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - 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 - How do I encourage my mother, who has limited mobility, to exercise?

  Suggestions for getting your parent exercising.

• Question - What's the best way to deal with my dad's incontinence after his stroke?

  Some tips on helping your parent deal with incontinence following a stroke.

• Question - Are there government benefits for someone who's had a stroke and gets only a small company pension?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I resolve a family conflict so I can visit my mother?

  My sister lives with my mother, and is making it hard to visit Mom and make sure she is okay.

• Question - How do I get my 90 yr old mother to go to a nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get help for my ill sister, who doesn't have any family nearby?

  How can I find care for my sister, who is ill and on her own, with no family members nearby to give her a hand?

• Question - How can I help my mother with the stress of caring for my grandmother?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I convince my stubborn father to see a doctor about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Answer To Joint Will And Probate Question

  First, get straight on what's joint property and what's a joint will. Then understand that while most wills must be probated, some can go through a simplified procedure.

• Question - Answer To When To Call Hospice Question

  Hospice care is generally reserved for those who are diagnosed to be near death. But other help with care may be available if your parent doesn't qualify for hospice.

• Question - If my grandmother should die while visiting me in another state, can I transport her home in my own personal vehicle?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

  Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

• Question - Can my grandmother get a safety bath tub from Medicaid?

  Medicaid can provide special bathing equipment for someone who qualifies for home health care.

• Question - How does property not covered by a trust get divided?

  When there is property not covered by a living trust, the law looks to other documents first to determine who is entitled to take it.

• 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 - Will healthcare directives from one state be honored in another?

  When it comes to healthcare directives, some states are more welcoming than others.

• Question - As a caregiver is there any kind of aid or tax breaks I can...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - If visiting with and talking to extended family members unsettles my father, who has Alzheimer's, should we continue while still remembers them or stop?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 I help convince my mother that it's time to move into a retirement community?

  My father is ready to move into a retirement community, but my mother refuses. What can I do?

• Question - With no assets and cash, how can I pay for my own final expenses?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What can I do help my brother, who has terminal lung cancer and refuses hospice services?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Why would chemo cause stomach pain for my dad, who has stage 4 colon cancer?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - How do I get a break from caring for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Are there any programs that can help pay burial costs?

  There are local funds earmarked to help pay funeral, burial, and cremation expenses for those who can't afford to pay for them.

• Question - Would a nursing home be better than hospice care?

  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 - What is the best way to speak with my stepmom about moving from a house that is too big for her and my dad?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - A Do-It-Yourself Advance Directive

  If your parents have been putting off preparing a living...

• Tip - Archive Legal Documents Online

  Give family members (and anyone else you designate...

• Tip - Dead Box

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

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