Category Archives: Alzheimer’s Medi-Cal

Dementia: Estate Planning and Care Plan

An estate plan typically includes a revocable living trust, financial power of attorney, and a health directive to physicians. The revocable living trust will specify how your assets will be distributed after you die. The financial power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. A health care directive to physicians is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make decisions about your health care if you are unable to do so yourself.

Medi-Cal Treatment of Reverse Mortgages

Reverse mortgage loans are designed for homeowners who are 62 years of age or older, and who have a substantial amount of equity in their homes. The amount of equity is usually the difference between the fair market appraised value of your property, and the amount due on existing mortgages. As the borrower under a […]

Medi-Cal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) As of January 1, 2018

When one spouse applies for Medi-Cal, the state will look at the assets of both spouses for qualification of the ill spouse. As of January 1, 2018, the community spouse, also known as the “at-home” spouse, or the “well spouse”, may retain up to $123,600 in liquid assets. The ill spouse cannot have more than […]

Have You Checked In On Your Older Loved One Lately? “Driving”

Have you checked in on your older in-laws and parents lately? The holiday season affords a good opportunity for you to see them and observe how they are doing. Here are a few things you should consider when you see them. Driving If your older loved one is still driving, find an excuse to ride […]

Preventing Financial Elder Abuse – Wait Three Days Before Signing Anything

How to Prevent Financial Elder Abuse – Wait Three Days Before Signing Anything: When I was a child and I earned some money, a hole would immediately start burning in my pocket. I would be excited and tell my mother what I wanted to buy with the money. She would tell me to think about […]

Preventing Financial Elder Abuse-Personal Relationships

One red flag that we have seen showing possible elder abuse is exhibited by family members who are overly zealous about preserving the money that is being spent for the older person’s care. We have seen family members who are “caring” for an older person, refuse to spend sufficient funds for the older person’ care. […]

Prevent Financial Abuse: Financial & Estate Planning

Financial and Estate Planning: One of the best ways to prevent financial elder abuse, is to make sure that you know what your financial assets are at all times. You should be in contact with your financial advisor on a regular basis to determine whether there have been any changes to your accounts. Do not […]

Durable Powers Of Attorney For Young Adults

We usually don’t think estate planning documents are necessary for younger adults. But consider the potential need for financial and health care powers of attorney for them. We received a recent call from a client whose 23 year old daughter, Jenny, was in a severe automobile accident. Jenny suffered traumatic brain injury in the accident. […]

Your Home and The “Heggstad” Petition

Your home should be transferred to your revocable living trust for various reasons. One reason is to avoid probate of your home upon your death. Another reason is that as of January 1, 2017, if you die after having been on Medi-Cal, the state will not be able to pursue recovery against your home if […]

Medi-Cal Qualification and Joint Accounts

If you are applying for Medi-Cal, you will be required to disclose all of your assets in your application package. Medi-Cal wants to see evidence of all of your accounts, even joint accounts that you may have with someone else. Joint accounts will be considered by Medi-Cal, at least initially, to belong to you alone. […]