What Do Virginians Need to Know About Medical Aid in Dying?

by AgingEnd of Life PlanningEstate Planning

Medical aid in dying has become an increasingly popular subject as more people wish to include in their estate plans what this means for them and their specific wishes. This can be a highly personal decision and not necessarily one that your friends and family members agree with.

A family member who is suffering might even request that their loved ones help with determining the options ahead of them. But you must educate yourself about what is and isn’t allowed under the law.

Here’s what you need to know about medical aid in dying:

  • There are strict eligibility requirements, such as that an adult must have six months or less to live and be able to take the medication on their own.
  • Medical aid in dying is optional and no person will ever be required to use it and it is illegal to force someone else to use it.
  • Most physicians support the practice of medical aid in dying.
  • Just having the option of medical aid in dying relieves a great deal of fear and anxiety even for those patients who ultimately do not choose it.
  • End of life care is improved by the provision of medical aid in dying. Studies have shown that comfort care improves for those patients who live in states with medical aid in dying.
  • A 2020 Gallup poll revealed that nearly 3 out of 5 residents in the United States support medical aid in dying.
  • Medical aid in dying is only authorized in specific states and this does not include Virginia. The included states are California, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Montana, Vermont, DC, Colorado, Maine, Hawaii, and New Mexico.

If you have questions about medical aid in dying or other issues, schedule a consultation with a Virginia Beach estate planning lawyer today.

 

 

Passing on Your Special Collection to Loved Ones

by AgingEstate Planning

No matter what you collect, be it stamps, coins, art, or classic toys, you probably have devoted a significant amount of money as well as time to pursuing this passion, but have you done the forethought to think about what will happen to your collection if you pass away?

Many people don’t like to think about how incapacitation could influence their future. However, doing no planning at all can leave your loved ones in a confused and overwhelmed position as they confront the world of your possessions. They might not appropriately know how to value these or the best way to pass them on.

This means that your loved ones could sell them for pennies on the dollar or donate them even if these assets in your collection hold sentimental value or monetary value. When it comes to planning for your estate with your collection, be specific about wishes. Keep current market values of these items up to date and have a detailed listing of your collection.

Talking to an auctioneer in advance and leaving contact details will make it easier for your loved ones to decide the next step. You might also consider purchasing specialized insurance, but bear in mind that collectibles are often more difficult to ensure.

If you want your loved ones to sell all or part of your collection, talk to an auction house or a dealer that might be able to manage the sale for your loved ones. It is unlikely that your loved ones will have the level of expertise and awareness you do about your own collection. Partnering with someone else who does have this knowledge or can connect them with the right people can be extremely beneficial during a very challenging time in their life. Talk to a Virginia Beach estate planning lawyer today.

 

Does My Elderly Parent Need a POA?

by AgingelderlyPower of Attorney

There are many scenarios when it makes sense for your elderly parent to have a power of attorney document in place that names you as the agent. While some of these situations help in terms of convenience, there are others that might arise making it a real necessity to be able to speak up for your parent and make decisions for them.

If it becomes too hard for your mother or father to keep up with their own bills and they feel that it is overwhelming or mistakes are being made, this could be a sign that they need assistance with organization. Having a financial power of attorney empowers you to make these decisions for them and help them pay these bills on a regular basis.

If your loved one has a surgery planned in the near future, they might need you to take over on their behalf. In the event of an accident or other situation in which your loved one is not able to manage for themselves, a power of attorney document gives them peace of mind that you can step in at a moment’s notice.

A recent diagnosis might also be the trigger point for you to draft a power of attorney document. If your loved one is now trying to figure out what their future looks like, having a power of attorney document means that your loved one can continue making decisions on their own behalf until they become unable to do so anymore. At that point, the power of attorney is activated so that you can help them decide the best financial and medical options for them with their condition.

Need help reviewing or drafting your POA in Virginia? Schedule a meeting today.

