Get Living Trust, Will, POLST And Power Of Attorneys In Place Immediately

A woman with grey hair sitting in a chair.


Based on a new survey done by AARP, our 60’s are a watershed decade when it comes to shifts in attitude regarding longevity, relationships, well-being and wealth.  At the same time, concerns about life expectancy dips, while worries about stamina, cognitive skills, diminishing eyesight and memory loss rises.  It’s not until people get into their 80’s that many people reported making necessary plans to help their families and medical team understand and carry out their end-of-life wishes, as well as planning for their assets, funeral and burial.  That seems like a long time to wait!  My suggestion is to get a living trust, will, POLST and medical and legal power of attorneys in place immediately.  You never know what the future will hold.

Montage Health To Hold Advance Planning Health Care Directive Workshop January 10

A large fountain in the middle of an indoor area.


Join Joy Smith, a Registered Nurse and a member of the Palliative Medicine Service team at Montage Health Care on January 10 for an Advance Planning Health Care Directive Workshop on January 10 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Ryan Ranch location of Montage Medical Group in the Hazen Education Center.  At the meeting, you either start or update your Advance Health Care Directive and other important documents, and then submit your paperwork to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP).  For more information, call 625-4977.

https://www.montagehealth.org/classes-events/search-results-detail/?eventId=b7650967-b63d-ec11-a843-000d3a611ea2

New Congressional Bill On Social Security Doesn’t Address The Funding Shortfall

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


A House bill sponsored by Democrats called Social Security 2100 : A Sacred Trust does much to help seniors, boosting benefits in a number of areas.   Introduced by Rep. John Carson, D-Conn. who serves on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee is a bit perplexing as it is adding to a looming deficit and does nothing to address how our nation will pay for it.  Some key issues in the bill:

Benefits would be set at 125% above the poverty line and tied to current wage levels;

Both new and existing beneficiaries would get a 2% increase in their benefit, on average;

The bill would repeal rules that reduce Social Security benefits for workers and their spouses, widows or widowers who also have pension income (called the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset); and

Annual cost-of-living adjustments would be tied to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly, or CPI-E.

The latest estimates from the government are that by 2034, Social Security benefits will drop to 78% of what has been promised, and this new bill extends that date to 2038 to give Congress more time to come up with a long-term solution to the program’s solvency issues.  There is a provision for an increase in the wages cap where workers have to pay Social Security Tax (up from $147,000 to $400,000).  However, this will likely be offset from a provision in the bill which would only require Social Security recipients to pay taxes on earnings above $35,000 ($50,000 for couples), up significantly from $25K and $32K respectively.  This seems to me like Congress just kicking the can down the road—why not try and solve this issue now?

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/social-security-what-a-new-plan-in-congress-would-mean-for-benefits.html

TRUST Act Working Its Way Through Congress Could Cut Medicare And Social Security

A building with the capitol in the background.


A very unpopular bill called The Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act is now working its way through Congress.  If passed, it would set up groups of a dozen lawmakers with the power to recommend cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  This would hit the most vulnerable.  Half of those covered by Medicare have incomes of less than $27K.  Social Security is the main source of income for more than 34 million older households.  Under the new law, if seven of the twelve committee members approve of changes, they would be fast tracked in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with no adequate debate among lawmakers and no amendments permitted on the floor of the House or the Senate.  To make sure that your senators and representative know you oppose the TRUST Act, please go to  https://action.aarp.org/trustact.

Monterey, CA End Of Life Planning Must Be Addressed In This Pandemic : By Derek Baine


At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have a nutritional diet, get enough exercise and do estate planning like setting up a living trust, signing a POLST and power of attorneys for both medical and financial.  However, getting exercise in this coronavirus environment is difficult and you would be surprised how many people have not set up end-of-life paperwork.  Kate De Bartolo, director of the Conversation Project, believes that end-of-life-care planning is something that more and more Americans will embrace dearly in light of the pandemic, even younger people.  Traffic and downloads of end-of-life planning material have surged this year, she noted.  One thing that has been highlighted in the pandemic has been that many people may change their mind about asking for all available life saving methods in their POLST and medical power of attorney.  Given that COVID-19 victims are isolated and can’t see their family and friends before they pass away may make living pointless under those lockdown conditions.

https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationProject/posts/end-of-life-care-planning-is-something-many-put-off-says-kate-debartolo-director/3651234638270719/

Click on the link below to find more a bout end-of-life planning from Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) and Aspire Health Care.

https://www.aspirehealthplan.org/2020/07/29/getting-started-advance-care-planning/

Carmel, CA Estate Planning In A Coronavirus World : By Derek Baine

A jar of coins with the word retirement written on it.


