MARCH 18th POSTPONED – Join Us in April for Real Talk: The Essentials of Aging with Confidence

Out of an abundance of caution and with the utmost respect for our seniors and their caregivers, we have postponed the launch of our upcoming series, Real Talk: The Essentials of Aging with Confidence, until further notice.

We hope to proceed with our April session if it is prudent to do so. Be sure to watch for more information in the coming weeks.

This month we begin the first of a 3-part series in which we tackle topics involving The Essentials of Aging with Confidence. Details below including where to register. We look forward to seeing you there!

March 18th – Part 1: Getting Your Estate in Order
April 22nd – Part 2: Aging in Place or Assisted Living? Which option works for your lifestyle?
May 13th – Part 3: The Essential Guide to Aging and Caregiving.
@bgnthebgn @ofplaw @sandyspringbank #shepherdscenter #agingwithconfidence

Learn More About the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA)

Check out the brief interview I did regarding my new role as President of the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. 

The Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, or VAELA, is a non-profit professional organization. Its mission is to educate and empower legal representation of elderly and/or disabled clients and their families. OFP Shareholder Catherine F. Schott Murray currently serves as VAELA’s President.

How does VAELA help protect/advocate the interests of seniors or the disabled?

Catherine F. Schott Murray: VAELA Is leading the way in special needs and elder law in Virginia by educating, inspiring and empowering legal representation of elderly and disabled clients and their families, and by advocating their issues before courts and legislatures.  In representing a diverse set of individuals and families with unique issues by providing practical and common-sense advice, VAELA members help their clients to protect family members with disabilities and to age with dignity.

What are the biggest challenges to protecting the legal interests of older Virginians and those with special needs, and how can VAELA help to drive change?

CSM: Each year members of VAELA tackle changes to the rules and regulations relating to guardianship, financial exploitation, Medicaid, estate planning, and estate and trust administration.  Given that VAELA members are very often the first responders to incidents involving these issues, these same members are among the most knowledgeable in providing advice and guidance to navigate those changes.  Furthermore, members of VAELA can provide invaluable input into proposed legislation that may impact an individual’s life.

What are your key priorities this year as you take the helm of VAELA?

CSM: One of the key priorities this year is for VAELA to help cultivate the next generation of elder law attorneys through its mentorship program and annual conferences such as its Fall Conference and annual UnProgram.  Through these programs, VAELA can ensure that the elderly and people with disabilities receive the specialized service and advice they need by educating this next generation.

How can elder law attorneys learn more and get involved with VAELA?

CSM: Anyone interested in learning more about VAELA should visit our website: www.vaela.org.

Back to School – Three Documents Every College Student Should Have

Going back to school is right around the corner…what!?   How can that be?  However, it is true that as August approaches families will be sending kids back to school.  For those families with children starting college, this time is fraught will all sorts of emotions, checklists, logistics and large bills.  It is also often a time that parents forget that their little one, who has now grown to an adult, is treated as an adult in the eyes of the law.  Furthermore, this is also a time when ‘adult’ children are not fully independent of their parents, but their parents may not be permitted to help because the child is deemed to be an adult.  Age 18 is the age of majority for pretty much every activity, including signing contracts and making healthcare decisions.  To avoid circumstances where parents and their children are separated by legal requirements, here are three key documents every 18-year-old should have. 

General Durable Power of Attorney – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to help make financial decisions.  It allows the parents to deal with financial institutions, housing issues, such as speaking with a landlord, insurance questions, like car insurance or renter’s insurance, and generally stand in the shoes of the child.  It also allows parents to speak with the educational institutional and gain access to their child’s grades, which may be a downside for the child and he or she may hesitate to sign the financial power of attorney.  However, most other sources on the subject argue that if the parents are footing the bill for the education, the parents have a right to make certain demands and receive certain information like the child’s grades.  But, regardless of the motive, the discussion surrounding the need for a financial power of attorney should hopefully generate some thoughtful discourse between parents and children regarding how financial transactions and other legal, contractual transactions will be handled.

HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“) regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information.  HIPAA was intended to add a layer of protection for individuals so that their medical history or health status could not be wrongfully used against them.  However, HIPAA brought with it many more hoops to clear in order to receive medical information.  Having a familial relationship, like parent and child, does not get around the requirement that an adult child has to have given their parents access to their medical records.  Thus, if a child is in a car accident and ends up in the hospital unable to communicate and there is no HIPAA release in place, the parents may be left in the dark regarding their child’s status.  A separate HIPAA release allows the child to nominate individuals who can give and receive medical information.  It does not necessarily mean that those same people have a right to make medical decisions.  It does, however, at a minimum, allow parents to be present.  

