When to Take the Car Keys Away- Doctors Can Play a Role

It is often difficult to talk to an elderly family member about giving up their car keys — especially if the older person doesn’t agree that continuing to drive will be risky. 

Often, families are making the tough choice between safety and independence on their own. There is new evidence, though, that doctors could have more of an influence on one of the toughest decisions facing an aging population.  A study that was recently cited in an Associated Press article found that when doctors warn patients that the older folks may be medically unfit to be on the road, there is a drop in serious crash injuries among those drivers.

The American Medical Association recommends that doctors administer a few simple tests in advising older drivers. Among them:

• Walk 10 feet down the hallway, turn around and come back. Taking longer than 9 seconds is linked to driving problems
• On a page with the letters A to L and the numbers 1 to 13 randomly arranged, see how quickly and accurately you draw a line from 1 to A, then to 2, then to B and so on. This so-called trail-making test measures memory, spatial processing and other brain skills, and doing poorly has been linked to at-fault crashes.
• Check if people can turn their necks far enough to change lanes, and have the strength to slam on brakes.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, geriatric psychiatry chief at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center, often adds another question: Are his patients allowed to drive their grandchildren? “If the answer to that is no, that’s telling me the people who know the patient best have made a decision that they’re not safe,” said Kennedy.

At The Fairfax Elder Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we urge families to sit down with their loved ones who are affected by poor eyesight, chronic disease, and medications that might impair driving and talk about your concern for their safety on the road.  Elderly drivers and family members should also take heed of the laws in your state regarding vision tests, restricting of mail renewals, and road tests.  For more information about Aging Drivers and the Law, see the article on the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. website.  For tips on talking with an unsafe driver (with dementia or Alzheimer’s), click here. 

Evan H. Farr on Google +

VA Eliminates Requirement for Filing the Annual Eligibility Verification Report

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is eliminating the requirement to file annual Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs).  These annual reviews are often cumbersome for vets or family members to complete, and could sometimes lead to the loss of benefits if improperly filed.

In the past, beneficiaries have been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits continued. Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits.
VA estimates it would have sent nearly 150,000 EVRs to beneficiaries this month. Eliminating these annual reports reduces the burden on Veterans, their families, and survivors because they will not have to return these routine reports to VA each year in order to avoid suspension of benefits.  It also allows VA to redirect more than 100 employees that usually process EVRs to work on eliminating the claims backlog.

All beneficiaries currently receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses.

More information about VA pension benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of Defense can be found on the VA web portal eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov.

Are you or your spouse a veteran? Evan H. Farr is an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, who understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program and the interaction between both benefit programs.  If you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran and you need assistance, make an appointment for a free consultation.  We can work with you to evaluate whether you qualify for The Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and help you file the paperwork. 

P.S. Veterans can take advantage of a special 15% discount at The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C.  Call us at 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation. 

Evan H. Farr on Google + 

Veterans Can Be Credited for Special Extra Earnings for Social Security Purposes

Under certain circumstances, veterans who served between 1940 and 2001 can be credited for special extra earnings for Social Security purposes.  These extra earnings may help veterans increase the amount of their Social Security benefit. 
 
These special extra earnings are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. Special extra earnings are not granted for inactive duty training.  Depending on the length and time frame of military service, some veterans may find that the benefit increase may be minimal.

According to Social Security Administration, special extra earnings for active duty from 1957 through 2001 may be credited under certain circumstances.

• For military service from 1940 through 1956, the individual’s Social Security record may be credited with $160 per month in earnings under certain circumstances. Note: Social Security taxes were not paid during this period. 
• From 1957 through 1977- $300 in additional earnings is credited for each calendar quarter the individual received active duty pay. 
• From 1978 through 2001- For every $300 in active duty pay, an additional $100 in earnings is credited up to a maximum of $1200 per year. If enlistment occurred after September 7, 1980, and at least 24 months of active duty or full tour was not completed, additional earnings may not be credited.

Find out more information in the recent Social Security publication, Military Service and Social Security, available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.pdf.

Evan H. Farr is an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, who understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program and the interaction between both benefit programs.  If you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran and you need assistance, make an appointment for a free consultation.  We can work with you to evaluate whether you qualify for The Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and help you file the paperwork. 

