In the battle against senior fraud, the state has loaded up some new ammunition to fight scammers and con artists. “New Jersey’s senior citizens, like their peers across the country, are being targeted relentlessly by con artists who see them as easy marks,” said acting Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino in a statement. The Anti-Fraud Toolkit can be accessed online at FightingFraud.nj.gov. Financial crimes against seniors are on the rise nationwide, the state said. One in five are affected, victimized for $2.6 billion a year, authorities said. “Education and awareness are by far the most effective tools for fighting fraud,”…
Beneficiaries of unclaimed life insurance policies already have received billions of dollars — and others could be in store for some unexpected cash — the result of state actions forcing companies to locate heirs and pay them the money they are owed. Nearly two dozen states have passed laws requiring companies to search for beneficiaries. Illinois is the latest to consider a version of the legislation. The laws follow years-long audits and multi-state investigations of the top 40 insurance companies that revealed many of them held on to benefits, even when they knew the person insured had died. More than…
The loss of private health insurance from an employer can lead to poorer mental and physical health as older adults transition to early retirement. The study evaluated the impact of private insurance coverage on the symptoms of depression, activities of daily living (such as getting dressed), and instrumental activities of daily life (such as shopping for groceries and taking medications) during the transition from full-time work to early full retirement. The findings are published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Social Sciences. Private health insurance is an important factor for the health of early retirees, and those who maintain…
Medicare enrollees are moving in greater numbers than ever to the program’s managed care option as a way to save money. But the tradeoff is much less ability to use their preferred doctors and hospitals. Seniors can choose between traditional fee-for-service Medicare — which is accepted by most health care providers — or a Medicare Advantage plan. The latter encompasses health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs), which control costs by creating health care provider networks that enrollees must use. In theory, prospective Advantage enrollees can review lists of in-network providers before opting into a plan. But a…
Veterans’ benefits will match the Social Security cost-of-living increase in 2017, thanks to a measure recently finalized by Congress this week. But Veterans’ groups hoping for a more permanent answer to the annual legislative hand-wringing over their benefits boost will have to wait longer for that solution. Under law, annual cost-of-living increases are automatic for Social Security benefits, determined by the executive branch without intervention from Congress. But Veterans’ benefits fall into a different category, one that requires lawmakers to vote on an adjustment every year. In the last few decades, Veterans have seen their annual adjustment differ from the…
David Wingate, Attorney with The Elder Law Office of David Wingate, was selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Top Attorneys of North America – 2016 edition of The Who’s Who Directories. To watch the Breaking News click HERE The accomplishments and achievements attained by Mr. David Wingate in the field of Legal Services warrants inclusion into the Top Attorneys of North America. Planning for nursing home care and long-term care is a daunting task, entangled by barriers and emotional issues. The cost of financing nursing home care is financially devastating to most people. In response to the nursing home “taking” all of your…
“Last Cab to Darwin,” a charming Aussie euthanasia road-trip movie, takes a tough subject and amiably rides it out into the Outback sunset. It’s a wry film that remains upbeat without betraying its rough-around-the-edges cast of characters. Taxi driver Rex (Michael Caton, excellent) has never lived anywhere else except the desolate town of Broken Hill, a real place with a name that screenwriters dream about. His life consists of hanging out with his dog, knocking down a few with his buddies at the bar, and enjoying closeted relations with Polly (Ningali Lawford-Wolf, wonderful), the feisty Aboriginal woman across the street….
Back in the 1950s and ’60s, Carmen Herrera was making art, but her male counterparts were getting all of the attention. Now, at 101, she’s still hard at work, and finally getting some long overdue recognition. For most of her career, Herrera’s paintings of brightly colored geometric shapes went unnoticed, while her male counterparts — Barnett Newman, Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella — got plenty of attention for similar work. Herrera finally made her first sale at 89. And now, at 101, it seems she’s getting her due at last. The Cuban artist’s work can be seen at the Tate…
Some seniors in Bay City, Mich. who might be feeling a bit lonely now have the opportunity to take on a furry companion, free of charge. The Cats for Companionship program is the brainchild of Kati Loiselle and is supported by the Humane Society of Bay County. Loiselle, 28, had the idea for the program while in her senior year at Saginaw Valley State University’s social work program. At the time, she was interning at the Commission on Aging in Saginaw. Looking for an organization that would support the project, Loiselle contacted the Humane Society. The organization loved the idea,…
ACL recently announced grant awards totaling over $1.2 million to help older adults gain access to quality legal services. These awards are designed to help improve the quality of life of elders at risk of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in their communities. Source/more: Administration for Community Living David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.
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