Advance Medical Directive – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to make medical decisions.  College is a time when lots of new adventures occur, and sometimes, those adventures go awry.  There are times when accidents do indeed just happen, like car accidents or a slip and fall.  In those circumstances, if a child is at a medical center on campus or off campus, the parents have no right to find out what is going on and to help make decisions unless their child has given them access and authority to do so.  Access can be granted by way of the HIPAA release mentioned above, which could also be a part of the Advance Medical Directive.  But, actual authority to make decisions is only granted by way of an Advance Medical Directive or healthcare power of attorney, if the child is unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.  Without an Advance Medical Directive, parents may be able to be present, if a HIPAA release is in place, but have no right at the decision-making table.  Thus, similar to the financial power of attorney, the discussions surrounding the need for a healthcare power of attorney should help enlighten parents and children about medical wishes and desires.  It is also a good time to talk about extraordinary measures if a catastrophic event occurs, which may lead to conversations supporting the creation of a Living Will (a fourth document).  Although, for an 18-year-old, it may be too difficult to focus on that specific possibility.

At this back to school time when checklists are aplenty, add these key documents to the checklist.  Having these documents in place will help avoid added stress during emergent situations.  Moreover, both parents and children get to plan their journey during life’s next chapter.  #estateplanning #collegebound #backtoschool #incapacityplanning #powersofattorney @bgnthebgn

Revision to Proposed Rule Banning Arbitration Clauses in Nursing Home Admissions Agreements

Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a rule banning the use of binding pre-dispute arbitration agreements by nursing homes that accept Medicare and Medicaid patients.  The result of the new rule would have been that families who have an issue with a nursing home regarding care, abuse, and the like, would have been able to sue in court to have their case heard versus having to go through a binding arbitration process.  However, the American Health Care Association along with four long-term care providers filed suit against the Health and Human Services Secretary and CMS arguing that the agencies overstepped their authority in issuing the rule.  Injunctive relief was granted preventing the rule from going into effect.

In May of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court in Kindred Nursing Centers L.P. vs. Clark, overturned a ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court in which the Kentucky Supreme Court stated that durable powers of attorney must explicitly permit an agent to enter into an arbitration agreement or otherwise risk violating the Kentucky Constitution where access to the courts and a trial by jury is ‘sacred’ and inviolate’.  Instead the U.S. Supreme Court held that Kentucky’s ruling violated the Federal Arbitration Act by treating arbitration agreements differently.    

As a result, earlier this month CMS issued proposed revisions to its arbitration agreement requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.  CMS is no longer proposing a ban on arbitration agreements in admissions agreements, but it is requiring greater transparency as to the meaning and understanding of such provisions in admissions agreements.  Thus, it appears at this juncture that CMS is trying to find some middle ground between a complete ban on arbitration agreements and the decision in the Kindred case, but only time will tell if that middle ground has been found between the rights of the families of patients and the long-term care facilities.  #elderlaw #elderabuse #nursinghome #arbitration #CMS #SCOTUS @bgnthebgn

Aging in Three Simple Questions

At a recent Moms at Work event hosted by Claire M. S. Meade, discussion was held about those who are part of the “sandwich generation”, that is those who have young children, but also older parents.  In particular, the conversation centered on questions to ask retired or retiring parents to help facilitate a discussion about aging.  Many earlier articles have addressed estate planning, including planning for incapacity and planning for death.  But this discussion highlighted three basic questions that MIT AgeLab identified as key when considering what it means to be retired.  The simple questions are: (1) Who will change my light bulbs?  (2) How will I get an ice cream cone?  (3) With whom will I have lunch?  These seem like very basic questions, but when you start to think beyond the initial concept to the considerations that each question raises, you realize that there are a lot of details to address in each question as it relates to retirement and aging.   Check out the MIT AgeLab article for more details and think about beginning the conversation with your retired or retiring family member to avoid finding yourself in a situation where it is too late to plan.  @bgnthebgn @josephcoughlin #incapacityplanning #estateplanning #aginginplace #retirementplanning #sandwichgeneration

National Healthcare Decisions Day – Week Long Event for 2017

Earlier articles have talked about how you can control your final moments and also how you want to be rememberedThis year National Healthcare Decisions Day is a week long event beginning April 16 and ending on April 22.  Such recognition provides a reminder that having an advance medical directive and a living will in which you express your wishes regarding medical care, if you cannot decide, and whether you want life-prolonging procedures, are crucial components in every estate plan.  Several states and the District of Columbia have addressed end of life decision-making through death with dignity statutes.  But, regardless of your position on death with dignity statutes, end of life decision-making and advance healthcare planning is a necessary conversation to have and to share with your loved ones and National Healthcare Decisions Day (or for this year week) helps remind us of the need to begin the dialog on the subject.  @deathwdignity @NHDD #livingwill #estateplanning #endoflife #advancedirective #NHDD

District of Columbia Considers Death with Dignity Act

flowers-3The District of Columbia is considering enacting the Death with Dignity Act (the “Act”) that would allow terminally ill individuals with six months or less to live the ability to receive a lethal dose of medication and end their life.  Several procedural steps lie ahead for the Act now that the D.C. Council has voted to place the Act on the legislative agenda for an upcoming meeting.  However, it is unclear whether there is sufficient support for the Act to be made into law.  Arguments in favor of the Act revolve around giving an individual control over how and when they choose to die, but advocates against the Act are concerned that individuals’ lives will be prematurely terminated. 

The issue once again raises the importance of planning.  Planning for incapacity and planning for death.   Both sides of the death with dignity argument seem to have a common thread involving control, which is exactly what planning gives you.  Planning gives you control over who is in charge of your medical decisions when you are not able to make those decisions. Planning gives you control of whether you want life-prolonging procedures when doctors have certified that nothing more can be done except provide comfort care.  Planning gives you control of how you want to be remembered in those final moments.  Planning gives your family members peace of mind to know that they are truly abiding by your wishes, which in turn may make them feel as if they are in control of the situation.  Planning gives your family time to prepare for a life without you in it and to try to control the emotional turmoil that realization creates.  Ultimately, planning is a gift to yourself to know that that particular item on a lengthy checklist can be crossed off so that you can enjoy life knowing that your end of life is in the best order you can create.  So, regardless of which side of the death with dignity argument you fall, think of the planning that can be done to control your death with dignity. #endoflife #estateplanning #advancedirective #livingwill @deathwdignity @NHDD @bgnthebgn

Facing a Tough Diagnosis – Four Lessons of Gene Wilder

flowers-2With Gene Wilder’s death, the family released a statement that revealed to the world that Gene Wilder had died due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  The family also stated that Wilder had not wanted to reveal his diagnosis earlier and risk “one less smile in the world.”  In releasing the statement as they did, the family has provided us with a few valuable lessons about planning. 

  1. What should ‘the public’ know?  From the statement, it seems clear that in receiving an irreversible diagnosis, Wilder’s family talked about how to handle the news both publicly and privately.  Families that have received terrible news of a terminal or debilitating illness are aware of the difficulties surrounding such information.  Questions about who should be notified are common as well as discussion regarding how much information should be disclosed.  In addition, the ‘public’ for each person is different.  This means for some only immediate family members while friends, neighbors and colleagues have a less detailed picture.  Immediate family may include certain close friends and may very specifically exclude others.  What about professional advisors?  How much information should they have?  Each of us has various circles and those circles have to be evaluated to determine who should know and what should be known, which is important to clarify to avoid confusion in the dissemination of information.
  2. What is the care plan?   Certainly from a medical perspective there is a prognosis and then treatment plans that are outlined with various degrees of outcomes and complications.  But what about the plan to care for minor children, if necessary?  Or a caregiver spouse or partner?  Who are or will be the caregivers?  Has respite care been discussed for those caregivers?  Are there modifications to a residence that are needed?  What about access to financial information? Should such access be limited or restricted?  Has there been discussion about involving a care manager?  These are just a few of the questions to consider to determining the plan of action.
  3. Your final moments.  Are friends and family present?  Is music played?  Is a spiritual leader, such as a priest, rabbi or pastor present?  Will the final moments be at home, wherever that may be at the time?  The final moments are not only for the person dying, but the family and friends who are part of that passing.  Discussions such as these are key in determining end of life care
  4. How to be remembered?  An earlier article outlined six questions to ask surrounding the details of how you want to be remembered.  Providing some information about wishes and desires regarding a funeral or service is a relief for family members because decision-making at this difficult is clouded by emotions and shouldn’t be overshadowed with the thought of “Is this really what was wanted?”

Thus, as many of us remember Gene Wilder and the various roles he played in the movies, we can also pause to reflect on how we would face such tough diagnosis with our family, and when the time comes, be prepared to have the important conversations. #GeneWilder #incapacityplanning #estateplanning #advancemedicaldirective #livingwill @bgnthebgn

Three Key Documents Every College Age Child Needs to Sign

ClassroomThe middle of August is a time when families look towards Fall sports, cooler temperatures and the kids going back to school.  For those families with children starting college, this time is fraught will all sorts of emotions, checklists, logistics and large bills.  It is also often a time that parents forget that their little one, who has now grown to an adult, is treated as an adult in the eyes of the law.  Moreover, this is also a time when adult children are not yet entirely independent of their parents, but their parents may not be permitted to help because the child is deemed to be an adult.  Age 18 is the age of majority for pretty much every activity, including signing contracts and making healthcare decisions.  Thus, to avoid circumstances where parents and their children are separated by legal requirements, here are three key documents every 18-year-old should have. 

