Are you thinking about the holidays? Are you busy with family preparations about who will be coming, who will host the festivities, who will be traveling long distances and all the fun activities everyone can enjoy together?  Most importantly, how about the gifts you plan to give? What gifts are you thinking about giving to all your loved ones?  We have an idea of a wonderful gift we would like to share with you that you may not have even thought of.

What is this wonderful gift? A Florida estate plan.

Have you given any thought to planning forward to prepare for a future that may include the need for long-term care for yourself or your aging loved ones? According to research, less than half of all adults in America have completed their estate planning. Most of us do not want to think about a time when we cannot live independently in our own homes, free of mobility and cognitive challenges, so it is no surprise that most of us have not made any plans for short term or long-term disability

Do your parents still live in their own home? Are they able to care for themselves and drive to appointments and the store? Have you noticed, though, that they are beginning to age? Is it causing you to be concerned about their future? It may be time to begin raising important estate planning issues with your aging parents.

In preparing to talk to your parents, get together informally, without distractions, and talk about their future. Be sure they know what you are meeting with them about. In fact, this conversation may

Do you have a loved one currently living alone in his or her own home? Do you often call or visit to make sure your loved one is okay? Do you feel like you are not checking up enough or need help? Believe it or not, did you know that when used appropriately, the right technology can make it easier for seniors to be able to engage with their family and friends and remain healthy and safe in their independent living situation? We would like to share the technologies discussed

Do you have an aging loved one still able to live in his or her own home? Are you concerned about what the future may hold as your loved one ages and whether he or she can continue to live in his or her home? Have you and your aging loved one discussed long-term care and the choices in care that are available? Do you and your senior have questions? In Florida, there are several options available for long-term care. We know it can be confusing, so we would like to help

Does your mom currently live on her own without any problems? Do you check in with her each day or stop by her home? Have the two of you talked about her plans for the future, especially if she were to need critical nursing care? During the month of May both National Elder Law Month and National Older American Month are celebrated. Both of these observances are crucial for you and your mom because of the support and knowledge or aging that both of you can receive. In regard to

Are you familiar with romance scams? Have you ever heard of a romance scam called “Lonely Heart”? These scams often occur when scammers are attempting to financially exploit vulnerable people. There are many ways this scam can be accomplished, including by phone or online. The scammer earns the trust of the vulnerable senior through romantic manipulation and emotional deceit. Unfortunately, seniors are especially vulnerable to lonely heart frauds due to higher incidence of loneliness and social isolation.

Sadly, Valentine’s Day gives online criminals an even better opportunity to take advantage of