Information & Resources
Tax Deductions for Assisted Living Costs - https://www.elderlawanswers.com/tax-deductions-for-assisted-living-costs-7184 This is a short article worth paying attention to. Those additional charges at your assisted living community which involve medical support (such as medication administration) are probably tax deductible. Yes - you have to have overall medical expenses more than 7.5% of adjusted gross income to begin deducting, but many seniors get to this threshold very quickly. Check with the social worker or someone similar where you live and they should be able to tell you which charges can be considered "medical".
Don't Miss Out on Tax-Free Money From Stocks
https://www.aarp.org/money/investing/info-2019/tax-gain-harvesting.html Here’s something that could be actionable for you this year, depending on your income level. Most investors are aware of “tax loss harvesting” at the end of the calendar year, but in a year of many positive market gains, you may have some opportunity for “tax gain harvesting”. It’s worth a quick read!
Impacts Of A Biden Tax Plan
https://www.etf.com/sections/index-investor-corner/how-proposed-tax-plan-impacts-you
A short highlight of the elements of the Biden Tax Plan which could affect investors. What makes long term tax planning so difficult is that the tax laws are always changing. To be aware of possible changes is important from a preparation standpoint, but “possible changes” is a key point here. With a Republican majority in the Senate likely still in place in 2021, there may only be a small portion (or none at all) of this tax plan that actually gets passed. As always, time will tell!
How Continuing Care Retirement Communities Work - https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2017/continuing-care-retirement-communities.html
This is a brief, high level summary of what Continuing Care Retirement Communities are, along with a quick look at contracts, and good questions to consider when you visit. One of the best elements of this article is the long term care worksheet at the end to help you think through your priorities as you consider different paths to follow.
A Primer on CCRC Residency Contracts - https://www.mylifesite.net/blog/post/primer-ccrc-residency-contracts/
A more detailed look at the various structures of Continuing Care Retirement Community contracts on a site which tells you most of what you want to know about CCRCs.
CDC - Considerations for Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/retirement/considerations.html
We all know the Corona Virus has had an immense impact on senior housing of every sort. Whether Independent Living, Assisted Living, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Nursing Homes or care providers coming to your current home, the Corona Virus has changed the way we look at group interaction and the definition of a "safe" environment. This is a quick article to help you think through some of the details you or your facility need to be paying attention to.
Hot Weather Safety for Older Adults - from the National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-weather-safety-older-adults
"During hot weather, think about making daily visits to older relatives and neighbors. Remind them to drink lots of water or juice, as long as their doctor hasn’t recommended otherwise because of a pre-existing condition. If there is a heat wave, offer to help them go someplace cool, such as air-conditioned malls, libraries, or senior centers."
FAQs About Coronavirus and Long-Term Care Insurance - A short, easy to digest article from US News (you just have to wade through the ads)
https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/faqs-about-coronavirus-and-long-term-care-insurance
As COVID-19 Ravages Nursing Homes, Advocates Push for Reforms
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-nursing-home-reform.html?intcmp=AE-CAR-BB
Some great reads for guidance in Later Life Planning
"Embracing Elderhood: Planning for the Next Stage of Life" by Laurie L Menzies
A clear and engaging guide written by an elder law attorney, who covers important planning steps in the context of caring for her parents,
while sharing her everyday work.
"Aging in the Right Place" by Stephen Golant
Written by a researcher and professor at the University of Florida, the author gives some pause to the automatic assumption that
remaining at home until death is the best solution for everyone. A great tool to help us identify the sometimes hidden needs of the
individual person.
"Elderhood - Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life" by Louise Aronson
An influential geriatric physician helps us to see the aging process with a healthier, more natural vision, in addition to understanding
some of the shortcomings of our current medical interventions in the treatment of our society’s elder population.
