Articles

Considerations When Selecting a Skilled Nursing Facility

The decision about whether to move into a skilled nursing facility is never an easy decision to make. It can be especially hard to make that decision on behalf of a friend or family member. At the same time, skilled nursing facilities can provide necessary care and comfort for a person with medical needs. Once it has been determined that this move is the best decision, friends and family members are often tasked with finding the right facility for their loved one. This can be a daunting task, and, with so many skilled communities in the St. Louis area, many people wonder how to select a facility that is a good fit for their loved one. Following is a list of things to consider when selecting a skilled nursing facility:

What are Powers of Attorney?  

 Powers of Attorney are important legal documents whereby you can designate surrogate decision-makers to act on your behalf. There are two types of Power of Attorney documents: ones for health care purposes and ones for financial purposes. Under a Health Care Power of Attorney, you can appoint an agent to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. Under a financial Power of Attorney, you can appoint an agent to conduct financial affairs and make financial transactions on your behalf.  The appointed agent has an obligation to act in your best interest.

When are Powers of Attorney effective? 

A Health Care Power of Attorney becomes effective when you are no longer

What is the Difference Between a Trust And a Will?

 A Trust and a Will are two different kinds of estate planning documents. To appreciate the difference between a Will and a Trust, it is important to understand what probate is. 

 What is Probate Court?

 The probate court is a division of the circuit that is designated to address the estates of people who are disabled or deceased.

What does a Will do?

A Will is essentially a document that provides instructions to the probate court. For example, a Will can name beneficiaries to inherit property that is subject to a probate proceeding after you pass away. It can also name guardians of minor children.  A Will can provide for the designation of a Personal Representative, the person responsible for adm

There are many, many good people in the world.  Some strangers would give you the shirt off their back and many folks volunteer their time to help others in need.  Especially in our tumultuous times, it is important to be kind and generous to our fellow neighbors.  However, unfortunately, there are also scammers out there who prey on various populations, usually ones who are more vulnerable.  Beware of predatory scams! 

 Watch out for home repair scams 

Home repair scams can come in many forms.  One technique is to quote you one price for work and then demand a much higher price after the work is finished.  Another strategy of scammers is to do repairs that you never requested or that you never agreed to. 

Although the words “Medicare” and “Medicaid” sound very much alike, they represent two different government programs. These two programs offer different benefits and have different eligibility requirements.  

Medicare vs. Medicaid – What are the program benefits? 

Medicare is a program administered by the federal government to provide healthcare to certain populations. Original Medicare is divided into Parts A and B.  

Medicare Part A covers hospital care, nursing home care for a limited period of time, hospice care, home health care, surgery, and lab tests.  Medicare Part A will only cover nursing home care on a short-term basis if you have had a qualifying hospital stay and you need daily skilled ca

ABLE accounts were authorized by the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act and can be an excellent resource for individuals with disabilities.   

Who can an ABLE account be opened for? 

ABLE accounts can be opened for individuals who were diagnosed with a disability that began before age twenty-six. Such an individual is termed the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account.  The designated beneficiary can be of any age when the account is opened, but the disability had to have onset before age twenty-six. The designated beneficiary must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability. If the individual started receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD