Health Information

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

In 1900, most people died younger from communicable diseases and after relatively short illnesses. Today, we are more likely to die older from one or more chronic conditions and after an extended period of illness. The decisions involved with planning for disability associated with chronic conditions can be difficult to make. Recognizing that developing a plan is the goal and that plans can (and should) be revised over time may help you assume a proactive role when it comes to legal matters.

A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities

The Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Illinois Chapter is pleased to offer a free online resource, Encouraging Comfort Care: A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities. This 21-page booklet provides useful information to families and staff of long-term care facilities about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, particularly care issues related to the late and final stages.

For families, this guide will enable them to make informed choices about a variety of medical decisions they may face on behalf of loved ones with dementia living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other types of care facilities. It will also equip families to ask good questions aimed at obtaining the best care for their loved ones, including a handy checklist of comfort care measures to be discussed with staff members of care facilities.

Frontotemporal Disorders

Few people have heard of frontotemporal disorders, which lead to dementias that affect personality, behavior, language, and movement. These disorders are little known outside the circles of researchers, clinicians, patients, and caregivers who study and live with them. Although frontotemporal disorders remain puzzling in many ways, researchers are finding new clues that will help them solve this medical mystery and better understand other common dementias.
Frontotemporal disorders can be grouped into three types, defined by the earliest symptoms physicians identify when they examine patients.

Vascular Dementia and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia in older adults after Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) result from injuries to vessels that supply blood to the brain, often after a stroke or series of strokes. The symptoms of vascular dementia can be similar to those of Alzheimer’s, and both conditions can occur at the same time (a condition called “mixed dementia”). Symptoms of vascular dementia and VCI can begin suddenly and worsen or improve over time.

Housing

A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities

The Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Illinois Chapter is pleased to offer a free online resource, "Encouraging Comfort Care: A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities". This 21-page booklet provides useful information to families and staff of long-term care facilities about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, particularly care issues related to the late and final stages.

Advocacy / Rights

Understanding the Four Cs of Elder Law Ethics

Your parent or other elder relative is getting legal advice. Why am I left in the waiting room?

Shouldn’t you be included? After all, you might be very involved in helping him or her with important matters. Perhaps you even arranged for this appointment.

There are several reasons why lawyers need to meet with your family member or friend alone for at least part of the case evaluation process, so please don’t be alarmed or offended. Family involvement is very important, but try to understand the way legal services are provided to elder or disabled clients. It may help first to understand the “Four Cs” of elder law ethics that lawyers are required to follow. We are happy to discuss these ethical guidelines or any other aspect of our legal services. Above all, we seek to promote the dignity, self-determination, and quality of life of your loved one.

Another Tool to Protect Vulnerable Adults

It might be too late to assist the family of Ernie Banks, whose will was changed in 2014 to the benefit of his caregiver, but this statutory tool will protect others from being victimized by non-family caregivers of persons requiring care. Attorney Janna Dutton, an active advocate for vulnerable adults for over 30 years, as a member of the Illinois National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys wrote a new section of the Probate Act, Presumptively Void Transfers Public Act 098-1093.

Guardianship

Medicaid

Even Gifts Allowed by the Internal Revenue Service Are Subject to a Penalty for Medicaid

With the 2022 increase of the amount that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will allow a person to gift free from gift tax reporting, from $15,000 per person to $16,000 per person, per tax year, there is greater opportunity for tax-free gifting. As a result, any person who gives away $16,000 or less annually to any one individual does not have to report the gift or gifts to the IRS. Gifts to spouses never have to be reported.

Why Engage an Elder Law Attorney to Prepare Your Medicaid Application

The Illinois Medical Assistance Program (“Medicaid”) is the health care program for individuals who do not have another form of insurance or whose insurance does not cover what they need, such as nursing home or supportive living care. A significant number of people must look to Medicaid to pay for their nursing home and supportive living care. However, the eligibility rules are complicated for applicants for Medicaid long term care.

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

Special Needs Trusts

Special Needs Planning

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

Elder Law

Why Work with an Elder Law Attorney for Medicaid

Estate Planning

Why You Should Choose an Elder Law Attorney

You have decided to take the advice of your friends, family and financial planner and have your estate planning documents prepared. Who should you hire – a traditional estate planner, or, an elder law attorney?

While most elder law attorneys are estate planners, most estate planners are not elder law attorneys. Traditional estate planners focus on the transfer of your property at your death and minimization of estate taxes. While elder law attorneys also plan for transfer of property at your death as well as estate tax minimization, in addition, the attorneys formulate plans that also help protect your assets while you are alive, both from the expense of long term care as well as from financial exploitation in your later years. Also, elder law attorneys craft plans that protect you and your estate if you become incapacitated.

