IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ PWR! Gym Joins SPOTLIGHT!

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options Guide.  

Welcome PWR! Gym

About PWR!

Innovating the treatment of Parkinson’s through research-based exercise

Parkinson Wellness Recovery | PWR! is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded public charity and contributions are tax-deductible. PWR! got started when Dr. Farley, after years of research saw compelling data that proved that exercise has serious benefits for people living with Parkinson’s. But research does no good if it stays inside the lab. PWR! advocates changing our present treatment paradigms and incorporating the translation of research-based neuroplasticity concepts into proactive programming with daily access throughout the ENTIRE continuum of care which starts at diagnosis with rehab and then doesn’t stop, but is actually a cycle of rehab to community and back. PWR! is about changing the status quo to offer the latest cutting edge research exercise programming at diagnosis for life.

Dr. Farley teamed up with Sally Michaels, PT, CCM and officially debuted the mission and activities related to the PWR! project at the World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland in 2010. By 2012, with the goal to increase the availability of PD-specific research-based exercise that adhere to Exercise4BrainChange® principles of practice Dr. Farley and Sally Michaels, PT, CCM opened the PWR!Gym®, a NeuroFitness Center of Excellence in Tucson, AZ.

PWR!Vision

Communities where all individuals with Parkinson disease receive research-based exercise programming beginning with diagnosis and throughout their lives in order to increase longevity and quality of life so that end stage Parkinson disease is eradicated!

Since 2010, PWR! has trained over 3,000 professionals in how to implement PD-specific exercise and treated over 600 people through their exercise programs in Tucson, AZ.

Visit us online @ http://www.pwr4life.org/

Assets Key to Long-Term Care System

Question: I have been caring for my father for about a year, and I cannot provide him with the assistance he needs. We looked into applying for ALTCS, but my dad has too many assets to qualify. The ALTCS representative warned us against transferring dad’s assets. Is it possible for him to instead pay me for the services I have provided him as a means to help him meet the resource requirement?

Answer: There are two primary rules at play here. First, your father must meet a resource requirement to qualify for ALTCS long-term care coverage. Second, ALTCS penalizes applicants who attempt to satisfy the resource requirement by transferring assets without compensation. The answer to your question, then, centers on whether the services you provided to your father would justly compensate him for any payment that he might give you.

To begin, ALTCS does allow for compensation in the form of personal care services. For this approach to work, however, there are certain requirements that have to be met. Most importantly, there has to be a valid personalcare contract that outlines the terms of the agreement. To be valid, a personalcare contract must specify the type, frequency and time to be spent providing services. Further, the contract must specify the amount and frequency of payment, and such frequency should be no less than monthly while services are being provided. Finally, the personalcare contract needs to be executed before the provision of services.

If a personal-care contract was not executed before you provided your father with services, I would probably advise you to pursue other strategies for helping your father spend down.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace individual legal advice.

Aging and the Law is authored by the attorneys at JacksonWhite and addresses legal issues that arise for the elderly and their families. Questions can be sent to firm@jacksonwhitelaw.com.

How Will ALTCS Affect Your Home?

Question: I have lived with my elderly mother for several years, doing everything in my power to care for her. We finally reached a point at which I can no longer provide her with the care that she needs, so we are exploring the Arizona Long Term Care System. If we pursue ALTCS, however, I am concerned that ALTCS will take my mother’s house, which would deprive me of my living situation. Is there anything I can do to help my mom and protect my living arrangements? 

Answer: ALTCS will never take the home from an ALTCS applicant who is approved for the benefit. It can, however, seek recovery against home equity belonging to an ALTCS member once that member passes away. As with most legal rules, however, there are certain exceptions to ALTCS’ ability to recover against home equity, and it sounds like you might fit neatly into just such an exception. 

In a typical case, if an ALTCS applicant transfers a home to his or her child, ALTCS will impose a penalty period, during which time it won’t pay for care. However, where an ALTCS applicant transfers a home to his or her child who has been living in that home for two or more years, and who has been providing care that has kept the applicant from being institutionalized, ALTCS will forego imposing the penalty. 

As you can imagine, ALTCS will not simply take your word for this — there is an evidentiary standard that must be met, but with proper direction, you could potentially accomplish your twin goals of helping mom and protecting the home. 

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace individual legal advice.
Aging and the Law is authored by the attorneys at JacksonWhite and addresses legal issues that arise for the elderly and their families. Questions can be sent to firm@jacksonwhitelaw.com.