General Durable Power of Attorney – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to help make financial decisions.  It allows the parents to deal with financial institutions, housing issues, such as speaking with a landlord, insurance questions, like car insurance or renter’s insurance, and generally stand in the shoes of the child, if the child is unable to act.  It also allows parents to speak with the educational institutional, which typically means that grades can be accessed.  This may be a downside for the child and he or she may hesitate to sign the financial power of attorney.  However, most other sources on the subject argue that if the parents are footing the bill for the education, the parents have a right to make certain demands and receive certain information like the child’s grades.  But, regardless of the motive, the discussion surrounding the need for a financial power of attorney should hopefully generate some thoughtful discourse between parents and children regarding how financial transactions and other legal, contractual transactions will be handled.

HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“) regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information.  HIPAA was intended to add a layer of protection for individuals so that their medical history or health status could not be wrongfully used against them.  However, HIPAA brought with it many more hoops to clear in order to receive medical information.  Having a familial relationship, like parent and child, does not get around the requirement that a child has to have given their parents access to their medical records.  So, if a child is in a car accident and ends up in the hospital unable to communicate, if there is no HIPAA release in place, the parents may be left in the dark regarding their child’s status.  A separate HIPAA release allows the child to nominate individuals who can give and receive medical information.  It does not necessarily mean that those same people have a right to make medical decisions.  However, at a minimum, it allows parents to be present.  

Advance Medical Directive – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to make medical decisions.  College is a time when lots of new adventures occur, and sometimes, those adventures go awry.  There are times when accidents do indeed just happen, like car accidents or a slip and fall.  In those circumstances, if a child is at a medical center on campus or off campus, the parents have no right to find out what is going on and to help make decisions unless their child has given them access and authority to do so.  Access can be granted by way of the HIPAA release mentioned above, which could also be a part of the Advance Medical Directive.  But, actual authority to make decisions is only granted by way of a Advance Medical Directive or healthcare power of attorney, if the child is unable to communicate.  Without it, parents may be able to be present, if a HIPAA release is in place, but have no right at the decision-making table.  Thus, similar to the financial power of attorney, the discussions surrounding the need for a healthcare power of attorney should help enlighten parents and children about medical wishes and desires.  It is also a good time to talk about extraordinary measures if a catastrophic event occurs, which may lead to conversations supporting the creation of a Living Will (a fourth document).  Although, for an 18-year-old, it may be too difficult to focus on that specific possibility.

So, if you are part of a family with college bound children, having these key documents in place will help avoid added stress during emergent situations, which is when these documents are most likely necessary.  Moreover, both parents and children get to plan their journey during life’s next chapter.  Therefore, speak with your professional advisor about getting these important documents in place, and if your child has already left, Homecoming, Fall break and Thanksgiving are right around the corner!  #estateplanning #collegebound #incapacityplanning #powersofattorney @bgnthebgn

The Marriage of Divorce and Estate Planning

In case you missed the series about the impact of divorce on estate planning, here is a brief recap of some points to consider.

1.  The Property Settlement Agreement may require that you maintain life insurance for any minor children.  If that is the case, then have you revisited your estate plan recently?  What obligations to maintain life insurance do you have?  Does the Property Settlement Agreement have certain requirements for the creation of a trust, and if so, what are those requirements?  Have the requirements of the Property Settlement Agreement been fulfilled or incorporated through your estate plan?  Are there any provisions of the Property Settlement Agreement that will survive death?

2. When was the last time you updated your beneficiary designations on qualified retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k) or IRA accounts), annuities, life insurance or payable on death or transfer of death designations on bank or brokerage accounts?

3.  What should happen to your real and personal property?  Are there steps you need to take to ensure your real and personal property are distributed to the individuals or entities you want to have benefit?

4.  If you are divorcing and have a disabled child, how is that child being provided for upon the incapacity or death of a parent?  Is eligibility for public benefits preserved through a properly structured special or supplemental needs trust?  Who has authority to make healthcare decisions for the child and in what manner?  Has guardianship been determined and the terms in which parents plan to share guardianship specified, if applicable?

5.  What happens if an estate plan already exists and you do nothing to update it?

#estateplanning #divorce @bgnthebgn