Social Security Cost of Living in 2018: a 2.0% increase

Social Security Cost of Living in 2018: a 2.0% increaseThe Social Security Administration announced on Friday that for 2018, it would be increasing Social Security benefits paid by 2.0 percent to match inflation. In theory, this is good news. It provides an increase for the millions of Americans (primarily those who are retired or who have […]

When a Loved One Needs More Than Words

When a Loved One Needs More Than WordsIt is all too easy to interpret the confusion expressed by a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia as representative of all their faculties. It really is not the case. If the person simply started speaking a language you didn’t understand, you wouldn’t immediately assume something was wrong with […]

4 Unexpected Benefits of Downsizing in Our Later Years

​4 Unexpected Benefits of Downsizing in Our Later YearsThe phrase “less is more” may not apply to all aspects of our lives, but downsizing to reduce living space and personal possessions can have a wonderful effect. Here are four unexpected ways that less really is more when it comes to downsizing in our later years […]

Resident Aggression in Institutional Elder Care Settings

Resident Aggression in Institutional Elder Care SettingsOne of the most difficult aspects of both having a loved one in an assisted living or skilled nursing setting, and of administering those settings safely, is processing often unpredictable behavior of individuals with dementia. The actions of residents often do not correspond to any rational reality we understand. […]

Medicaid and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs – Watch Out!

Medicaid and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs – Watch Out!The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) recently released guidance for people who are helping their loved ones fill out applications for Medicaid benefits for, among other things, nursing home and assisted living facility residents. DCA emphasizes in its advisory notice something that we […]