Abuse can happen to anyone, but seniors are especially vulnerable. Because they may not be physically capable of defending themselves from violence, or they may not have the mental capacity to recognize when they are being exploited, older people are often targets of abuse. They may also need assistance from a caregiver who is intentionally or unintentionally neglecting that responsibility. These are all forms of elder abuse, and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) estimates that they affect 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 or older. Today, the team at Slutsky Elder Law would like to share some more ..read more

A new bill introduced in Congress would prove to be a godsend to the high percentage of people who need in-home healthcare services. The HCBS Access Act, introduced by Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, seeks to increase Medicaid and state funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) and provide resources for states for caregivers. Proponents of the bill say that it would reduce wait times for home care services and provide better outcomes. “The caregiving crisis in this country leaves millions of seniors and people with disabilities without a meaningful choice of where they can receiv ..read more

Whether you are looking for a nursing home or you have a loved one who will need skilled care, finding the right care facility is important to ensure the best quality of life will be experienced there. Finding a long-term care community has become even more difficult in recent years, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused staffing issues, forcing many facilities to close or change the type of care they provide. If you are currently looking for a nursing home in your area, here are some tips from the team at Slutsky Elder Law to help you choose one that will meet your needs: How Much Do They Spend on ..read more

In October 2022, Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved a range of new nursing home regulations governing the state’s nearly 700 nursing homes. This was the first time these regulations were updated since 1997, and it represents the beginning of a new era in nursing care that is more focused on the comfort and safety of residents. These new regulations were to be implemented in phases, with the first two phases being implemented in February and July of 2023. With the next phase scheduled to be implemented at the end of October, the team at Slutsky Elder Law thought th ..read more

On April 5th, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a proposed rule intended to streamline the process used to authorize care and make other important changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. As these changes are implemented, it should make it easier for Medicare recipients to get the care they need without the requirement to have each treatment authorized individually. What is Prior Authorization? Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans require authorization to obtain coverage for certain procedures and drugs. For example, a Medicare ..read more

When you are writing your will, you can choose an executor to be responsible for carrying out your last wishes. This person should be someone you trust, and who will be responsible enough to manage your estate. If you have been chosen as an executor, you should discuss it with the person who chose you to ensure you have all the information you need to carry out their wishes. As one of the most experienced elder law attorneys in Montgomery County, PA, and surrounding counties, Robert Slutsky frequently advises seniors and their executors about important end-of-life planning decisions. Here are ..read more

Thanks to the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act, big changes were made to Medicare beginning in January 2023. Whether you are already enrolled in Medicare or you plan to enroll this year, these changes will affect you.    Here is an outline of some of the provisions of the BENES Act from the team at Slutsky Elder Law in Pennsylvania:   Enrollment Period Previously, those who enrolled in Medicare during the general enrollment period or in the later months of their initial enrollment period would often have to wait months for their cove ..read more

A testamentary trust is one of the many tools you may want to consider when planning for the future. There may be situations in which establishing a testamentary trust will be beneficial to your heirs, so speaking to an elder law attorney about this type of trust is a smart idea. At Slutsky Elder Law, we can help you write a testamentary trust and other documents that will provide for the distribution of your assets after you pass away.  What is a Testamentary Trust? When included in your will, a testamentary trust allows a third party, known as a trustee, to manage assets in the trust on ..read more

Data presented in a recent New York Times article shows that today, more older Americans are living alone than at any other point in history. While it is not uncommon for seniors to live alone, either because they lost their spouse or for other reasons, it is important to note solitary seniors face a unique set of challenges. If you are a senior who lives alone, or you have a senior loved one who does, there are a number of considerations that will need to be made regarding estate planning and end-of-life planning. Read on to find out more about the challenges faced by seniors who live alone ..read more

Passed in December of 2022, several provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act went into effect on January 1st, 2023. This law sets forth a number of rules that affect retirement savings and could change the way you prepare for the future. Here is a summary from Elder Care Attorney Rob Slutsky regarding some of the key provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act Increased Age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) If you have any traditional IRAs, you probably already know you will be required to take minimum distributions from those accounts in the future. Previously, that began at age 70½ but the original SEC ..read more