Under Maryland Tax Property Law Section 7-208, “a veteran who was honorable discharged and is confirmed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability may apply for a full exemption from real estate taxes…

The frequency of elder financial exploitation (EFE) is very high, with few resources available to aid those who have been victims. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has therefore released the first comprehensive report detailing how older adults recover from…

Never argue; instead, agree. Never reason; instead, divert. Never shame; instead, distract. Never lecture; instead, reassure. Never force; instead, reinforce Never say “Do you remember?” instead, say “I remember….” Never say “I told you;” instead, repeat. Never say “You can’t;”…

1. Create a calm environment. The tone of your voice and your facial expressions are important in speech. Try not to overreact to a situation. Take things slowly. Smile. 2. Do not assume the person cannot understand what is being…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have published a report detailing how nursing homes have violated debt collection laws. Many caregivers have suffered great financial burdens because they have been illegally subjected to…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new resources to help people understand their rights under the No Surprises Act. This federal law established protections against surprise billing and excessive cost-sharing for people who are covered by…

The Center for Medicare Advocacy released an updated fact sheet that outlines Medicare beneficiary rights within a skilled nursing facility. Following the 2013 settlement agreement in the case of  Jimmo v. Sebelius, Medicare coverage is now, “determined by a beneficiary’s…

In this informative consumer alert, the Maryland Attorney General clarifies that title lock “insurance” is not actually insurance. Rather it will simply alert you if the title to your house has been transferred out of your name. Title lock “insurance”…

CMS has published a bulletin listing resources that specifically work with State Medicaid agencies to support the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as their aging caregivers. Here are links to these resources: How State Agencies Can Anticipate…

If you are a care giver for or a family member of someone with dementia, consider making a custom memory book to improve quality of life. A memory book is described as a “collection of photos, letters, printouts, and other…