P.S. Veterans can take advantage of a special 15% discount at The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C.  Call us at 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation. 

Evan H. Farr on Google +

Listen to Evan H. Farr, CELA being interviewed on 1500 AM (Federal News Radio) this Sunday!

This Sunday, January 20 at 10:30 p.m, Evan H. Farr, CELA will be the guest on "Of Consuming Interest" hosted by Shirley Rooker, radio host and President of Call For Action, Inc. On her show, Ms. Rooker typically interviews top government officials, CEOs, and experts in their respective fields about topics that are of interest to consumers.

Mr. Farr, one of the leading Elder Law Attorneys in Virginia and foremost experts in the Country in the field of Medicaid Asset Protection and related Trusts will cover the following:

• Incapacity planning 
• Estate Planning with Revocable Living Trusts  
• Asset Protection with LivingTrust Plus^TM and 
• Ethical Wills.

Hear Mr. Farr's interview this Sunday at 10:30 p.m. Tune your radio to WFED (1500 AM) or listen online.

Early Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms Go Undiagnosed and Untreated

Parkinson’s disease affects one out of 100 Americans over the age of 60.  When it comes to neurodegenerative diseases, it is second only to Alzheimer’s. Symptoms may be mild at first but tend to worsen over time. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are many medications available to treat the symptoms.

People with early stage Parkinson’s disease experience symptoms including anxiety, constipation, and drooling. Because movement problems are the main symptom of the disease, these non-motor symptoms often go undiagnosed and untreated, according to a study published in today’s  issue of the journal Neurology.  In addition, people with early Parkinson’s often don’t mention these symptoms to their doctors because they don’t ask about them.

Recently, researchers asked more than 150 newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients whether they experienced any of the 30 non-motor symptoms, including anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, constipation, sleep problems and sexual problems, before being diagnosed with the disease. The findings indicated that the most common non-motor symptoms the early Parkinson’s patients experienced were drooling, constipation, urinary urgency, anxiety and a reduced sense of smell.

These results show that Parkinson’s affects many systems in the body, even in its earliest stages. Often these symptoms affect people’s quality of life just as much if not more than the movement problems that come with the disease. Both doctors and patients need to bring these symptoms up early and consider available treatments.

 At The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we are dedicated to easing the financial and emotional burden on those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and their loved ones.  If you or a loved one are suffering from Parkinson’s disease, we can help you prepare for your future financial and long-term care needs.  We help protect your hard-earned assets while maintaining your comfort, dignity, and quality of life by ensuring your eligibility for critical government benefits. Call 703-691-1888 today to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation.

P.S. Coming soon to our e-newsletter- a series on famous people with Parkinson's. Subscribe today!

Evan H. Farr on Google +  

The Ethical Will- Leaving Behind a Legacy of Your Values

Ethical Wills are a way to honor the past, remember family and community, understand your own life better, and provide a lasting legacy for your family for generations to come.

Ethical Wills enable you to document and share (in writing or via an audio or video recording) your values, your spiritual beliefs, and your "life's lessons." 

The idea of an Ethical Will is thousands of years old -- dating back to Biblical Times.  The popularity of Ethical Wills has increased over the years for many reasons. As baby boomers age, they're spending time thinking about what it is they want to leave behind. With the economy sagging, it's not always money.  Also, more and more people, even those who are non-religious, are exploring their spirituality, and almost always come to the realization that there is much more to life than our brief earthly existence.

The contents of an Ethical Will may not differ from one's spiritual autobiographies or memoirs, but the intent makes an Ethical Will unique. An Ethical Will may include the following:

• cultural and spiritual values;
• blessings and expressions of pride, love and dreams for children and/or grandchildren;
• "life-lessons" 
• requests for forgiveness 
• the rationale for philanthropic and personal financial decisions
• stories about the meaningful personal items that heirs are to receive; and
• requests for how you would like to be remembered after death.

Sample questions to answer in making your Ethical Will and more information about Personal Histories can be found on the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. website.

