About 45 percent of adults say they plan to travel for the holidays, per The Vacationer.

With multiple generations getting together for holiday meals, gift exchanges and quality time, these annual gatherings present an opportunity to broach sensitive but important topics with your aging loved ones. By communicating with them and knowing their wishes, you can help them plan for their future.

Anyone experiencing the struggle of simultaneously caring for children and aging parents is part of the sandwich generation. Although “generation” is part of the phrase, it doesn’t refer to people born at a specific time. Typically, these family caregivers will be in the 30- to 40-year-old age range, providing for their families and balancing care duties between the needs of children and parents.

The announcement about the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2024 is now out, and it’s good news for disability benefits recipients. Those who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will soon see a 3.2 percent increase in their monthly payments.

More Americans are living longer, with the number of people older than 65 projected to increase to more than 80 million by 2040. As this population reaches retirement age, the risk of social isolation substantially increases – along with its negative effects.

Keeping older adults socially engaged is an important part of their overall well-being. Older people are at high risk for social isolation as age, disease, and loss rob them of their social connections. In addition to a greater feeling of loneliness, diminishing social interactions can leave older adults vulnerable to developing diseases like dementia and other chronic illnesses.

For caregivers, deciding what is best for their senior loved ones can feel overwhelming. Given the benefits of fostering social interactions among seniors as they age, many caregivers might consider prioritizing opportunities to keep their aging loved ones socially active and connected.

Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of social connection, the risk of loneliness, and tips for keeping your family member connected as they age.

The No Surprises Act is a federal law enacted to protect patients from unexpected medical bills incurred on or after January 1, 2022. It aims to address the issue of surprise medical billing, which can occur when patients receive unexpected charges for their medical care. The Act applies to out-of-network emergency services, out-of-network air ambulance services, and certain out-of-network care received at in-network facilities.

Adults 65 and older constitute the fasting-growing age demographic in the United States. When it comes to elder care, this expanding population is facing a scarcity in people equipped to support them as they get older.

One estimate predicts a shortage of 151,000 paid direct care workers and 3.8 unpaid family caregivers by 2030, increasing to a gap of 355,000 paid workers with 11 million unpaid family caregivers by 2040.

Technological advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence may be opening the doors to new possibilities for supporting aging people.

The population of seniors over 65 is expected to increase exponentially over the next decade. A study by the Office of Policy Development and Research exposed the country’s unpreparedness for housing the aged population. America has three major housing issues for seniors: affordability, physical accessibility, and access to medical care and other services. There is a need for creative solutions to housing.

Innovative long-term care housing for seniors tries to solve these problems. These new potential living arrangements for seniors may provide older people with the care, protection, and resources they need to age peacefully.

Elder law attorneys may specialize in estate planning, incapacity planning, and end-of-life care for seniors. These practitioners are essential because they work to protect a vulnerable population. To plan for their future and their care, seniors and their families should consider hiring an elder law attorney.

Many adult children wonder what their aging parents may need and how can they can help provide it for them.

You may constantly worry about your parents or other older loved ones, especially if you live far away from them. You can, however, take some simple steps to ensure your parents are safe as they age.

At Southpoint Estate Planning we are dedicated to serving our community. We understand that the financial burden can oftentimes deter people from seeking the guidance they may need for some of life’s most challenging moments. We sincerely hope that our clinics can provide an opportunity for those folks to get the advice and resources to help with their circumstances.

We host quarterly pro bono clinics that cover a variety of topics such as Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Wills and Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney, and Guardianships.

Many senior citizens may need the services of a nursing home or at-home care at some point in their life. You might assume that government assistance or health insurance will step in and cover the cost if you cannot afford these services. Unfortunately, neither health insurance nor Medicare covers long-term care. Because obtaining long-term care insurance can be very expensive, Medicaid could become your only option.

Elder law and estate planning serve two different -- but equally vital -- functions. The main difference is that elder law is focused on preserving your assets during your lifetime, while estate planning concentrates on what happens to your assets after you die.