7 Reasons Estate Planning Is Beneficial For Everyone

1. Estate planning for your potential disability. If you were to become disabled, what would your family do? In the absence of an estate plan, your family members would be required to go to court in order to have you declared incompetent and to appoint a conservator/guardian. However, a Living Trust with proper health care documents provides for this possibility without court involvement.
2. Estate planning will help you avoid Probate. Probate is the court process that proves the Will, if any, is valid and carries out the instructions of the Will. Probate is often costly and time consuming. It is also a public process that allows anyone to know of your financial affairs and subjects your heirs to possible predators. With a Living Trust your assets are kept out of Probate and provides an efficient private way to transfer assets to those you love upon your death.
3. Estate planning will protect your assets from creditors. If your assets are transferred to your loved ones outside of a Living Trust they cannot be protected from the loved ones creditors. If, however, the assets are transferred through a Living Trust, in the form of a beneficiary trust, the creditors of your loved ones will not be able to access the inheritance.
4. Estate planning instills your values to your descendants. This is one aspect of estate planning that many people to not even consider, yet it is very valuable. Even though you are gone, a Living Trust will provide a way for you to keep your values alive. For instance, if you want your loved ones to receive a college degree you are able to provide assets in the trust for this purpose. You may also allow them to receive their inheritance upon completion of their education or deny them their inheritance if they don’t get a college degree.
5. Estate planning helps to minimize taxes. Although currently less than 1 percent of people in the United States die with a taxable estate, a good plan will help to avoid paying more in taxes than you owe.
6. Estate planning will protect your assets from Long Term Care. Provisions in the Living Trust will allow for planning to take place to avoid having to spend down your entire estate before you qualify for public benefits coverage.
7. Estate planning will provide divorce protection for beneficiaries. Your Living Trust will provide protection for your loved ones in the event they get divorced.  This will ensure that your hard earned assets do not go to some future son/daughter-in law.

Contributed by MHK Phoenix, Arrowhead and Scottsdale Estate Planning Attorney and Partner, David T. Eastman.

Why Choose Morris, Hall & Kinghorn:
You have a number of options when it comes to estate planning, so why pick Morris, Hall & Kinghorn?  First off, estate planning and asset protection are a very complicated endeavor and you should only trust someone who focuses exclusively on those matters.  Also, MHK is a proud member of The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) which provides us additional support, advanced training, tools and information that is not available to others – which means that we can better protect your assets and your loved ones.  We are one of only two firms in Arizona that belong to the AAEPA and are the only firm in New Mexico that has been granted membership.  If you have assets and loved ones that you want to protect, you are in good hands with MHK.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.

- See more at: http://morristrust.com/2014/11/7-reasons-estate-planning-beneficial-everyone/#sthash.AGYFck7N.dpuf

Stand-up Wheelchairs by Ability Center

Stand-up Wheelchairs at Ability Center

There are many different types of wheelchairs for those seeking improved mobility. Traditional wheelchair options range from manual to automatic wheelchairs and also include products such as standing wheelchairs. The standing wheelchair is a product that can benefit those in need of more specialized mobility by providing a comfortable and convenient mean of transportation.

Stand-up wheelchairs are the perfect product for users whose muscles will not support them enough to stand up. Most stand-up wheelchairs can accommodate users up to 265 pounds. These wheelchairs often work best for individuals whose finger and arm control is sufficient on at least one side. Many people with paraplegia, quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy have found great success using a stand-up wheelchair model.

Stand-up wheelchairs also offer a selection of health benefits for their users. These wheelchairs offer a wide variety of standing positions that can accommodate almost every user. One benefit of the stand-up wheelchair is the increased circulation it can provide. The unit raises and lowers without jerking to provide a more comfortable ride. The standing position can also reduce strain and stress on sensitive body parts.

The benefits of using a stand-up wheelchair range from a quieter motor to not needing a separate standing frame and much more. For more information on the stand-up wheelchairs offered at Ability Center, feel free to contact today!

Visit us at:  www.abilitycenter.com 

Alzheimer's Association WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S Tucson Event

START HERE TO END ALZHEIMER'S!

The event was held at the UA Campus Mall on Old Main. 

Beautiful Setting!

The Promise Garden . Make a Promise for the world to see. 

Honor a Friend, neighbor or loved one.

 Megan Hiatt, Director of Sales at Cascades of Tucson & Doug Massie, Memory Care Director at Cascades of Tucson.   Also, Audrey Moon our youngest member held by her mom Megan who just came back from maternity leave!

Sherri Hitchings from First Choice Home Health and Alzheimer's Association WALK Chair Person & Liz Olsen with SPOTLIGHT Senior Services.  Sherri Hitchings shared the news that they exceeded their fund raising goals this year!

A shout out to Kelly Raach Southern Arizona Regional Director for the Alzheimer's Association and all the other dedicated professionals and volunteers and Sponsors that made this event happen. Job well done!!!!!

PCOA "4th Annual Ages 'n Stages Expo" Invitation - SAVE THE DATE!