AARP Bulletin in their November 2020 issue (page 22) had an interesting article about more and more couples looking at estate planning now that the coronavirus is making the future outlook uncertain.  Keep in mind that you can write a will at any time, even if you are sick in the hospital.  Most estate planners recommend setting up a living trust, which gives you a lot of flexibility on how your assets are distributed following your death.  Experts warn that doing a joint will for a couple is a terrible idea—they aren’t even legal in some states.  Leaving more to one child than another almost guarantees that the will could be challenged.  Stepchildren aren’t automatically treated as children for legal purposes.  There are a lot of moving pieces in an estate plan so consult with your attorney.

Pebble Beach, CA Estate Planning In A Coronavirus World : By Derek Baine


AARP Bulletin in their November 2020 issue (page 22) had an interesting article about more and more couples looking at estate planning now that the coronavirus is making the future outlook bleak.  Keep in mind that you can write a will at any time, even if you are sick in the hospital.  Most estate planners recommend setting up a living trust, which gives you a lot of flexibility on how your assets are distributed following your death.  Experts warn that doing a joint will for a couple is a terrible idea—they aren’t even legal in some states.  Leaving more to one child than another almost guarantees that the will could be challenged.  Stepchildren aren’t automatically treated as children for legal purposes.  There are a lot of moving pieces in an estate plan so consult with your attorney.

End Of Life Planning Must Be Addressed In This Pandemic

An older woman with a gray hair sitting in front of trees.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have a nutritional diet, get enough exercise and do estate planning like setting up a living trust, signing a POLST and power of attorneys for both medical and financial.  However, getting exercise in this coronavirus environment is difficult and you would be surprised how many people have not set up end-of-life paperwork.  Kate De Bartolo, director of the Conversation Project, believes that end-of-life-care planning is something that more and more Americans will embrace dearly in light of the pandemic, even younger people.  Traffic and downloads of end-of-life planning material have surged this year, she noted.  One thing that has been highlighted in the pandemic has been that many people may change their mind about asking for all available life saving methods in their POLST and medical power of attorney.  Given that COVID-19 victims are isolated and can’t see their family and friends before they pass away may make living pointless under those lockdown conditions.

https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationProject/posts/end-of-life-care-planning-is-something-many-put-off-says-kate-debartolo-director/3651234638270719/

Monterey, CA Advanced Healthcare Planning, Polst, Will & Living Trust Workshop At CHOMP

An older woman with a gray hair sitting in front of trees.


Nobody likes to think about dying, but it is extremely important that you prepare for the inevitable by drawing up an Advanced Healthcare Directive, POLST, Living Trust and Will so that your wishes are carried out.  Join experts at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, on Monday, February 8 from 4-5:30 p.m. or on Tuesday, February 23, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  Learn how to document your wishes, receive expert medical coaching and submit your documents.  To register, click here www.chomp.org/planning.

 

End Of Life Planning Must Be Addressed In This Pandemic

A person holding a stethoscope in their hand.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we always encourage our clients to have a nutritional diet, get enough exercise and do estate planning like setting up a living trust, signing a POLST and power of attorneys for both medical and financial.  However, getting exercise in this coronavirus environment is difficult and you would be surprised how many people have not set up end-of-life paperwork.  Kate De Bartolo, director of the Conversation Project, believes that end-of-life-care planning is something that more and more Americans will embrace dearly in light of the pandemic, even younger people.  Traffic and downloads of end-of-life planning material have surged this year, she noted.  One thing that has been  highlighted in the pandemic has been that many people may change their mind about asking for all available life saving methods in their POLST and medical power of attorney.  Given that COVID-19 victims are isolated and can’t see their family and friends before they pass away may make living pointless under those lockdown conditions.

https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationProject/posts/end-of-life-care-planning-is-something-many-put-off-says-kate-debartolo-director/3651234638270719/