Wednesday, September 15, 2010
He's holding on ...
My sister just called to tell me Pop's in the hospital with what was first thought to be a heart attack but the chest pain is from his lungs being so filled with fluid that it's putting pressure on his heart, He's now 88 and has been totally bed ridden for two years and it's been almost 8 years since his first stroke. This is happening at the worst time for me with the new jobs, moving into the new condo with Lisa and more but I have had an undeniable feeling that he's hanging on until I go back and see him one last time...making arrangements to fly back asap...I'm coming Pop!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Compensating a Family Caregiver
Given the still-fragile economy, a growing number of families are compensating relatives who serve as caregivers to elders, elder-law attorneys say.
But to avoid stoking family tensions or running afoul of Medicaid eligibility requirements, it's important to draft a formal employment agreement--and disclose the arrangement to the entire family.
According to a recent report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, about 43.5 million Americans look after someone age 50 or older, up 28% from 2004. While no one tracks how many are paid, elder-law attorneys say the numbers are rising.
Howard S. Krooks, an elder-law attorney who practices in Boca Raton, Fla., and Rye Brook, N.Y., says nearly all his clients who serve as caregivers are compensated. Such cases currently comprise about 20% of his workload, a figure that has doubled since before the recession. "When people are out of work," he says, "they are more likely to ask for payment."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)