​Elder fraud has become a common form of financial exploitation across the country. Federal officials have estimated losses to be in the billions of dollars each year among older Americans, with government-impersonation schemes among the most reported types of fraud. For example, fraudsters may contact older adults and claim to be with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) while trying to extract information or money from them.

Scammers do not target older adults because they are less capable. They target this population because they may assume they have savings, established credit, and less familiarity with newer digital tactics. Awareness and preparation can make it harder for scammers to succeed.

How These Scams Work
Most impersonation and fraud schemes follow a consistent pattern, regardless of the specific story a scammer uses. It generally unfolds in four stages:

• Pretend. The scammer claims to represent a trusted source, such as the SSA, the HHS’s Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), a bank, or a well-known company. They may already have some of the potential victim’s personal information, which makes the approach feel legitimate.
• Prize or problem. The scammer either offers something appealing, such as a benefit increase or a prize, or creates fear by claiming there is a serious problem, such as  a suspended Social Security number or a fraud alert on an account.
• Pressure. They tell the person to act immediately, often to “avoid arrest” or “protect” their benefits or accounts, leaving little time to verify the claim.
• Payment. The scammer requests payment or personal data through unusual channels, such as gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, cash delivered in person, or a Social Security or Medicare number provided “to confirm eligibility.”

A genuine call from the SSA or HHS-OIG will never ask a beneficiary to wire money, purchase gift cards, send cash, or disclose a Social Security number. That single rule can help older adults avoid most government-impersonation scams.

Practical Steps for Protecting Personal Data
Protecting personal information is often more effective than trying to recognize every new scam. Scammers’ tactics change constantly, but their goal remains the same: getting access to personal information or money.

Safeguard Your Most Personal Information
Personal information can be pieced together from public records, social media, data breaches, and previous contacts. Protecting key details makes it harder for scammers to create convincing requests.

• Do not share sensitive information. Never provide a Social Security number, Medicare number, bank account information, or online-account password to an unsolicited caller, texter, or email sender. Caller ID can be spoofed, so a government agency’s name or number does not prove that the contact is legitimate.
• Protect important documents. Store Social Security and Medicare cards securely at home rather than carrying them daily. Shred documents containing account or benefit numbers before disposing of them.

Check With the Official Source
Always verify unexpected requests through contact information you find yourself, not through a phone number, link, or website supplied by the person who contacted you.

• End the conversation. Hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the SSA, HHS-OIG, or the Medicare program. Then call the agency back using a number found independently on their government website.
• Monitor your accounts. Create an official my Social Security account to track benefit statements and catch unauthorized changes.

Pause and Talk With Someone You Trust
Scammers use urgency, isolation, and secrecy to prevent people from evaluating a request or seeking advice.

• Treat pressure as a warning sign. Legitimate agencies do not demand immediate action or ask beneficiaries to keep a conversation confidential from family members.
• Ask for help without fear or blame. Talk with a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver before sending money or sharing information in response to an unexpected request.

Create a Family or Caregiver Fraud-Prevention Plan
Families can reduce the risk of government-impersonation scams by agreeing in advance on how to handle unexpected calls, texts, and requests involving benefits or personal information.

• Choose a trusted contact. Agree on whom the older adult will call before sending money, sharing personal information, or responding to an urgent matter. This could be a family member, friend, caregiver, attorney, or other trusted advisor.
• Create a family code word. A code word can help relatives confirm that an urgent call or text is genuine, especially when a scammer pretends to be a grandchild or another family member.
• Set up account alerts. With the account holder’s permission, consider enabling notifications for large withdrawals, unusual purchases, password changes, or transfers to new recipients.
• Review important information together. Make sure contact information is current with banks, credit card companies, insurers, and government agencies. Knowing how to reach these organizations through official channels can make it easier to verify a suspicious request.

Open, respectful conversations can reassure older adults that they can seek help without fear of blame or embarrassment.

Limit Digital Exposure
Scammers can use information posted online to make impersonation attempts seem more personal and believable. Basic digital precautions can reduce the amount of information available to them.

• Handle messages carefully. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments in unsolicited messages, even if they appear to come from a government agency or familiar company.
• Review privacy settings on social media accounts. Scammers often mine public posts for details, birthdays, family names, and routines that they can use to make impersonation attempts more convincing.

If You Encounter a Scam
Report suspected scams promptly, even if you recognized the fraud before sharing information or sending money. Reports can help investigators identify patterns, warn the public, and shut down schemes.

• Social Security-related scams. Report online or call the SSA OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
• Medicare, Medicaid, or other HHS program fraud. Report fraud attempts through the HHS-OIG Hotline.
• General fraud reports. File with the Federal Trade Commission.

If you believe you have already shared sensitive information or sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to limit further loss. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.

The Rule That Can Prevent Most Impersonation Scams
No legitimate government agency will ever ask someone to move money to “protect” it, demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, or ask for a Social Security number to determine benefit eligibility. Older adults and their families can help prevent fraud by verifying unexpected contacts and seeking advice before acting.

Every family that places a loved one in a nursing home, assisted living community, or other long-term care setting does so trusting that their loved one will be safe and treated with dignity. Most of the time, that trust is well placed. But abuse and neglect in long-term care can be difficult to detect, especially when a resident has cognitive decline or communication difficulties, or fears retaliation.

You do not need to determine whether conduct legally qualifies as abuse before asking for help. If something seems wrong, describe what happened, when it happened, and why you believe the resident may be at risk.

What Should Be Reported?
Report concerns that may threaten a resident’s safety, health, dignity, or financial well-being. Common examples include:

• Physical abuse. Hitting, rough handling, unnecessary physical restraint, unexplained injuries, or overmedication.
• Neglect. Leaving a resident in soiled clothing or bedding, failing to reposition someone at risk of pressure sores, skipping meals or medications, or ignoring calls for help.
• Emotional or verbal abuse. Yelling, humiliating, threatening, or deliberately isolating a resident from family, friends, or other residents as a form of control.
• Sexual abuse. Any nonconsensual sexual contact or behavior, including with residents who have cognitive impairment and cannot legally consent.
• Financial exploitation. Misuse of a resident’s money, bank card, benefits, identity, or legal authority by a caregiver, employee, representative, or other trusted person.
• Unsafe conditions or care-related fraud. Repeated staffing failures, medication errors, untreated injuries, dangerous conditions, or billing Medicare or Medicaid for services or equipment that were never provided or were unnecessary.
• Resident-to-resident violence. Physical, verbal, or sexual harm caused by another resident when the facility fails to respond appropriately or protect residents.

Who Should You Contact?
The right contact depends on the urgency and nature of the concern. In some situations, more than one report may be appropriate.

911 or Law Enforcement
Call 911 if a resident is in immediate danger, has a serious injury, or needs urgent medical attention. Law enforcement may also be appropriate when the concern involves assault, sexual abuse, theft, or another possible crime. Do not wait for the facility to complete an internal review when the resident may be in immediate danger.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Every state has a federally mandated long-term care ombudsman program for residents of nursing homes, assisted living communities, and similar facilities. Ombudsmen advocate for residents and help identify, investigate, and resolve complaints about care quality, resident rights, discharge disputes, and abuse, free of charge. Their role is to represent the resident’s interest and work toward a resolution.

Family members, friends, or facility staff can file a complaint whether or not the resident can do so themselves. A directory of links to each state’s program is available online.

Adult Protective Services (APS)
State and local APS agencies investigate reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities. They can intervene to protect someone at risk in both facility and home settings. Consider contacting APS when:

• a resident may be unable to protect themselves;
• a caregiver or other trusted person may be exploiting the resident; or
• the resident needs protective intervention beyond the facility’s internal process.

State Survey Agency
A state survey agency generally investigates complaints about nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Complaints may involve abuse, neglect, poor care, inadequate staffing, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, and other mistreatment. An online directory of State Survey Agencies provides state-by-state contact information.

These agencies may be appropriate when a facility repeatedly fails to follow a care plan, provide medication or treatments, or respond to complaints.

Eldercare Locator
This service connects callers with their local ombudsman program, Area Agency on Aging, and APS office. Contact the Eldercare Locator online or call or text 1-800-677-1116. This can be a useful starting point when you know something is wrong but do not know which agency should receive the report.

National Elder Fraud Hotline
For suspected financial exploitation and scams targeting an older adult, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline online at 1-833-372-8311.

What Victims and Families Can Do
If you believe a resident is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Beyond emergencies, advocates who work with families regularly offer the same practical advice:

• keep a record of the resident’s name, facility, room, and primary contacts;
• as soon as you have a concern, write down specific dates, times, details, and locations of incidents as well as what the resident said happened and the names and job titles of involved staff or witnesses;
• list injuries, behavior changes, worsening personal conditions, or missed medications, meals, treatments, or care-plan services;
• hold on to relevant photographs, messages, voicemails, bills, and financial records;
• keep copies of care plans, discharge notices, and other paperwork;
• talk with your loved one first, if possible, about what outcome they want; and
• follow up any phone conversation with a brief written summary.

You do not need proof of wrongdoing to contact an ombudsman or adult protective service. Raising a concern early is itself part of how these systems catch problems.

Do not confront a suspected abuser or notify the facility first if doing so could increase the resident’s risk. In that situation, contact an outside agency or law enforcement for guidance.

Why This Infrastructure Matters
No single hotline or agency can eliminate abuse and neglect in long-term care. But the layered system now in place reflects decades of federal policy created specifically to make sure a resident’s voice does not go unheard simply because they cannot advocate for themselves. For families navigating a difficult situation, knowing these resources exist, and that they are free and available in every state, is often the first step toward getting help.

Assisted living is playing a growing role in dementia care. According to a recent report from AARP, more people 85 and older now reside in assisted living than in nursing homes. Of assisted living residents, 44 percent live with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, and many communities are responding by adding or expanding memory care units.

For families navigating this landscape, the expansion of memory care is both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, assisted living can feel less institutional than a nursing home and may support quality of life for older adults who are still physically capable. On the other hand, assisted living and memory care are regulated mostly at the state level, and the name on the brochure doesn’t always tell you what level of care a facility can truly provide.

What Is Assisted Living?
Today, 1 million Americans live in assisted living communities. Assisted living is often described as a middle ground between independent living and a nursing home. It typically combines:

• Housing (a private or semi-private apartment or room)
• Meals and housekeeping
• Supervision and help with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, dressing, and eating
• Some health-related services, which may include help with medication administration

Assisted living is not the same as a nursing home, which provides a higher level of medical oversight and skilled nursing care. Also, note that services offered by assisted living facility may vary by facility and by state.

If your loved one needs round-the-clock medical care, you may need to look beyond assisted living.

How Do Assisted Living Facilities Serve Residents With Dementia?
Assisted living facilities primarily serve people with dementia by offering help with ADLs, which can become increasingly challenging as people age and dementia progresses. Some assisted living facilities provide dementia training to staff, but it is more common in specialized memory care facilities.

Not all assisted living is memory care, but many facilities offer it as a distinct, more specialized option within the same community.

Memory care facilities specifically serve people with dementia. Many states have developed a special licensure for assisted living facilities marketed as “memory care.” In those states, memory care facilities generally, but not always, have greater oversight of resident safety and staff receive dementia training.

What Role Do Family Caregivers Play?
While assisted living offers some support for people with dementia, family caregivers typically continue to provide support. Assisted living facilities typically offer limited hours a day of personal care services. When a resident’s needs exceed this, family caregivers often step in.

This caregiving can involve out-of-pocket costs. Family caregivers of assisted living residents with dementia report spending just shy of $9,000 annually on caregiving related costs, including things like personal supplies, transportation, and gaps in facility coverage.

What Questions Should Families Ask a Facility Before a Loved One Moves In?
Before a loved one with dementia moves into an assisted living facility, families should consider what services the facility provides and whether it can meet the needs of their loved one. As dementia progresses, the resident’s needs may increase over time, and a good facility should be able to adapt to changes in those needs.

Cost is also a major consideration. In 2024, the median annual cost of assisted living was $70,800, while the median income for adults 75 and older was $47,790. Facilities may charge additional fees for certain services, which can add up.

Keep in mind that Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, so most assisted living residents pay out of pocket. If funds run low, families often look to Medicaid. However, Medicaid rules vary by state, and Medicaid generally does not pay for assisted living room and board (although some states may cover certain care services for eligible residents).

The following questions can help families consider whether an assisted living facility is a good fit for a loved one with dementia.

1. How many hours a day of help with daily tasks are provided?
   
2. Who provides hands-on care and who administers medication?
   
3. Are staff members trained in dementia care? How many residents does each staff member typically care for?
   
4. Is there a nurse on site? If so, when?
   
5. Is this a memory care facility?
   
6. Is the memory care area secured? What happens if a resident is wandering and tries to leave?
   
7. What supports are provided for residents with dementia?
   
8. As dementia progresses, how does care adapt to meet a resident’s needs? How often is the care plan reassessed?
   
9. What are the monthly and yearly fees? Are services such as help with medication billed à la carte?
   
10. How do you respond to agitation, refusal of care, or sundowning?

What Should Families Understand in a Contract Before Signing?
A contract is more than a financial document. It governs key rights and expectations.

Because assisted living is largely regulated at the state level and residents’ rights can depend on state rules and contract terms, have a licensed attorney review the facility’s contract before you sign it.

Elder law attorneys can help families understand:

• the costs of services listed in the contract,
• when fees can increase and how increases are communicated,
• what happens if the resident needs to move out of the facility, and
• how disputes are handled.

Finding the right fit takes time, but asking the right questions about care, costs, and contracts is how families advocate for their loved one and find a place where they can truly thrive.

No parent wants to imagine their children fighting over an inheritance after they are gone. Sadly, family conflicts frequently arise, especially when a parent has gifted or loaned money to one child and not the others during their lifetime. Fortunately, incorporating a few precise provisions into your estate plan can dramatically minimize the potential for future disputes.

Clearing Up the Confusion Around Lifelong Gifts
When you financial assist one child during your life, their siblings may later argue that this child’s share of the remaining estate should be reduced. You can completely forestall these types of inheritance disputes by making your exact intent crystal clear in your estate planning documents.

Depending on your goals, your document can address lifetime gifts in two primary ways:

• The Equalizing Provision: You can explicitly state that your estate plan does not make any adjustments based on lifetime financial gifts. This leaves no room for interpretation, making it clear to all beneficiaries that everyone is to receive their designated share regardless of past assistance.
• The Specified Reduction: Alternatively, if you do intend for a lifetime gift to count against a future inheritance, you can specify the exact gifts that were made and explain that this child’s final share is being reduced accordingly.

The Trouble with Loans: Putting Verbal Agreements to Rest
Intra-family loans are another common source of litigation and resentment. Verbal loans are notoriously difficult to prove or track, which often leads to disputes over whether the money was actually a loan, a gift, or if it was already paid back.

To prevent these headaches, you can address outstanding loans in a number of structured ways based on your intent:

• Converting Verbal Loans to Gifts: You can include a provision stating that any outstanding verbal loans at the time of your passing are officially to be treated as gifts.
• Formalizing True Loans: If you have outstanding verbal loans that you do not want to become a gift, it is vital to formalize them in writing via a promissory note before you pass away.
• Treating Loans as an Inheritance Advance: If you want an outstanding loan balance to be deducted from a child's final inheritance, your estate planning documents can explicitly outline this mechanism.
• Requiring Written Proof of Forgiveness: To prevent a beneficiary from falsely claiming that you forgave their loan while you were alive, you can include a clause stating that any loan forgiveness must be documented in writing to be legally valid.

Intent is Everything: Work with an Expert
The absolute best defense against future family conflict is an estate plan that leaves zero room for guesswork. Verbal agreements and vague assumptions are what lead to fractured relationships and costly legal battles between siblings.
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Be sure to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney in your area. They can help you draft precise language regarding gifts and loans, ensuring your documents provide the exact guidance and protection your family needs.

Since the 1960s, Medicaid has provided vital health care coverage for low-income individuals across the United States. For millions of seniors, Medicaid offers a critical financial lifeline by helping to cover the staggering costs of long-term care services. Today, this joint federal-state program also benefits other qualifying populations with limited resources, including children and people with disabilities.

Qualifying for Medicaid
You might not foresee yourself applying for Medicaid in the future. Yet in reality, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that nearly 70% of adults turning 65 will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime. Because long-term care can be incredibly expensive, many families come to rely entirely on Medicaid benefits to cover these services.

Given these realities, it is crucial to understand how Medicaid eligibility works long before you actually need it. To qualify, you may need to take specific financial actions at least five years before submitting an application. This is because most state Medicaid agencies implement a five-year "lookback" period to review all your financial transactions leading up to your application date.

If you make certain uncompensated asset transfers, large purchases, or financial gifts during this lookback window, you could face a severe penalty period. These penalties can delay your eligibility, leaving you to wait months or even years before Medicaid will begin paying for your care.

The Asset Limit and the "Spend Down"
Because Medicaid is designed for individuals with limited financial means, applicants must meet strict income and asset thresholds. In most states, a single applicant is restricted to no more than $2,000 in countable assets to qualify for long-term care benefits.

If your assets exceed your state’s limit, you will need to "spend down" your extra resources on permissible expenses until you hit the threshold. Only after you have met this requirement—alongside all other clinical and financial criteria, will Medicaid step in to cover basic long-term care expenses.

Fortunately, not everything you own counts against you. Key exemptions typically include:

• Your primary home (up to your state's equity limit)
• One reliable vehicle
• Personal belongings and standard household furnishings

Depending on where you live, you can strategically use your excess assets to buy specific items that improve your comfort and daily life without triggering a penalty.

Important State Variations: Every state dictates its own exact income and asset limits, and these figures frequently adjust each year to reflect inflation. Furthermore, some states do not allow a standard spend down process; these are known as "income cap" states and follow an entirely different set of rules.

Legitimate Ways to Spend Down Your Assets
Medicaid applicants can generally reduce their excess assets in a variety of constructive ways. Paying off existing debt (like credit cards or outstanding medical bills) or prepaying for funeral and burial services are both widely accepted strategies.

You can also use surplus assets to purchase medical services, equipment, or health insurance premiums that aren't fully covered by Medicare. This includes items like:

• Hearing aids
• Wheelchairs, walkers, or canes
• Updated prescription eyeglasses and dental work

Beyond medical bills, you can often make lifestyle purchases that directly boost your quality of life. Here are seven tangible things you might be surprised to learn can legally qualify as a part of a Medicaid spend down:

• A New Vehicle: A reliable car or a wheelchair-accessible van to ensure you can get to medical appointments. (Note: Most states draw the line at luxury vehicles or recreational vehicles like RV campers).
• Personal Electronics: Upgrading your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or television to keep you connected with family and entertainment.
• New Clothing: Stocking up on everyday essentials, winter coats, sturdy shoes, or pajamas.
• Books and Subscriptions: Purchasing books, magazines, or ongoing streaming service subscriptions (like Netflix or Hulu).
• Towels and Bedding: Refreshing your linens. If you are transitioning to a long-term care facility, it is a good idea to check their specific rules regarding personal linens first.
• Comfort Furniture: Buying specialized furnishings for your living space, such as an ergonomic lift-chair recliner or an orthopedic mattress.
• Home Modifications: If you plan to receive care at home, your spend down can go toward modifying your residence for safety. Examples include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, fixing faulty plumbing, or paving a smoother driveway walkway.

Why It Is Key to Work with an Elder Law Attorney
The rules governing Medicaid eligibility are notoriously complex and vary heavily by zip code. Before making any significant financial moves, it is essential to consult with an experienced elder law attorney in your area.
An attorney who specializes in Medicaid planning can safely structure your spend down, protect your hard-earned savings, ensure your spouse is taken care of, and help you avoid accidental penalty periods. As a bonus, legal fees are generally considered a permissible spend down expense.

Whatever paths you choose, ensure you keep every single receipt and detailed piece of documentation. Clear records are your best defense if state evaluators raise questions during the application process.

​If you’re receiving care through a skilled nursing facility, home health agency, or outpatient rehabilitation center, there may come a day when your provider hands you a form titled “Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage,” or NOMNC. Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Here’s what it means and what you can do.

What Is an NOMNC?
An NOMNC is an official notice that your Medicare-covered care is ending. Your provider, whether that’s a nursing facility, home health agency, hospice, or comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility, is required by law to give you this notice at least two days before your Medicare-covered services end.

The notice is meant to protect you. It tells you when coverage will end, why, and, most importantly, that you have the right to appeal.

Why You Might Receive an NOMNC
Providers issue an NOMNC when they believe your condition no longer meets Medicare’s coverage criteria. Medicare generally covers skilled care, meaning care that requires the expertise of a nurse or therapist. Once your provider determines you no longer need that level of care, they’re required to notify you that coverage is ending.

This doesn’t necessarily mean your care was inappropriate or that Medicare will agree with the provider. It simply means the provider has made a judgment call that Medicare coverage no longer applies.

What You Should Do

• Read the notice carefully: The NOMNC will include the date your coverage ends and a brief reason. The notice will also include information about the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO), which is the independent organization that handles Medicare appeals for these situations.
• Decide whether to immediately appeal: You have the right to request a free, expedited review by the BFCC-QIO. If you appeal before your coverage ends, you generally won’t be billed for the disputed services while the review is pending. That protection alone makes filing an appeal worth considering.
• Appeal quickly: You must contact the BFCC-QIO listed on your notice by noon of the day before your coverage ends. You can typically reach them by phone; the number will be printed on your NOMNC. Call it as soon as possible.
• Get a written statement from your provider: After the BFCC-QIO notifies your provider that you appealed, your provider must give you a “detailed explanation of non-coverage” (DENC). This gives you their specific clinical reasoning, which can help you and the reviewer understand the case.
• Talk to your doctor: Your physician may be able to provide documentation supporting continued care. The BFCC-QIO reviewer will consider medical evidence, so your doctor’s input can matter.

What Happens After You Appeal?
Generally, the BFCC-QIO will give you a decision by the close of business the day after it gets the information it needs to make a decision. If the reviewer agrees coverage should continue, Medicare keeps paying. If they side with the provider, your coverage ends, but you can still request a second-level appeal by a Qualified Independent Contractor.

Receiving an NOMNC can feel alarming, especially while you’re recovering from an illness or surgery. But the notice is also your opportunity to push back if you believe the decision is wrong. Act quickly, use the appeal process, and don’t hesitate to involve your doctor and family in the decision.

A dementia diagnosis can feel like a door closing. But for the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as for their family members and friends, a growing movement in care is pushing back against that narrative. The message: a diagnosis does not define a life.

Seeing the Whole Person
Traditional approaches to dementia care have often focused on what is lost, such as memory, independence, and cognitive function. That can leave people feeling like their future has been decided for them.

As explained in a webinar led by the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC), a more compassionate and effective approach turns that lens around. Palliative care (specialized medical care focused on comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life) and person-centered care models begin with a simple but powerful premise: a person living with dementia is still a full human being with emotional needs, spiritual beliefs, physical health, social connections, and family relationships that matter deeply.

Rather than addressing solely what is wrong, this approach asks questions like “What is important to you? What brings you joy? What do you still want to accomplish?” The answers vary widely from person to person, and that’s the point.

Care built around individual goals and strengths not only looks different from a one-size-fits-all plan, but the outcomes are also better.

What Person-Centered, Palliative Dementia Care Looks Like
Person-centered care is a philosophy woven through every interaction, from medical appointments to daily activities at home. It is built around the individual’s routines, values, and goals, not just the diagnosis, and addresses several interconnected areas of a person’s life:

• Emotional well-being. Dementia can bring fear, grief, frustration, and social isolation. Acknowledging and validating these feelings, rather than minimizing them, helps people feel seen and reduces anxiety.
• Spiritual life. For many people, faith, meaning, and purpose are central to identity. Honoring spiritual practices, rituals, and beliefs provides comfort and continuity, even as one’s memory changes.
• Medical care. Comprehensive medical support includes not just treating the disease but also managing pain, monitoring medications, and addressing other health conditions that affect quality of life.
• Physical health and activity. Movement, nutrition, sleep, and sensory engagement all affect mood, cognition, and function. Modified exercise, meaningful activities, and time outdoors can make a significant difference.
• Social connection. Human beings need one another. Peer support groups, where people with dementia meet others who truly understand their experience, can help reduce isolation and foster resilience, humor, and hope.
• Family and caregiving relationships. Dementia affects entire families. Caregivers can benefit from education, support groups of their own, and practical tools for navigating the emotional and logistical demands of the role.
  

The Power of Support Groups
One of the most practical and powerful resources available to both people with dementia and their caregivers, according to the webinar presenters, is peer support groups. These gatherings, whether in person or virtual, offer something that professional care alone cannot: the knowledge that you are not alone.

For people living with dementia, support groups provide a space to share experiences, exchange coping strategies, and simply enjoy social connection with others who understand what they are going through. For caregivers, they offer a lifeline in the form of a place to receive encouragement, learn new skills, and speak honestly about the exhaustion, grief, and love that define the caregiving experience.

What Supporters Can Do
Friends, family members, and professional caregivers can play an essential role in helping someone with dementia live their life to the fullest. Some of the most meaningful things supporters can do include:

• Listen without rushing. Give the individual time to express themselves. Patience communicates respect.
• Focus on what they can do, rather than on what they can’t do. Celebrate preserved abilities and interests rather than emphasizing limitations.
• Stay connected. Regular visits, phone calls, or simple shared activities maintain the relationship and reduce isolation.
• Ask the person what they want. Involve the person who is living with dementia in decisions about their life as much as possible.
• Take care of yourself first. Caregiver burnout is real. Seeking your own support is not a luxury — it is a necessity.
• Learn and prepare for the future. Understanding the stages of dementia and what to expect helps families plan proactively and reduces crisis-driven decision-making.

Resources
The following organizations offer resources, education, and support for individuals living with dementia and those who care for them.

For People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers

• Alzheimer’s Association. The largest voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Offers a 24/7 helpline (800-272-3900), local support groups, care consultations, and an extensive online resource library.
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Provides education, support services, and a free memory screening program. Reach its national toll-free helpline at 866-232-8484.
• Alzheimers.gov. The federal government’s central resource for information on Alzheimer’s and related dementias, including finding local services, caregiver resources, and clinical trials.
• Caregiver Action Network. Provides education, peer support, and resources for family caregivers.
• AARP Caregiver Resource Center. Offers tools, guides, and a helpline (877-333-5885) to assist family caregivers with planning, communication, and self-care.

Specialized Programs

• NADRC. Offers free webinars, toolkits, issue briefs, and resources for individuals, caregivers, and community organizations. Resources include guides on person-centered care, faith-based dementia programs, and support for people living with dementia.
• Riverside Health Martha W. Goodson Center. Offers comprehensive, person-centered memory care services, including free Memory Care Navigation, caregiver support groups, a GUIDE model program for eligible patients, and an e-Learning Resource Center.
• Eldercare Locator. Connects older adults and caregivers with local services including transportation, meals, respite care, and support groups. Contact trained staff by phone or text at 800-677-1116.
  

A dementia diagnosis means a change in life, not the end of life. With the right support, the right mindset, and access to the right resources, people living with dementia can continue to find meaning, connection, and joy. The goal of strengths-based, person-centered care is not to deny the challenges of the disease. It instead seeks to ensure that the whole person, not just their diagnosis, remains at the center of every decision, every relationship, and every day.

Summer is officially rolling into town, bringing longer days, backyard barbecues, and the perfect excuse for families to get together. Whether you are packing up for a cross-country road trip, heading to a family reunion, or stepping in to care for an aging parent while their primary caregiver takes a well-deserved vacation, summer is a season of movement.
​
While most of us focus on packing bags and booking hotels, summer travel also highlights an important reality: health emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. To ensure your family is protected no matter where your travels take you, here is an essential legal checklist to consider before you hit the road.

​1. The "Out of Town" Healthcare Directive
If an aging parent experiences a medical emergency while traveling outside of Kansas or Missouri, who has the legal authority to talk to doctors or make medical decisions?

• The Legal Check: Ensure your loved one has an updated Advance Healthcare Directive and a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Without these executed documents, out-of-state hospitals may hesitate to share critical information or allow family members to make urgent care decisions, causing agonizing administrative delays.

2. Don’t Forget the HIPAA Release
Due to strict federal privacy laws, medical professionals cannot disclose health status or treatment options to anyone, even a spouse or adult child, without explicit authorization.

• The Legal Check: A standalone HIPAA Authorization form ensures that designated family members can get immediate medical updates from doctors, whether they are at a hospital across the country or checking in from back home.

3. Check Medicare and Insurance Boundaries
If you are traveling across state lines or internationally, your healthcare coverage might not automatically travel with you.

• The Legal Check: Standard Medicare covers care anywhere in the U.S., but if your parent relies on a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), their network of doctors and hospitals might be strictly local, restricting coverage to emergencies only when out of network. Before leaving, review the plan's out-of-area rules so you aren't surprised by catastrophic out-of-pocket bills.

4. Planning a "Caregiver Respite" Vacation?
If you are an adult child stepping in to care for a parent so their primary caregiver can take a summer trip, or if you are hiring temporary home health aid for the week, you need the legal green light to manage daily affairs.

• The Legal Check: Ensure you have access to a Financial Power of Attorney in case you need to manage bank accounts, pay unexpected care bills, or coordinate with pharmacy benefits while the primary caregiver is unreachable.

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Before You Leave: You don't need to carry stacks of legal paperwork on vacation. We highly recommend keeping digital copies of your estate plan, Powers of Attorney, and insurance cards securely on your smartphone or in an encrypted cloud drive so they can be produced instantly in an emergency.

If your summer plans involve gathering with family or traveling out of state, take a moment to ensure your legal safety net is securely in place. We are always here to help you review, update, or establish these essential protections before you depart.

Have a wonderful, safe, and memorable summer!

If you’re caring for an aging parent, you’re probably juggling more than you ever expected: appointments, bills, siblings’ opinions, and the constant worry of “What happens if something goes wrong?”

This checklist is designed for adult children and family caregivers who want to get ahead of a crisis. You don’t need to do all 10 things this week, but every item you check off can save time, money, and stress later.

Note: Laws and forms vary by state. This article is general information, not legal advice. An elder law attorney can help you choose the right documents for your parent’s situation and state.

1. Make Sure a Durable Power of Attorney Is in Place
A durable power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that lets your parent name someone to manage finances if they can’t.

The key word is durable: it means the POA stays valid even if your parent loses mental capacity. A regular (nondurable) POA generally does not.

• What to do now: Locate the document and confirm it’s signed and complete. If there is no POA, act quickly while your parent can still sign. Ask whether the POA is effective immediately or only after a doctor determines incapacity (sometimes called a “springing” power of attorney). Either can work, but the “right” choice depends on your family and your parent’s preferences.
• What can happen without it: You may have to go to court to get a conservator or guardian appointed,  a process that can be slow, expensive, and stressful.

2. Locate (or Create) a Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy (sometimes called a health care power of attorney or medical power of attorney) names the person authorized to make medical decisions if your parent can’t speak for themselves.
This is separate from a financial POA, which gives a trusted individual the authority to act on your behalf with regard to financial decisions and transactions. Most families need both.

• What to do now: Find the document (or ask your parent’s doctor’s office if it’s in the chart). If it doesn’t exist, ask an attorney about the correct form for your state. Make sure the person named knows they’ve been chosen and understands the role.
• Family reality check: If different relatives assume they’re “in charge,” hospitals can end up in the middle of a family dispute.

3. Find the Living Will (Advance Directive)
A living will (often part of an advance directive) tells doctors what your parent does and doesn’t want if they’re incapacitated.
It commonly covers decisions about:

• CPR (resuscitation)
• Life support (ventilators)
• Feeding tubes

This is not a “giving up” document. For many families, it’s a gift. It reduces impossible guesswork and helps loved ones honor what your parent would want.

• What to do now: Locate it and confirm it reflects your parent’s current wishes. Give a copy to your parent’s primary care physician and keep one where it can be found quickly (not locked away where no one can access it).

For a clear federal resource on advance care planning, see the National Institute on Aging’s tip sheet on advance care planning.

4. Confirm Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Authorization Forms Are Signed
Many caregivers are surprised by this: HIPAA privacy rules can prevent a doctor’s office or hospital from sharing information with family members — including adult children — unless the patient has given permission.

• What to do now: Ask your parent’s doctor’s office and main hospital system whether a HIPAA release is on file that names you (or another trusted family member).
• Why it matters: This is especially important in nonemergency situations, when you’re calling for updates, test results, or care planning.

For federal guidance on health information privacy, check out this consumer-friendly overview.

5. Know Where the Will Is and Whether It’s Current
You don’t need to read your parent’s will today, but you should know:

• A will exists (or doesn’t)
• Where it is stored
• Who drafted it (if anyone)

Red flags that may mean it needs updating:

• The will was written before a major life change (remarriage, divorce, death of a beneficiary)
• Your parent moved to a new state
• Their assets changed significantly

Also remember: a will only takes effect after death. It doesn’t help you manage a medical or financial crisis while your parent is alive.

6. Check Beneficiary Designations on Key Accounts
Some assets pass directly to named beneficiaries, outside the will. Common examples include:

• Retirement accounts (like IRAs and 401(k)s)
• Life insurance policies
• Payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) bank and brokerage accounts

Outdated beneficiary designations (an ex-spouse, a deceased relative, or “we’ll fix it later”) can create serious problems.

• What to do now: Ask your parent to review beneficiaries with their financial advisor or elder law attorney. If your parent has a trust, make sure beneficiary designations match the overall plan — this is a common place where plans unintentionally conflict.

7. Gather Key Financial and Account Information
You don’t need full access to everything right now, but you do need enough information to act fast if there’s a hospitalization, a scam, or an unpaid bill.
A practical “starter list” includes:

• Bank and investment accounts
• Insurance policies (health, life, long-term care)
• Social Security and Medicare information
• Mortgage, credit cards, and other debts
• Basic monthly budget (income sources and major bills)

Store these in a fireproof home safe, a password manager, or as a secure shared document that your family agrees on.

If you’ve been named to manage money for someone else (or might be soon), these caregiver-friendly guides are worth bookmarking.

8. Understand Your Parent’s Medicare and Insurance Coverage
Care decisions often get forced by coverage realities. A little knowledge now can prevent expensive surprises later.
Start with these basics:

• Does your parent have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan?
• Do they have a supplemental (Medigap) policy?
• Do they have a long-term care insurance policy?

Then ask practical questions:

• What happens after a hospital stay — what rehab or skilled nursing coverage exists, and what are the limits?
• What home care is covered (and what isn’t)?
• What’s the out-of-pocket exposure if a longer care need develops?

If your parent might eventually need Medicaid, it’s important to know that planning in advance can matter. Medicaid rules are complicated and timing can be critical.

A key starting point is understanding transfer rules. See Medicaid’s asset transfer rules.

9. Have a Real Conversation About Care Wishes
When families avoid these important conversations, the “default plan” becomes:

• A rushed decision during a hospital stay
• A family argument
• A choice your parent wouldn’t have wanted

Ask the following questions while your parent is still doing okay:

• Where do you want to live as you age (home, with family, assisted living, nursing facility)?
• Who do you want making decisions if you can’t?
• Are there medical treatments you would refuse?
• What does a “good day” look like to you — and what would you consider unacceptable?
• How to frame it: “I want to honor your wishes and reduce stress later — can we talk while things are calm?”

Start small; one 20-minute conversation is better than waiting for the “perfect time.”

10. Connect With an Elder Law Attorney Before You Need One Urgently
Elder law attorneys focus on the issues families face as parents age, including estate planning, Medicaid planning, and long-term care.

Even a single consultation can reveal risks you didn’t know were there (or confirm that you’re in good shape). Finding help before a crisis means you’re not scrambling under pressure.

What If You’re Already in a Crisis?Many families only discover these legal gaps when they’re already under stress.

Keep in mind that some steps may still be possible. For example, a person can sometimes sign new documents if they still have the legal capacity to understand what they’re signing.

If it’s too late to sign key documents, families sometimes must pursue guardianship through the court to get legal authority.
Start with what you can do today:

• Gather documents and account information.
• Ask doctors’ offices about HIPAA authorizations.
• Get a legal consult so you know your options and your timeline.

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When you’re overwhelmed, progress beats perfection. One document found or one form signed can make tomorrow easier.