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Blog Posts

• 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 - Easy Money

  If your parents earned $3,000 last year, they're entitled to this year's tax rebate. Even if your parents haven't filed taxes in years because they're retired, they should file this year to ensure they receive their rebate.

• Blog Post - Desperately Seeking Senior Care Specialists

  A shortage of senior care doctors concerns baby boomers and their aging parents; find tips on how to locate a geriatric specialist.

• Blog Post - Mom Far Away? Cool Gift Ideas, and Yes, There's Still Time!

  Mother's Day ideas for a mom who lives far away.

• Blog Post - Tax Rebate Update

  If your parents tax rebate hasn't arrived yet, they aren't alone. If their tax rebate is missing, check the IRS Web site for help.

• Blog Post - My Own Last (Online) Wishes

  Facebook users can let friends and family know their final instructions via a new application called My Own Last Wishes.

• Blog Post - Questions I Wish I'd Asked Mom

  Reflections on a first motherless Mother's Day.

• Blog Post - Reverse Mortgages: Looking for Trouble?

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

• Blog Post - Aging Artfully, Part 1

  How you can age artfully by pursuing your passions

• Blog Post - A Promising New Lung Cancer Vaccine

  This week brought welcome news for people with non-small cell lung cancer: Long-term results from a clinical trial showed that a new immune-boosting treatment worked as well or better than chemotherapy at reducing relapse.

• Blog Post - Old Meets New: High-Tech Toys Help Seniors Deal With Diabetes

  A handy list of high-tech gadgets that can help take the hassle out of dealing with diabetes for seniors and their caregivers.

• Blog Post - Easy Money: It's Not Too Late!

  Although the April 15th tax deadline has come and gone, your parents may still be eligible for this year's rebate check -- even if they didn't file a return.

• 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.

Questions & Answers

• 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 - Should I show my mother this site and let her browse around?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 do I treat a chemical burn associated with chemo?

  If you get a chemical burn from chemo, how do you treat it? A chemical burn from chemo is rare, and you should make the oncologist aware of it.

• Question - Am I eligible for disability?

  If you're under 65 and can't do substantial paid work, you may get Social Security disability, SSI and Medicaid, plus Medicare after two years.

• Question - Does Medicare offer assistance for transportation equipment?

  Medicare Part B can pay most of the cost of wheelchairs and walkers.

• 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 - Alzheimer's versus dementia

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I apply for Medicaid?

  Medicaid provides broad coverage for medical care. You apply at your state's local Medicaid office, usually a county social services office.

• 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 - 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 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 - 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 - How can I tell if my mother's having an angina episode or a heart attack?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can you offer any advice on bathing a modest parent?

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

• Question - Does Medicare cover children?

  Medicare does not cover medical care for children, but Medicaid and related programs do cover care for children in low-income families.

• 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 - How can someone become a caregiver?

  How can someone become a caregiver?

• 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 - Can a Medicare-friendly doctor demand payment in full first?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - Does someone have to be 50 years old to get Medicare if they are receiving Social Security Disability?

  You are eligible for Medicare at any age if you have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months.

• 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 - 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 meant by "medically neccessary" or under what circumstances will Medicare pay for long-term care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How much will Medicare cost me?

  How much will Medicare cost? Medicare part A probably won't cost you anything, whereas the cost of part B will be based on your income.

• Question - Can my grandmother pay me directly with her Medicaid "spend down" for services I provide?

  Can my grandmother pay me for some of her caregiving costs to spend down for Medicaid? Yes, some caregiving costs apply to Medicaid spend down.

• Question - I have a 98-year-old father who can still get around; however...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - cracks and splits at the corners of the mouth

  Stubborn lip splits are often the result of a yeast...

News

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 25, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 26, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 3, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 4, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Randy Jackson Takes Aim at Diabetes

  THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Five years ago...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 8, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 11, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 15, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 16, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...

• News - Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 18, 2007

  (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials...