Living Wills

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Should I be responsible for my father's funeral bill when he never paid child support for me?

  My parents have been divorced for more than 20 years...

• Blog Post - I can't stop feeling that I was an inadequate caregiver to my mom.

  I am a 56-year-old registered nurse. I took time off...

• Blog Post - New Legislation (and You) Can Help Prevent Seniors From Falling

  The Safety of Seniors Act aims to help prevent falls among the elderly. Here are ways to help reduce the fall risk for your parents.

• Blog Post - Over-The-Counter Driving Hazards

  Even simple cold medications can undermine the driving abilities of elderly people.

• Blog Post - Tough Times Can Turn Seniors into Bargain Hunters

  The tough economy is forcing more seniors than ever into bankruptcy, and leading many older people to find bargains available only to them.

• Blog Post - The World Mourns Randy Pausch's Death From Pancreatic Cancer

  Pancreatic cancer patient Randy Pausch gained worldwide fame with his "Last Lecture" video and book, a legacy that hopefully will translate into new treatment options for deadly pancreatic cancer.

• Blog Post - My fiancé broke off our engagement because he said caring for my mom has taken over my life.

  Caregiving has destroyed my personal life...

• Blog Post - I took the brunt of my dad's nastiness my whole life. Now I am his caretaker and I resent it.

  My dad has been a handful all his life -- prone to...

• Blog Post - I was the beneficiary of my mother's trust deposit until that was changed to her husband's name a couple of months before she died -- and I think it was done illegally.

  My mother moved from Orlando (where I live) to Miami...

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

  New questions about the sexual rights of elders with dementia.

• Blog Post - How much say do I have in determining who is guardian over me and my affairs?

  Do I have any rights in determining my care and who...

• Blog Post - A Grandchild Steps In to Help Her Family

  A young woman with both a big heart and streak of cynicism steps in to help her aging grandparents

• 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 - An Unpopular Idea: Worried About Cancer? Cut Back on Drinking

  More studies are showing that alcohol causes cancer, yet doctors are hesitant to suggest that patients cut back on drinking.

• Blog Post - My mother says she's lonely, and it's heartbreaking for me to hear her crying at night. What can I do to help her?

  My father died seven years ago, and for quite some...

Questions & Answers

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

  Does Medicaid pay for assisted living? Medicaid pays for assisted living instead of a nursing home if you're lucky enough to live in the right state.

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

  Should I put my IRA in a revocable trust? There are good reasons to put an IRA in a revocable living trust. For one, a revocable trust avoids probate.

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

  Will putting money in a living trust protect my parent's money and help her get Medicaid? No, Medicaid considers money in a living trust an asset.

• Question - If I have a living trust, do I also need a will?

  While it requires a little extra thought and paperwork, a simple back-up will may help prevent estate planning slip-ups.

• Question - Can all children see their parents' living trust?

  People who make living trusts are free to keep their contents secret. But there may be ways you can air out hurt feelings over that.

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

  Should I put my elderly parent's home in a trust? Putting a house in a trust is a good way to avoid probate, although it may not be necessary.

• Question - How can I obtain the forms required for a free living will or advance directive?

  Advance directive forms are fairly easy to come by; it's completing them that can be the tricky part.

• Question - What is the average cost of assisted living community fees in Westchester county in NY state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get out of half-ownership of property my parents left to me in a living trust?

  When disposing of property in a trust, you are constrained to dealing with it as the trust document specifies.

• Question - What are the housing options for my parents who are filing bankruptcy?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Will Medicaid stop paying for my grandmother's assisted living facility if we take her out for the weekend or out for dinner?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is it time to consider assisted living for my elderly mother?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can you provide me with a list of "end of life" questions to address with my family?

  A comprehensive list for end of life questions will be appearing soon; in the meantime, this site can help provide some structure for your discussions.

• 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 do I set up a real estate trust?

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

• 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 - My mother, who lives with us, is driving us nuts! Help!

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  The length of time it takes for a grieving spouse to become socially active again may depend on how active he or she was before the death occurred.

• 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 we get guardianship of my mother-in-law, who lives in a care facility and is out-of-state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the difference between a will and a trust?

  What's the difference between a will and a trust? One of the main differences between a will and a trust is that a will must go through probate.

• 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 - Am I responsible for my father's debt after his death?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  Should I tell my relative with Alzheimer's about a death in the family? Or will the news about a death only upset an Alzheimer's patient?

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

  Should I put my mom in a nursing home? Putting your parent in a nursing home could be the best thing for her, physically and mentally.

• Question - My dad qualifies for Medicaid but they say my mother makes too much. Any advice on how to deal with this financial problem?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How does Medicaid handle dementia patients who are unable to make financial decisions?

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

• Question - If I move my mother in with me will it affect her Medicare/Medicaid status?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does a trust need to be registered in Illinois?

  Some state laws require that living trusts must be registered -- but none of those laws have teeth.

• Question - Can a person get paid for caring for their parents in their parents' home?

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

• 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 - 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 - What is the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship?

  Whether there is a difference between a conservatorship and guardianship may depend on where you live.

• Question - If I do not have guardianship, do I have any say over where my grandmother lives?

  Guardians can be changed – but it usually takes some pretty strong convincing and evidence before courts will agree to it.

• Question - My father just died. What do I do first?

  There are many details to attend to in the first week or so after a death occurs -- and the busyness can sometimes feel like a blessing.

• Question - How can I help an elder die?

  Make sure the older person's desire to die is real. Then read up about it.

• Question - How do you declare an elderly parent incompetent?

  While you may need to provide the evidence, the decision of incompetency usually comes from a doctor’s pen.

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

  What do I need to do to apply for Medicaid for my parent? I've spent down her assets, but I'm not sure what else I need to do to apply for Medicaid.

• Question - What are reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What property do children from my husband's previous marriage take if he dies without a will?

  They say that everything’s big in Texas—and so are the complications that can crop up when a Texas dies without a will.

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What are my legal options if they refuse to cooperate with my suggestions for Mom's care?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Have there been any new VA widow's pension laws passed since 2007 that would require my mom to pay back what she's already gotten?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What could be wrong with my mother-in-law who makes irrational decisions and wets herself, yet the hospital says she's competent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What if we suspect a trustee is mismanaging a trust?

  Family dynamics can make it hard to figure out whether a trust is being properly administered, or whether there is some type of illegal undue influence.

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