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.

A newly proposed rule by the Social Security Administration (SSA) could ultimately change the way “in-kind income” is defined for recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

When it comes to filing your 2022 federal tax return for the 2023 tax season, you may be able to access several forms of assistance for free.

Physical therapy helps elders recover from injuries and illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and prevent future injuries. It can be an essential component of health care for older adults.

Medicare covers physical therapy (PT) when it is medically necessary to treat a disease or injury, according to Medicare.gov. Those who qualify for Medicare because of age or disability could receive covered physical therapy services.

Memory care is specialized care for patients living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other conditions that cause memory loss. Hospitals and nursing homes may have memory care units or a separate entity dedicated to this service. Memory care provides seniors with meals, opportunities to socialize, mentally stimulating activities, and support for their caregivers.

Independent living communities are for healthy, active older adults. Assisted living facilities suit those who need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and medication management. Skilled nursing facilities provide care to individuals with significant medical conditions.

Yet, as people age, the type and level of care they need often change. Older adults who start in one kind of community often must move to another facility that can support their evolving needs. Relocating can be stressful, as individuals leave their friends to start over in an unfamiliar environment, often while their autonomy and access to recreation diminishes.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries must comply with very stringent income and asset rules to receive benefits.

One such rule is the resource allowance limit: A single SSI beneficiary may have only $2,000 of countable resources (for a couple, $3,000). Countable resources include items such as cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, brokerage accounts, land, life insurance, personal property, and a second vehicle.

Many parents and families planning for the care of their loved one with special needs will consider setting up a special needs trust. (Special needs trusts are also often referred to as supplemental needs trusts and SNTs). These trusts allow assets to be left to a disabled or chronically ill person without disqualifying them for certain benefits, such as Medicaid.

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are long-term housing and care options for older adults. Although people sometimes use the terms assisted living and nursing home synonymously, they are distinct.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2023 federal guidelines for how much money the spouses of institutionalized Medicaid recipients may keep, as well as related Medicaid figures.

It has been a tumultuous few years. Amid a continuing pandemic, tense midterm elections, and a war in Ukraine, we have grappled with more than our fair share of grim news.

However, with the new year upon us, there are some silver linings — in particular for seniors.

Here are five reasons for seniors to celebrate in 2023:

The Senate and House have cleared the passage of a year-end $1.7 trillion appropriations bill that will affect people with disabilities on several fronts.

The bill, which runs more than 4,000 pages and includes a wide variety of legislation, heads to President Biden next for his signoff.

The IRS recently announced inflation-adjusted changes to the annual gift tax annual and estate tax exclusions for 2023.

Lois Curtis – known as “L.C.” in a historic disability rights case — has died. She passed away from cancer at her home in November 2022 at age 55.

Curtis, who had intellectual and psychiatric impairments, was institutionalized from her teenage years into her early 20s. She and another plaintiff, Elaine Wilson, eventually went on to fight for their right to live in their community rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized.

Southpoint Estate Planning celebrated Veterans Day this year by making care kits for those with housing insecurity. Did you know that Veterans are 50% more likely to become homeless than other Americans?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly payment issued to disabled children and adults who have income and resources that are under an amount set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). There are many important factors that determine your eligibility for SSI. SSI recipients are responsible for reporting changes to the SSA when they happen. The following are three examples of what must be reported by SSI recipients.

The Social Security Administration has announced that its beneficiaries will see a significant increase – totaling nearly 9 percent – in their monthly Social Security checks come January 2023. This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the largest boost to Social Security benefits in more than 40 years. The increase for 2022 was 5.9 percent.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which helps support millions of limited-income people with disabilities, will provide recipients with a slightly higher payout – on average, $73 more a month for individuals and $110 more a month for couples – beginning on December 30, 2022.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently started to focus on finding ways to support family caregivers by assisting them with resources to maintain their health, well-being, and financial security while they act as caregivers. As part of this, it has announced the implementation of a 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.

HHS estimates that approximately 53 million people provide a broad range of assistance to their aging, health-compromised, or disabled loved ones each year. Millions more open their homes to grandparents as well as children who cannot live with their parents.

Supported decision-making can be an alternative to unnecessary guardianships. It allows disabled people to get assistance with decisions while retaining autonomy. In supported decision-making, trusted persons can advise an individual with a disability, while the individual ultimately retains the final decision-making power about their own care and life.

November will mark National Family Caregivers month. Studies show that looking after those with special needs exacts a toll on caregivers. This Thanksgiving season, shift your focus a little and remember that you must take care of yourself if you want to continue caring for others.

As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” If you have been a caregiver for a loved one with a disability or chronic illness, ensure that you are healthy physically and mentally. Here are five tips that can help you prioritize self-care.