In connection with creating your Revocable Living Trust and other Estate Planning documents, The Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. can help you leave your loved ones with something more than money and assets -- a sense of your values. Call us today at 703-691-1888 to set up an appointment for a no-cost consultation. 

Evan H. Farr on Google +  

Financial Wellness Month: What Documents to Keep and What to Toss

Attend our Senior Financial Wellness event on Monday, January 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. RSVP here.

Are your file cabinets filled with old checks, bank statements, and pay stubs? While it’s sometimes tempting to keep every piece of paper in case you need it, there are documents you can go ahead and pitch.  Reducing that burden will help you better organize the documents you need to keep. While many financial and tax professionals will tell you shorter lengths of time to keep documents, they are ignoring the most important reason to keep financial documents, which is if you ever become disabled or need long-term care and need to file for Medicaid.  The current Medicaid Look-Back Period is 5 years, and the possibility of a 10-year Medicaid Look-Back Period is being studied by Congress, so at a minimum, all financial records should be kept for at least 10 years.  For tax and other reasons, some documents should be kept forever.

What to Keep, and for How Long?

  

·         Copies of tax returns. Keep copies of your tax returns for at least ten years.

·         Monthly and Year-end bank statements, mutual fund statements, brokerage statements, etc.  Keep all financial records for at least ten years.

·         Cancelled checks, check registers, old receipts. Keep for at least ten years.

·         Paper copies of credit card bills:  Keep for at least ten years.

·         Utility, phone, and cable bills. Keep for at least ten years if you have an adult relative living with you in your home.  Otherwise, you can ditch these as soon as your next bill confirms payment.

·         ATM withdrawal receipts and bank deposit slips.  Keep for at least ten years.  Mark on the ATM withdrawal receipt what the cash was used for.   If the deposit slip represents a gift of any sort, be sure to note it on the slip.

·         Receipts for home improvements. These should be kept until the property is sold. They are a great way to show potential buyers how much you’ve spent to upgrade the property, and are required to show capital improvements you’ve made for capital gains tax purposes when your house is sold.

·         Real Estate Documents. Keep original (recorded) Deeds, HUD-1 Settlement Statements, Title Insurance Policies, Promissory Notes, Real Estate Contracts, and Certificates of Satisfaction (sometimes called Mortgage Releases) forever, even on properties that you no longer own.    Other real estate documents can be disposed of once you have sold the property.

·         Car and Boat Documents.  Keep titles, registration, and sales documents for at least ten years.

·         Receipts for big ticket items. Receipts for jewelry, rugs, appliances, antiques, cars, collectibles, furniture, computers, and other expensive items should be kept in an insurance file for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage.

·         Retirement documents. Keep these forever. These include IRA contribution records.

·         Stock and fund purchase records. Keep these for as long as you hold those investments, and for at least ten years after you dispose of these investments.

·         Life insurance. Policy documents should be kept until the terms are fulfilled. This means that you should keep these until you die or until the term ends if you have term life insurance.

·         Defined benefit plan documents. These should be kept forever, even if you no longer work for the company.

·         Gift Receipts.  Medicaid penalizes all gifts made within the Medicaid Look-Back Period, so records of all gifts that you make should be kept for at least 10 years.  If you are over 65 or disabled, see this video and article about the Perils of Gifting.

·         Paystubs. This one financial record you don’t need to keep for 10 years.  You can shred your paystubs each year as soon as you receive your W-2 for that year.

·         Estate planning documents. Your Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives, Revocable Living Trust or Living Trust Plus™, Last Will and Testament, and Incapacity, Estate Planning, and Asset Protection documents should be kept forever, but should be reviewed regularly -- we recommend annually, but at least every three years. At the Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we offer a service called DocuBank, to ensure that that important legal documents will be there when you need them most, such as when you are hospitalized. DocuBank is an electronic storage and access service for healthcare directives. Learn more about DocuBank. 

When You Do Let Go, Shred It

Shredding is the best option to keep account numbers and other information safe from identity thieves.  

To learn important tips about senior financial wellness while enjoying delicious refreshments, attend our upcoming Senior Financial Wellness Seminar on January 14 from 6-7:30 P.M. at the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. office.  RSVP here.

Evan H. Farr on Google +