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COVID-19

COVID-19: Tips for Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia

By Elder Law, HealthNo Comments

There is no evidence to suggest that dementia itself increases the risk for Coronavirus, just like dementia does not increase risk for flu. However, behaviors, increased age, and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk. For example, people with dementia may forget to wash their hands or take other recommended precautions to prevent the illness. Viruses like COVID-19 or the flu may worsen cognitive impairment due to dementia.

Caregivers of individuals living with dementia should follow guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and consider the following tips:

  • Increased confusion is often the first symptom of any illness for people living with dementia. If your loved one shows rapidly increased confusion, you should contact their health care provider for advice. Unless your loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, such as difficulty breathing or a very high fever, it is recommended that you call their health care provider instead of going directly to an emergency room. Their doctor may be able to treat them without a visit to the hospital.
  • Individuals living with dementia may need extra reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices.
    • Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind your loved one to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds.
    • Demonstrate thorough handwashing.
    • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a quick alternative to handwashing if your loved one cannot get to a sink to wash their hands easily.
  • Ask their pharmacist of doctor about filling prescriptions for a greater number of days to reduce trips to the pharmacy.
  • Think ahead and make alternative plans for care management if the primary caregiver should become sick.
June 15, 2020
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Tax Deadlines Postponed to July 15, 2020, due to Coronavirus

By Elder Law, Tax LawNo Comments

In March 2020, in response to COVID-19, the IRS announced that taxpayers generally would have until July 15, 2020, to file and pay federal income taxes originally due on April 15, 2020. No late-filing penalty, late-payment penalty, or interest will be due.

On April 9, 2020, the Department of Treasury and the IRS expanded this relief to additional returns, tax payments, and other actions. As a result, the extensions generally now apply to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Individuals, trusts, estates, corporation and other non-corporate tax filers qualify for the extension. This means that anyone, including Americans who live and work abroad, can wait until July 15 to file their 2019 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.

The extensions are automatic and apply to all taxpayers. Taxpayers do not need to file other forms or contact the IRS to qualify.

Fred Jacobs is a Florida Board Certified Tax Lawyer.  Contact Fred at Bach, Jacobs & Byrne, P.A. to discuss tax planning for you and your family. Call (941) 906-1231 to schedule an appointment.

June 10, 2020
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How to Stay Connected to Loved Ones in Nursing Homes During a Pandemic

By Health, Long-Term CareNo Comments

 

Family caregivers have now faced weeks or even months of physical separation from their loved ones in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in order to protect them from Coronavirus. The restrictions on in-person visitation in long-term care facilities during the pandemic have made it challenging for family caregivers to stay close and present in the lives of their loved ones. The lack of family contact and attention can create feelings of isolation and anxiety for a resident, and additional stress for already worried families and friends, who are used to visiting in person.

While you may be unable to visit your loved one in-person, it is possible to brighten their day and try to ease feelings of isolation. Here are some ideas for staying emotionally connected to loved ones while visitor restrictions are in place:

  • Plan a virtual visit. There are several apps that will allow you to meet with your loved one virtually, including FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype. Most facilities are more than willing to assist your loved one in dialing in to a call. Some facilities even have iPads for easier viewing.
  • Send snail mail. Cards and letters are an easy way to tell someone you are thinking of them. Write an update about routine family activities. Have your children draw a picture. Include a photo showing your quarantine activities. Receiving updates will be reassuring to your loved one that you are okay during this health crisis and will provide your loved one with a genuine connection to you.
  • Create a photo book. Create a photo book with photos of what you, family, and friends have been up to. Include captions identifying family members and friends, with a small description. It can be as simple as a few pages printed from your home printer and stapled together, a poster board assortment, or a professionally bound book from Shutterfly or another online printing company. Most facilities will accept envelopes or packages at the front desk and will have staff members deliver to your loved one’s room, or they can always be sent in the mail.
  • Have a window visit. Many facilities will schedule a specific time for your family to “meet” your loved one through a window on the ground floor. You will be on the outside, and your loved one will be safely on the inside. You can chat, share smiles and laughs, and a touch through the glass. You can make special occasions, like a birthday or holiday, extra special with handmade signs.
  • Create a phone chain. Create a schedule of different family members and friends to each call your loved one on a specific day. This is a great way to connect others also feeling isolated, especially seniors and those living alone, with your loved one. Plus, a regular daily phone call gives your loved one something to look forward to.
June 4, 2020
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COVID-19: Tips for Supporting Loved Ones with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes During the Pandemic

By Elder Law, Health, Long-Term CareNo Comments

There is no evidence to suggest that dementia itself increases the risk for Coronavirus, just like dementia does not increase risk for flu. However, behaviors, increased age, and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk. For example, people with dementia may forget to wash their hands or take other recommended precautions to prevent the illness. Viruses like COVID-19 or the flu may worsen cognitive impairment due to dementia.

 

The CDC has provided guidance on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in nursing homes. Precautions may vary based on local situations. If you have a loved one with dementia living in a nursing home:

 

  • Check with the facility regarding their procedures for managing COVID-19 risk. Make sure the facility has your emergency contact information and contact information for another family member or friend as backup.
  • Do not visit your loved one in the facility if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or have any signs or symptoms of illness.
  • Depending on the situation in your local area, facilities may limit or not allow visitors, in order to protect the residents.
  • If visitation is not allowed, ask the facility how you can have contact with your loved one. Options may include telephone calls, video chats, or emails to check in.
  • If your loved one is unable to engage in calls or video chats, ask the facility how you can keep in touch with staff in order to get updates.
June 3, 2020
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My Dead Relative Received a Stimulus Check. How Do I Return It?

By Elder Law, Government Benefits, Probate, Tax LawNo Comments

According to the IRS, stimulus payment made to someone who died before receiving it should be returned to the government. If the payment was made to a single filer, the entire payment should be returned. If the payment was made to joint filers, and one spouse had not died before the receipt of the payment, only the portion of the payment made on account of the decedent should be returned. This amount will be $1,200.00, unless the joint adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.00.

If the payment was a paper check and you have not cashed it:

  1. Write “Void” in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
  2. Mail the voided Treasure check to the appropriate IRS location, based on your state of residence. This information can be found at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center#more. If you live in Florida, the check should be mailed to:

         Austin Internal Revenue Service

3651 S. Interregional Hwy

Austin, TX 78741

  1. Do not staple, bend, or paperclip the check.
  2. Include a note stating the reason for returning the check.

If the payment was a direct deposit, or if the payment was a paper check and you have cashed it:

  1. Submit a personal check, money order, etc., payable to “U.S. Treasury,” immediately to the appropriate IRS location, based on your state of residence. This information can be found at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center#more. If you live in Florida, the check should be mailed to:

         Austin Internal Revenue Service

3651 S. Interregional Hwy

Austin, TX 78741

  1. Write “2020EIP” and the deceased recipient’s social security number on the memo line of the check.
  2. Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the payment.

Fred Jacobs is a Florida Board Certified Tax Lawyer.  Contact Fred at Bach, Jacobs & Byrne, P.A. to discuss tax planning for you and your family. Call (941) 906-1231 to schedule an appointment.

May 20, 2020
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My Dead Relative Received a Stimulus Check. Can I keep it?

By Government Benefits, ProbateNo Comments

There have been a number of glitches in sending stimulus payments to Americans under the recently enacted CARES Act, including sending stimulus payments, which are intended to ease the financial stress caused by the Coronavirus, to dead people. Initially, this issue left many unanswered questions for the relatives of the deceased. What should I do with the money? Do I get to keep it? Should it be deposited into an estate account? Should I send it back? However, now, the IRS has issued specific guidance on what to do if you receive a stimulus check for a deceased person.

According to the recently released guidance, the IRS says that a stimulus payment made to someone who died before receiving  should be returned to the government. If the payment was made to a single filer, the entire payment should be returned. If the payment was made to joint filers, and one spouse had not died before the receipt of the payment, only the portion of the payment made on account of the decedent should be returned. This amount will be $1,200.00, unless the joint adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.00.

Fred Jacobs is a Florida Board Certified Tax Lawyer.  Contact Fred at Bach, Jacobs & Byrne, P.A. to discuss tax planning for you and your family. Call (941) 906-1231 to schedule an appointment.

May 19, 2020
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Will the Stimulus Check Impact My Medicaid Eligibility?

By Asset Protection Planning, Elder Law, Government Benefits, Long-Term Care, Medicaid PlanningNo Comments

The recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides for a direct payment of up to $1,200.00 to most taxpayers.  As the IRS begins to send out these payments, many Medicaid recipients are wondering how the stimulus checks will affect their Medicaid eligibility.

                The stimulus checks will be excluded as income and as an asset in the month of receipt and will continue to be excluded as an asset for 12 months following the date of receipt. This means that individuals receiving Medicaid benefits will be able to accept those payments without putting their benefits at risk.

Medicaid recipients are free to use the stimulus payments as they wish. Because the stimulus payment is excluded as an asset for 12 months from the date of receipt, it will not put the Medicaid recipient over the asset limit of $2,000.00. However, after the 12 months is over, any money remaining will be counted as an asset.

If you have specific questions regarding preserving your Medicaid eligibility, the experienced elder law attorneys of Bach, Jacobs & Byrne, P.A. are here to assist you. Call us at (941)906-1231 to set up a consultation.

May 12, 2020
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