By Caitlyn Whitehead, Esq. Attorney, Lamson & Cutner, P.C.
Married Couples
Married couples seeking Medicaid coverage for home or nursing home care enjoy significant advantages that are not available to unmarried couples. On June 24, 2011, New York became the seventh jurisdiction in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriages.
Continue reading "Equality For Same-Sex Couples Under New York Medicaid" »

On Wednesday, January 11, I had the honor and the pleasure of conducting a continuing education seminar for nearly 70 certified financial planners.
Sponsored by the Financial Planners Association of New York, this two-hour, two CFP® CE credits presentation entitled How to help your clients and their families survive the black hole called ”eldercare.”
Continue reading "Continuing education seminar for 70 Financial Planners " »

"I highly recommend Jack's talk if you are, will be, or could be in the role of caregiver but aren't 100% sure you know the rights of elders and how to safeguard them, and what to watch out for to ensure your loved one is properly cared for. The difference could be a matter of life or death."
Continue reading "A powerful message for your group or organization" »

By Jack Halpern, CEO, My Elder Advocate
Because the families we serve compensate us directly, we represent only them. We are never obligated in any way to serve or protect the needs or interests of the hospital, nursing home, insurance companies, private healthcare service providers, government agencies, and so on.
Continue reading "Who’s Really Paying For So-Called “Free” Nursing Home Placements?" »
New York State Cuts Home Health Care;
Elders and Disabled Forced into Substandard Nursing Homes
By Jack Halpern, CEO, My Elder Advocate
Continue reading "Death Panels For New York State Elderly" »

By Jack Halpern, CEO, My Elder Advocate
It’s clearly traumatic to elders physically, emotionally, and psychologically when they require a hospital or nursing home.
But it’s equally traumatic to another person, too. That’s the caregiver –– usually a family member –– who has no choice but to step in and support that elder family member.
Continue reading "But what about the caregiver?" »

By Jack Halpern, CEO, My Elder Advocate
As readers of My Elder Advocate Blog are well aware, we often speak about the grave danger to elders who are evicted from Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, and Adult Homes. A nursing home eviction often leads to disorientation, loss of identity, depression, and death.
Continue reading "Reduction of Bed Hold Days Leads to Nursing Home Eviction" »

By Jack Halpern, CEO, My Elder Advocate
As I travel across the country visiting with my clients in Nursing Homes and other long-term care facilities, I find that a majority of our nursing home residents aren’t getting the proper exercise to help them maintain mobility and their health.
As you may be aware, at least 70% of our elders enter a nursing home because they require physical rehabilitation after a fall or stroke. They spend a brief time in the hospital and are quickly sent (some too quickly) to a rehabilitation center that most of the time is a nursing home.
Continue reading "Wii by Nintendo: An Effective Way For Elders To Exercise and Have Fun" »

By Jack Halpern
One of my pet peeves with is that there is no rhyme or reason to how they choose their residents. The only goal is to “fill” a bed without regard to how a potential resident will get along with other residents.
Continue reading "What some nursing homes won’t do to make a buck! It’s downright disgusting! " »