"How to Care for Aging Parents" by Virginia Morris
A terrific primer about the care of an aging parent from the perspective of the primary caregiver. The author touches on the full spectrum
of issues, from the aging body, to caregiver needs, paperwork, residential decisions, legal considerations, and grieving.
Getting Organized
“Prepare to Care” - A planning guide from AARP https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/?intcmp=AE-CAR-P2C-FORM-EOA
A pretty good starting place with tools to help you get your head around some of the important details of caring for a parent or loved
one in need.
Locate your local area Agency on Aging for resources and assistance which may help you stay in your home longer. A few of the offices in CT:
https://www.aoascc.org/ Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut
https://www.swcaa.org/ Southwestern CT Agency on Aging & Independent Living
http://wcaaa.org/ Western CT Area Agency on Aging
https://www.ncaaact.org/ North Central Area Agency on Aging
This is a brief, high level summary of what Continuing Care Retirement Communities are, along with a quick look at contracts, and good questions to consider when you visit. One of the best elements of this article is the long term care worksheet at the end to help you think through your priorities as you consider different paths to follow.
A Primer on CCRC Residency Contracts - https://www.mylifesite.net/blog/post/primer-ccrc-residency-contracts/
A more detailed look at the various structures of Continuing Care Retirement Community contracts on a site which tells you most of what you want to know about CCRCs.
CDC - Considerations for Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/retirement/considerations.html
We all know the Corona Virus has had an immense impact on senior housing of every sort. Whether Independent Living, Assisted Living, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Nursing Homes or care providers coming to your current home, the Corona Virus has changed the way we look at group interaction and the definition of a "safe" environment. This is a quick article to help you think through some of the details you or your facility need to be paying attention to.
Hot Weather Safety for Older Adults - from the National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-weather-safety-older-adults
"During hot weather, think about making daily visits to older relatives and neighbors. Remind them to drink lots of water or juice, as long as their doctor hasn’t recommended otherwise because of a pre-existing condition. If there is a heat wave, offer to help them go someplace cool, such as air-conditioned malls, libraries, or senior centers."
FAQs About Coronavirus and Long-Term Care Insurance - A short, easy to digest article from US News (you just have to wade through the ads)
https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/faqs-about-coronavirus-and-long-term-care-insurance
As COVID-19 Ravages Nursing Homes, Advocates Push for Reforms
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-nursing-home-reform.html?intcmp=AE-CAR-BB
Some great reads for guidance in Later Life Planning
"Embracing Elderhood: Planning for the Next Stage of Life" by Laurie L Menzies
A clear and engaging guide written by an elder law attorney, who covers important planning steps in the context of caring for her parents,
while sharing her everyday work.
"Aging in the Right Place" by Stephen Golant
Written by a researcher and professor at the University of Florida, the author gives some pause to the automatic assumption that
remaining at home until death is the best solution for everyone. A great tool to help us identify the sometimes hidden needs of the
individual person.
"Elderhood - Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life" by Louise Aronson
An influential geriatric physician helps us to see the aging process with a healthier, more natural vision, in addition to understanding
some of the shortcomings of our current medical interventions in the treatment of our society’s elder population.
"How to Care for Aging Parents" by Virginia Morris
A terrific primer about the care of an aging parent from the perspective of the primary caregiver. The author touches on the full spectrum
of issues, from the aging body, to caregiver needs, paperwork, residential decisions, legal considerations, and grieving.
Getting Organized
“Prepare to Care” - A planning guide from AARP https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/?intcmp=AE-CAR-P2C-FORM-EOA
A pretty good starting place with tools to help you get your head around some of the important details of caring for a parent or loved
one in need.
Locate your local area Agency on Aging for resources and assistance which may help you stay in your home longer. A few of the offices in CT:
https://www.aoascc.org/ Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut
https://www.swcaa.org/ Southwestern CT Agency on Aging & Independent Living
http://wcaaa.org/ Western CT Area Agency on Aging
https://www.ncaaact.org/ North Central Area Agency on Aging