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

Family Caregiver

Family Caregiving at the Holidays

When families live far away from one another, the holidays may be the only opportunity that long-distance caregivers and family members have to personally observe older relatives. Decline can happen quickly. Family members who haven't seen their aging loved for a while may be shocked at what they see: a formerly healthy father looking frail, or a mom whose home was once well-kept now in disarray.

Click here to download the publication written by Erin Vogt, LCSW, a social worker and client care coordinator at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras.

The Family Caregiver; A Guide to Doctor Visits

Doctor visits can often be a source of conflict between patients and their family caregivers, who may have different ideas about the things to discuss with the doctor. This guide, from the United Hospital Fund, provides practical tips to help patients and family caregivers coordinate agendas before an appointment and to communicate effectively together during the doctor visit - tips that will help avoid conflict as well as get the most out of the encounter with the doctor.

Resource for Veterans

The Veterans Administration has established a National Caregiver Support Line for Caregivers of Veterans — spouses, children, other family members and friends of Veterans as well as Veterans themselves. The purpose of the support line is to provide a centralized location for information and support regarding providing care for a Veteran. The support line responders are licensed social workers who provide guidance, education on VA programs and benefits, information on community resources, and emotional support. When a Caregiver or Veteran needs additional assistance or a connection to their local VA medical center, a referral is made to their Caregiver Support Coordinator.

To reach the VA Caregiver Support Line call toll free 1.855.260.3274. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern Standard Time and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

Tips for Caregivers of People with Dementia

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. Research has shown that caregivers themselves often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community. Click here to download the publication.

A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities

The Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Illinois Chapter offers a free online resource, Encouraging Comfort Care: A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities. This 21-page booklet provides useful information to families and staff of long-term care facilities about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, particularly care issues related to the late and final stages.

Resources

Health Information

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

Communication Symptoms with Dementia

POLST (Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Form

Palliative Care

How Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Attorneys Can Help People Diagnosed with MS

Next Step in Care: Family Caregivers and Health Care Professionals Working Together

Healthcare Communication Board for Medical, Physical, and Emotional Information

Resources for those affected by Stroke

Tips for Caregivers of People with Dementia

"End of Life: Helping with Comfort and Care"

Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease

A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities

Frontotemporal Disorders

Lewy Body Dementia

Vascular Dementia and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Resources

Housing and In-Home Help

What Is Home Care?

Guide to Choosing an Elder Law Attorney

Resident Rights

Resident Rights for People who are LGBTQ+

Medicare Coverage of Skilled Care

A Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

A Guide for Families of People with Dementia Living in Care Facilities

Resources

Advocacy/Rights

It’s Not All About Death and Taxes: Preventing Elder Financial Exploitation Through Estate Planning

Understanding the Four Cs of Elder Law Ethics

Another Tool to Protect Vulnerable Adults

Avoiding Scams Cornering Living Trusts

Guide to Choosing an Elder Law Attorney

Questions to Ask When Looking for an Elder Law Attorney

Educational Resources on Financial Abuse

A Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

Resources

Guardianship

Adult Guardianship Timeline

Managing Someone Else's Money

Brochure on Guardianship

Resources

Medicaid

Even Gifts Allowed by the Internal Revenue Service Are Subject to a Penalty for Medicaid

Why Engage an Elder Law Attorney to Prepare Your Medicaid Application

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

How to Pay for Skilled Care

What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?

Resources

Special Needs Trusts

Special Needs Trusts

ABLE Accounts

Resources

Special Needs Planning

Special Needs Trusts

Planning Guide for Parents of Children who have Special Needs

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

10 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Planning for a Loved One with Special Needs

Brochure on Guardianship

Healthcare Communication Board for Medical, Physical, and Emotional Information

Resources

Elder Law

Why You Should Choose an Elder Law Attorney For Estate Planning

Guide to Choosing an Elder Law Attorney

Important Information to Know and Keep Current

Why Work with an Elder Law Attorney for Medicaid

Understanding the 4 C's of Elder Law Ethics

Resources

Estate Planning

Why You Should Choose an Elder Law Attorney

10 Common Estate Planning Questions

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition

Important Information to Know and Keep Current

It’s Not All About Death and Taxes: Preventing Elder Financial Exploitation Through Estate Planning

Avoiding Scams Concerning Living Trusts

Why Not Use a Power of Attorney Form From the Internet

Managing Someone Else's Money

Resources

Family Caregiver

Family Caregiving at the Holidays