Navigating Parkinson’s disease (PD) can come with many surprises for the person living with the disease and those who love them. Since Parkinson’s progresses, symptoms often begin to complicate daily activities as a person progresses through the stages of PD. Learning how to manage Parkinson’s is a constantly evolving learning curve that should always be modified to best suit both the needs of the person with Parkinson’s and the care partner. In this article, we highlight tips that can help your loved one adjust to these changes. Daily Living Moving Movement changes are com ..read more

What is Assistive Technology? In a very broad sense, most of us have used some kind of assistive technology (AT) during our lives. Consider eyeglasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids. Wheelchairs and grab bars, a must for many individuals with physical disabilities, are also considered assistive technology. These items are critical to meeting career, academic, recreational, and self-care needs. When it comes to education, assistive technology is a definite game-changer for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act defin ..read more

 A comprehensive guide for Adults with disabilities spearheaded by PBWS Partner Margaret ‘Peggy’ Graham for the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). Navigating the complexities of adulthood can be challenging, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families. The newest SNA guide “What You Need to Know About Being an Adult with Disabilities: A Handbook for Self-Advocates, Parents, Guardians, and Their Loved Ones,” spearheaded by Attorney Margaret ‘Peggy’ Graham provides essential information on all aspects of transitions, financial arrangements, decision making, and more. This inv ..read more

Look out for signs that you are being stalked by Fraud-sters. As technology advances, so do the tactics of scammers, making it essential to remain vigilant. While some communications are genuine, scammers are adept at exploiting these channels to defraud individuals. Here are some prevalent fraud attempts to watch out for and how they can be used to swindle money: TEXTS FROM STRANGERS: Responding to texts from unknown numbers might seem polite, but it can open the door to fraud. Instead, delete the text and label it as junk to prevent further contact. Avoid engaging, even to clarify an appare ..read more

One aspect of your estate plan that you may not yet have taken into consideration is your digital legacy. Arranging what happens to your digital assets and information when you pass away has become an increasingly essential component of financial literacy — and comprehensive estate planning. According to Pew Research, the number of adults in the United States who say they use the internet has grown from 52 percent in 2000 to 93 percent in 2021, with 85 percent using the internet daily. Many people rely on digital technology to socialize, work, pay bills, and manage their affairs. Includin ..read more

This post was authored by SNA member Beth C. Manes, Esq., Co-Founder and Partner at Manes & Weinberg Special Needs Lawyers, LLC. in Westfield, NJ, and Denise Gackenheimer Verzella, a Senior Associate with her firm. An SNA member since 2022, Beth focuses her practice on the areas of Special Education Law, Special Needs Planning, Guardianships and Estate Planning.   Every parent experiences some anxiety as they prepare to send their child to college, but for parents of children with disabilities, those anxious feelings can grow exponentially. Most young adults w ..read more

Buying long-term care insurance is one way to protect against the high cost of long-term care. However, this type of insurance may not be for everyone, so consider all your options. Long-term care – care in a nursing home or at home — may be paid for in four main ways:  Out-of-pocket. If you have sufficient resources, you can pay for your long-term care needs with money you have saved.  Medicare. Medicare covers short-term nursing home stays after an illness or injury that requires hospitalization. Medicare covers up to 100 days of “skilled nursing care” per illness.  ..read more

Most people prefer to be cared for in their home rather than a nursing home but finding a home care provider for you or a loved one can be daunting. The following are some things to keep in mind when looking for a caregiver. Level of care The first thing to consider is what level of care is needed. This will determine what type of caregiver to hire and how much the caregiver will cost. Home care providers can range from someone who offers companionship to someone who provides medical services. You can also hire a geriatric care manager to evaluate your or your loved one’s needs and review the ..read more

Elder law and estate planning serve two different—but equally vital—functions. The main difference is that elder law is focused on preserving your assets during your lifetime, while estate planning concentrates on what happens to your assets after you die. Elder law planning is concerned with ensuring that seniors live long, healthy, and financially secure lives. It usually involves anticipating future medical needs, including long-term care. Elder law attorneys can help you develop a plan to pay for future care while preserving some of your assets. They can also assist you with qualifying for ..read more

The amount you can gift to any one person on an annual basis without filing a gift tax return is increasing to $16,000 in 2022, the first increase since 2018. The federal estate tax exclusion is also climbing to more than $12 million per individual. The IRS’s announcement that the annual gift exclusion will rise for calendar year 2022 means that any person who gives away $16,000 or less to any one individual (anyone other than their spouse) does not have to report the gift or gifts to the IRS. Any person who gives away more than $16,000 to any one person is required to file Form 709, the gift ..read more