By, Trevor York, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2023 Elder fraud is a well-documented issue that many elderly people and their families have either directly experienced or know close friends who have[1]. Indeed, the numbers themselves paint a stark picture. According to a report by The Motley Fool, elderly victims lost nearly $1.7 […]
By, Shelby Horner, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Spring 2023 Like many treaties of its ilk, the Convention for Persons with Disabilities (“CRPD” or the “Convention”) was created with the intention of protecting and supporting vulnerable communities internationally. The treaty was created through a collaborative process of hundreds of people with disabilities worldwide. Through […]
By, Angela Tiangco, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Spring 2023 What are advanced directives? Advanced directives (“ADs”) are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care if a person cannot communicate their own wishes.[1] The two most common ADs for health care are the living will and the durable health care power of […]
By, Kristen Gartner, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Spring 2023 A special needs trust can be beneficial to help insure those with disabilities are taken cared for, however, their vast and complicated rules can sometimes outweigh the potential benefits of them. Before deciding if a special needs trust is the appropriate financial solution, consider […]
By, Greg Winder, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 Like many end-of-life considerations, long-term care (LTC) is a topic that most people would like to avoid, as it involves confronting the decline of a person’s health and functional abilities. However, it should be an important part of the planning process for middle-aged and […]
By, Lydia Mrowiec, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 Although the crypto market has been hit hard, cryptocurrency and its future are not dead.[1] What is cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is any form of digital currency that uses cryptography to secure transactions and uses a decentralized system to record transactions and to issue new currency […]
By, Zois Manaris, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 The best way to assure that one’s property passes as one would like is to execute a valid will.[1] If someone dies without a valid will, their estate will pass via intestacy, a one-size-fits-all approach written by the relevant state legislature.[2] And the state […]
By, Rebecca Roberts, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Security Administration (SSA) re-opened its field offices in April 2022.[1] The agency, however, faces an ever-increasing backlog of cases caused by years of underfunding and compounded by the national pandemic.[2] While the number […]
By, Bobby Nevin, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 Social Security is one of the main federal benefits programs available to retirement-age Americans. The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) administers three main benefits programs: Old Age and Survivors Insurance (“OASI”), Disability Insurance (“DI”), and Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”).[1] OASI provides retirement and survivors benefits […]
By, Scott Bauer, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2022 Dementia effects 3% of the American population aged 70-74 and more than a third of people aged 90 or older.[1] The speed at which dementia progresses can vary from person to person, such that some individuals suffering from dementia can continue living independently for […]