Home Ownership When Parents and Adult Children Live Together
Increasingly, several generations of American families are living together. These multi-generational living arrangements pres...
Read moreIf you are age 65 or older and living in the United States, you are part of a large and growing population segment. According to the 2020 Census, one in six Americans are over 65. In fact, the number of Americans over 65 grew nearly five times faster than the total population between 1920 and 2020.
To address the needs of our aging population, a partnership of 16 federal agencies and departments produced Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living released the report in May 2024. It outlines a strategic framework aimed at enhancing quality of life for older Americans through coordinated policy actions, innovative programs, and sustainable support systems.
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According to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration has been to ensure that every American can age with dignity.
“From day one, we have focused on lowering prescription drug costs, improving support for family caregivers, strengthening the workforce that provides in-home services, increasing access to health care, and more to support older adults,” Secretary Becerra said in a news release. “The Strategic Framework provides a roadmap for us to build upon that progress to improve the experience of aging in our country.”
The plan outlines four domains, or areas of life, it intends to address:
Seniors will benefit from living in communities designed to encourage healthy living, connection, and engagement. Communities can achieve this in several ways:
Most adults in older age prefer to remain in their homes for as long as they can. To allow for this, they must have affordable, stable housing that is accessible to them. Some older adults need in-home supportive services if they are to remain in their residences instead of moving to a nursing home. Policymakers can help make this a reality with:
According to estimates, over half of Americans who turned 65 in 2022 will develop a disability serious enough to require long-term services and supports (LTSS). Having access to high-quality services and support will help seniors recover more quickly and afford them more independence. The report outlines some ways to attain this goal:
Receiving comprehensive care, including health and social services in their homes or communities, can help older adults maximize their health and reduce preventable diseases and injuries.
Aging in the United States seeks to encourage dialogue and action at the local, state, and federal levels for the benefit of older adults across the country. It will take a concerted effort from public and private entities to bring about the changes older adults need to live their lives to the fullest.
It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. There are many ways you can plan for your post-career years. Contact an experienced elder law attorney near you today to learn how you can ensure you have the resources you need to live a comfortable, fulfilling life after you retire. Your attorney can discuss your specific situation and your options with you.
For additional reading on retirement and aging, check out the following articles:
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Read moreThe authors of a nationally syndicated newspaper column on elder law have written a book based on decades of experience helpi...
Read moreIn guiding readers through the myriad choices involved upon exiting this mortal coil, author Karen Jones has managed to write...
Read moreIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MOREIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MORELearn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MORE