Planning Ahead to Live a More Purposeful Life

by with No Comment AgingEnd of Life PlanningEstate Planning

Planning ahead is not always an easy proposition, but taking the care to consider critical questions about your future and the future of your estate empowers your loved ones. It’s an act of care to take the time to consider how to protect your family members in the future.ThinkstockPhotos-516849552 (1)
By thinking about your wishes for your end of your life care, you not only leave behind a very powerful gift for your loved ones but you also gain greater clarity about how you plan to live your best life and to identify your purpose. There is a gift that you can give yourself as well as your loved ones by scheduling a consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney.
Most people avoid this topic or scheduling the meeting because it is a scary and difficult topic for people to discuss. However, if you allow yourself to face the inevitable, that someday you may become unable to make decisions for yourself, or pass away suddenly, you will be able to make decisions that empower your loved ones well into the future.
You can live your dreams, make the necessary changes in your life and connect more deeply with others from the current time. Scheduling a consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney is often the first step for many people who are contemplating how to handle their future. Identifying your unique needs and determining what strategies or documents you may already have in place as well as those that may not be serving you any longer is extremely important for clarifying your expectations. Furthermore, this decreases the chances that your loved ones will end up in conflict in the future because you did not take the necessary steps to plan ahead. A Virginia estate planning lawyer can help.
 

Planning for Your Future Healthcare Decision-making: What Are Superagers?

by with No Comment AgingelderlyLong Term Planning

Some elders will retain a significantly sharper memory and cognitive ability than their peers. In a recent study, it was identified that these people all carry a very unique trait.
The natural process of brain decline regarding memory begins in the late 20s and early 30s, however the average ager, according to a recent study indicates that memory is atrophying at twice the rate of someone who is classified as superager. Atrophy progression seems to blocked by superagers.
One of the most important connections for you to make is that you may struggle with a cognitive decline at any point in time, particularly after a major health care event or a car accident, for example.ThinkstockPhotos-71036988
Paying attention to your health at all ages is important, but you might not always be able to make decisions for yourself. If you’re incapacitated but have clear wishes about your medical care, another person should know these concerns and be legally allowed to make them on your behalf.
Having critical legal documents in place such as stipulating who is eligible to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf can make a huge difference for your loved one’s ability to step in and articulate your wishes for you. No one expects to be a victim of an accident but taking the necessary planning steps now can help to minimize the chances that you and your loved ones will be confused and unsure of next steps.    Contact a Virginia estate planning attorney today to learn more.
 

Wealth Planning and Long-Term Care Planning for Aging Parents

by with No Comment AgingElder CareElder LawelderlyLong Term PlanningLong-Term Care

If you have the responsibility of taking care of your aging loved ones, this is an extremely common situation that is facing more people in the sandwich generation. The sandwich generation often has children of their own, while they are also helping with the health care management or the costs associated with the loved one.
Many people don’t like to think about incapacity, money or death, but this is extremely important for any situation in which you are helping a loved one work through the issues of aging. There are several different steps that you can take in order to minimize the negative impacts of failing to plan. Failing to plan can make things more complicated for everyone, in the event that your loved one suffers from incapacity or suddenly passes away. Several different things should be discussed with your aging parents, including:

  • Putting together a living trust.
  • Planning for the possibility of long term care, including long-term care insurance.
  • Evaluating housing options.
  • Determining transportation needs.
  • Ensuring proper documents are in place.

Having a consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney can help you address many of the issues associated with the estate planning and the elder law planning process. Learn more about how estate planning Virginia can help you by setting up a consultation today.
 

Aging Experience Has Changed Greatly

by with No Comment AARPAging

Only everything has changed in the last 25 years or so.
According to the chief executive officer of the American Association for Retired Persons, that includes the way we approach growing older.

Senior woman lifting dumbbells
Senior woman lifting dumbbells
“The convergence of longer life expectancy and technological advances is opening new doors to exploration and discovery as well as new expectations and possibilities for how we live and age,” Jo Ann Jenkins wrote in a recent edition of the AARP Bulletin . “People today are challenging stereotypes and attitudes about getting older to create a new reality of aging in the 21st century.”
Not only are people living longer, but also they are also living better, she indicated.
“As we get older, we understand that our experience has value and look for ways to make the most of our added years,” she wrote. “We also understand the rigors of family caregiving and recognize that we may need help in providing care for a loved one. And we wonder who will provide care if and when we need it.
We love the idea of being up on the latest smartphone or tablet, even though we may need help figuring it out. We are aware that as we get older, we will become more of a target for a scam or for identity theft, and we want to know how to protect ourselves. We are realistic. We know our needs are changing, and although we may not like it, we face it head on. We don’t stop and withdraw from society because we become a certain age.”

