Medicare beneficiaries have a once-a-year chance to modify their drug prescription plans and switch to a Medicare Advantage plan for 2019. The 2019 Medicare Open Enrollment period is just around the corner. From October 15 to December 7, current Medicare beneficiaries will have the opportunity to change important aspects of their health insurance coverages. Now…

Perhaps it was the sight of a fresh dent on your mother’s car, or a report from a family member about an unnecessarily exciting excursion when Dad was behind the wheel. Maybe it’s just the sense that Dad is having a lot of trouble getting around in that big old car. Regardless of the cause,…

Multi-generational living arrangements are on the rise, and for good reason. Growing numbers of aging parents are seeking both comfortable surroundings and affordable care by sharing space with family members. Millennials are moving back into their parents’ home until they acquire sufficient income to live independently. And in some cases multi-generational households are being created…

The rising cost of long-term care for seniors, combined with rising real estate prices, are making multi-generational co-ownership of a shared family home an increasingly attractive proposition. In theory, everyone in the family benefits from a multi-generational living arrangement. Grandparents can downsize into a smaller, affordable living space in close proximity to their children and…

It’s difficult for children to know when to step in and assist aging parents with their financial affairs. Conversations about money are uncomfortable and aging parents may become defensive, suspicious or confused. It is easy to see why we resist having these conversations. Unfortunately, as parents age, they will inevitably lose the capacity to manage…

Wealth alone is no guarantee that older individuals will enjoy a safe and happy retirement. While Americans enjoy well-planned senior years, some older individuals live alone with no one to care for them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28 percent of people over age 65 live alone. This number is expected to increase in…

­Emergency first responders often possess little more than the information contained in a 911 call and a street address. While this might suffice for most situations, when the emergency involves a resident with special needs, customary rescue operations can be traumatic for the resident and challenging for emergency personnel. To solve this problem, city officials…

Annual nursing home costs in Westchester County are $149,136 on average, according to the most recent information published by the New York Department of Health. This is a significant expenditure, especially when multiplied for each year of nursing home care, well beyond the financial resources of most New York residents. Small wonder that 63 percent…

By Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., Littman Krooks We all remember the lyrics from that famous song:  “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage.”  While these words may be music to the ears of a young couple, folks who are considering getting married later in life have many issues to…

For many seniors, their most important lifelines are their adult children and spouses. Seniors often rely on adult children to help research and secure health care, social services and housing. Those entering their golden years childless and single, divorced or widowed would be well-served to put in place alternatives to these lifelines. Doing so will…