Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Aging and Disability Resource Centers  (ADRC) are funded through the U.S. Department of Human and Human Services Administration on Aging.   ADRCs allow states to create coordinated systems for providing: Information to consumers about public and private long-term care programs, options, and resources; Personal counseling to assist in assessting existing or anticipated long term care needs; Assistance in developing and implementing a plan for long term care; and Information about  how to access publicly supported long term care programs. Forty states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Mariana Island have received ADRC funding. NELN Bibliography on Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Funeral Preplanning

The average cost of a funeral in the United States was $6,500 in 2004; now it is not unusual for a funeral to cost more than $10,000. Because funeral services and goods are so expensive, it is important for consumers to know their rights in regard to funeral costs and planning when  planning their own or a loved one's funeral. There are a variety of options that are seldom mentioned by funeral providers that can save the consumer a great deal of money. By doing some research before a funeral is necessary, consumers can get a better understanding of their choices and how to reduce costs.

Guardianship and Conservatorship

Guardianship/conservatorship is a legal process, which results in the appointment of an individual or organization with the legal authority to make personal and/or legal decisions for a person of questionable capacity. This is a severe and costly intervention so it should only be used when there is no other way to meet an incapacitated person’s needs. Less restrictive interventions should be considered prior to pursuing guardianship or conservatorship to ensure that there is no other way to provide for the care, safety and financial management of the person with questionable capacity.  Less restrictive alternatives to guardianship include: Involving family members or close friends in the individual’s care; Executing a Health Care Directive indicating health services the person does or does not want (formerly known as Durable Power of Attorney for Heath Care or Living Will); Working with a care manager to recommend, arrange, and monitor services. Less restrictive alternatives to conservatorship include: Involving trustworthy family members or close friends to assist with finances; Banking tools such as automatic payment of regular bills, direct deposit of checks, and joint accounts enable a trusted person to pay bills; Representative payee to manage governmental income benefits; Estate and financial planning tools such as Powers of Attorney and Trusts. Many alternatives to conservatorship require the person's coopertaion as well as some degree of cognitive capacity.  These alternatives also require caution due to the potential for financial exploitation. Guardianship and Conservatorship in Minnesota Guardianship mediation is a relatively new way of enabling families to work together to find an alternative to guardianship that is acceptable to everyone involved.  The following annotated bibliography provides a useful list of resoures on guardianship mediation.  NELN Bibliography: Guardianship Mediation

Financing Health Care

Medicare Originally enacted in 1965 as an amendment to the Social Security program, Medicare is America's health insurance for people age 65 and older as well as people under age 65 with certain disabilities and people of all ages with end stage renal disease.   A person is automatically enrolled in the program when they turn 65.  Like Social Security, Medicare enrollment is connected to a person’s work history. A person can qualify for Medicare on her own or through a spouse. Medicare has four parts: Part A Part B Part C Part D Part A is hospitalization insurance and is provided to every Medicare beneficiary. Part A does not cover long term nursing home care. Part B covers doctor’s appointments, emergency room visits, and other acute care but not cover preventative care. Unlike Part A, a person is not automatically enrolled in Part B and must apply. Additionally, a penalty is imposed upon the beneficiary if he or she does not enroll in Part B immediately upon eligibility. Part C Plans, also called Medicare Advantage Plans, combine Parts A and B. These plans are not available in all areas of the country. Part D is prescription drug coverage and was the product of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Similar to Part B, there is no automatic enrollment in Part D and penalties can b eimposed for failing to enroll in Part D immediately upon eligibility. Medicare does not cover every medical eventuality so beneficiaries often purchase Medigap policies which vary from state to state. Medicare Annotated Bibliography   Medicaid Medicaid is health insurance for low-income individuals and families.  It was created in 1965 through Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medicaid eligibility is based upon a person's total assets.  Medicaid is funded by federal and state resources but administered by individual states; program names and eligibility guidelines vary from state to state. All states are required to provide Medicaid to limited income families with children, Supplemental Security Income recipients, low-income pregnant women and their children, and infants born to Medicaid eligible pregnant women.  States also have the option to provide Medicaid coverage for other groups such as the elderly and disabled adults.  Unlike Medicare, Medicaid covers long term care such as nursing home care.  Medical Assistance is Minnesota's version of Medicaid.  The Center for medicare and Medicaid services administers the program at the federal level the Minnesota Department of Human Services oversees the program, and individual counties administer it.  Medical Assistance is Minnesota's version of Medicaid. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services administers the program at the federal level, the Minnesota Department of Human Services oversees the program, and the individual counties administer it.   Social Security Disability Insurance Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal insurance program in the United States which is funded by payroll taxes and pays benefits to workers who have become disabled and are unable to work before reaching retirement age. Benefits are only granted to an applicant after an evaluation to determine disability, and periodic evaluations will be done to determine if the person remains disabled. Eligibility requirements include: Working 5 out of the last 10 years; Being under age 65 Having a physical or mental disability that will last at least 12 months and which prevents the applicant from performing any substantial work.  There is no guarantee that a person’s application will be accepted; an appeals process exists for those applicants who are denied.

Estate Planning
	Goals in estate planning may include ensuring that property passes to intended beneficiaries, minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, or planning for future incapacity. There are many tools available in estate planning to accomplish these goals, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, forms of property ownership and gifting. Financial Planning and Fraud Protection