Young and Old Alike Face Discrimination Over Their Ages

by with No Comment Age DiscriminationAging
old and young
old and young
The website smallbiztrends.com carried an article not quite two years ago on the subject of age discrimination, as faced by people on both ends of the spectrum.
“Age discrimination is a reality in the current job market,” began the article “The young men and women graduating from college over the last five years have had it tough. In fact, this generation has the highest unemployment in the last 50 years. Age discrimination is rampant because this generation does not have the exact skills or experience employers are wanting.
“Ask anyone who is over fifty years of age and has been unemployed whether there is age discrimination in the job market. The answer will almost always be yes. Age discrimination is rampant because this generation is perceived as both not having kept their skills up to date and expecting to be paid at the higher end of the pay spectrum because of their experience.”
Along with the shared problem of the way potential employers view the experience and skills of potential job seekers who are fresh-faced and those going gray, the website suggests there is a common approach to facing the issue.
“It is all about demonstrating and not telling what you can do to solve your future employer’s problems. The days of waiting for a position to be posted and then applying for it are over. More than at any time in history, personal relationships are paramount to your employment.
“The issue is these two groups have different definitions of what constitutes a relationship.”
Those under 30 have mostly online relationships. The over 50 crowd is almost entirely offline when it comes to knowing people.
“The problem is that today’s world requires both,” the smallbiztrends.com writer stated.
For the record, according to the website of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a law that is itself getting a little long in the tooth has some specific protections for people past the age of 50.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age,” according to the site
Areas protected by the law include:

  • Apprenticeship Programs
  • Job Notices and Advertisements
  • Pre-Employment Inquiries
  • Benefits

Widows Face Special Issues In Financial Planning

by with No Comment AgingAsset ProtectionFinancesRetirement Planning
Close-up of documents
Close-up of documents
Many older couples, those approaching or even well past retirement age, have wisely made financial plans for the rest of their lives together.
What few do, because it’s just too emotionally difficult in most cases, is make further plans for one or the other of them to carry on alone.
More often than not, it is going to be the woman who survives in a married couple, and women face much more difficulty in planning for a secure future, as noted in a recent article in The New York Times.
“The household income for widows typically declines 37 percent after a spouse dies, far more than the 22 percent income drop that men experience, according to government figures,” the story stated . “The assets of widows also tend to fall substantially more than widowers’.
“Women also typically live longer than men. One in four women from 65 to 74 are widows, according to census figures. When women reach 85, three out of four are widows.”
“Many people do not plan for income needs after the first death in a couple,” David Littell, program director of the American College of Financial Services, which offers financial education for securities, banking and insurance professionals, was quoted as saying. “And retirement planning is more of a struggle because life expectancy is longer.”
There is, however, some good news.
“Often neglected in the past, women are receiving more attention from banks and other financial institutions,” the article noted. “Regions Bank, which covers a 16-state area in the South and Midwest from its headquarters in Birmingham, Ala., for example, devotes a portion of its website to women and wealth management, with videos and other information.”
“More and more women control wealth,” said Amanda Weeks, a Regions private banker and wealth manager, “so they have to know their sources of income and how to manage their assets.”
“That includes figuring out when the mortgage will be paid off if it hasn’t been already, whether there is a pension plan or 401(k) for one or both spouses and whether there are other bank accounts or property. Often, one of the most complex issues is determining how to obtain the maximum payment from Social Security, a major income pillar for many older women.”
“When a spouse dies, it is an emotional time,” Weeks said. “It can take some time to find the information and make a plan. And everyone has their own timetable.”

Caregivers Should Take Care To Get Care Themselves

by with No Comment AgingElder CareElder Law
Home care
Home care
People who are willing to become a caregiver to a loved one, regardless of the circumstances, are taking on an awesome responsibility.
Consider this set of guidelines offered at Preserve dignity

  • Involve your loved one
  • Promote independence
  • Ask for help
  • Be an advocate
  • Take care of yourself

That last guideline might sound simple, but it’s perhaps one of most overlooked on the list, according to the website.
“Many caregivers are so accustomed to providing help and seeing to another person’s needs that they don’t know how to ask for aid themselves,” the article notes. “Take advantage of the help that’s available. Your family is your first resource. Spouses, brothers and sisters, children and other relatives can do a lot to ease your caregiving burden. Let them know what they can and should do.
Look to your church for aid and counsel. Make your minister or religious leader aware of your situation. Turn to caregiving support groups, or support groups for specific illnesses like Alzheimer’s or heart disease.“Encourage your loved one’s friends and neighbors to provide what comfort they can.”