July 2019
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
FREE Estate Planning & Asset Protection Workshops!

YOU ARE INVITED!
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

Thursday, July 11th
Thursday, July 25th

In Wellesley at 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM

Saturday, July 20th
at 9:30 am

At the Natick Hotel

*Breakfast will be served

Call (800) 964-4295 (24/7)

or

register online at DSullivan.com

or

click the button below to register

"We are very pleased with Dennis Sullivan & Associates. We are very comfortable with the
excellent and thorough estate plan that they provided for us."

-Matt DePalo CPA, Natick, MA

“Yes, I’m very well pleased with what they’ve done for me. I initially went to one of their seminars and found it very informative. I wanted them to create a trust for me to help my family; they did a very good job. Plus because I’m also a member of their Lifetime Protection program, I know they’ll stay in touch with me with anything I need to know and do. I highly recommend their services and have already done so!”

-Faina Tabenkin, Natick, MA

"Dennis Sullivan & Associates greatly helped prepare finances for our retirement. They guided us through the onset and tribulations of Alzheimer's disease."

-Andy St. James, Holliston, MA




Reminding you about important information we shared in June
Did you know that elder abuse impacts millions of Americans every year, and millions more across the globe? It is a reprehensible problem, and one that is not likely to go away anytime soon. Especially as our senior populations continue to grow both in Massachusetts and across the United States, and as life-expectancy rates increase, incidents of elder abuse can only be expected to rise.

One of the best ways to fight the growing epidemic, is to educate the public about the reality of elder abuse together with the risk factors and causes, and ways to prevent it. This is exactly what business like ours, governments, human rights organizations and many professionals are doing in association with  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day  on June 15th.

In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, let us share a list of tips with you to help prevent elder abuse from harming a loved one in your life right here in our blog: Educate senior members about elder abuse and make sure they know to report it immediately.

If an aging loved one suffers from dementia or is unable to speak up for themselves, then actively pay close attention to signs of abuse and neglect.
  • Keep senior family members engaged in community activities and social groups. This can decrease isolation and reduce their vulnerability to abuse.
  • Make sure an elder family member has a phone, or a way to communicate promptly.
  • Older Americans should not give out personal information on the internet or over the phone.
  • Obtaining a durable power of attorney allows for a trusted person, like an adult child, to make important decisions on the elder person’s behalf even when they are ill.
  • Know your rights. If an aging loved one lives in a nursing home, he or she has every right to contact a Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The ombudsman is the advocate and has the power to intervene.

If you suspect an elder loved one is the victim of abuse, which includes physical, emotional, and sexual harm, in addition to neglect and financial exploitation, do not wait to report it.  You can click this link to learn how to report abuse in Massachusetts .

We can only stop the epidemic of elder abuse by making an effort together to stop it. Do not wait to contact us with your questions on this or any elder care issues.

6 tips you and your loved ones need on how to plan forward to afford long-term care outside the home  
None of us want to consider leaving our family home. This holds especially true as we consider the potential need to leave the home in order to secure the long-term care support we need as we age. Unfortunately, this is a reality that more and more Massachusetts seniors are facing. In fact, research tells us that over fifty percent of the seniors who turn 65 this year will need long-term care support during their lifetime.

We know this can be a difficult topic for you and your loved ones to discuss. When we begin to talk about long-term care needs, either immediately or in the future, the discussion raises a number of questions. We want to help you plan forward for this potential cost of care outside the home by sharing six tips you may not have yet considered. These are the same tips that we tell our clients, friends, and family, as well as the professionals we work with on a daily basis.

  1. Learn your options early. Not all long-term care is the same. Learn now, before you need it, what levels of care are as well as what is available in our local community.
  2. Talk to your doctor about your future. Although none of us want to need long-term care in the future, it could become a reality for you and your loved ones. Discuss your options early with your primary doctor or specialists to determine if there is a type of care you are more likely to need in the future.
  3. Update your estate planning. What will you do in a crisis? Have you named a decision maker who is able to act for you? Do not forget to ensure that your agent under your durable power of attorney not only has the ability to make long-term care decisions for you but can also engage in the planning you may need.
  4. Learn what care costs in your community. Long-term care costs different amounts based on what you need. For example, in Massachusetts, the state average for an assisted living facility was $5,495 per month, while a semi-private room in a skilled nursing facility cost $12,015; BUT in MetroWest Boston the prices are much higher, with assisted living facilities ranging costing upwards of $9,000 per month and nursing home rooms running $16,000 per month and higher.You can learn more about these average costs and learn more about your area in the Genworth Cost of Care Survey.
  5. Discuss your choices with your family. Do not leave your family in a position where they need to wonder about what you want for the future. Talk to them while you can about what you want for yourself.
  6. Talk to your attorney and develop a plan. Your elder law attorney is uniquely positioned to be able to assist you in creating a plan that meets your needs. This can be done well in advance of a health care crisis, or during that crisis. What many do not realize, however, is that there are more options available when you choose to plan forward and not wait until an emergency.

We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. Discussing a future that may include the need for long-term care is never easy. We encourage you not to wait to contact us to schedule a meeting.

For more information, you may also download a free preview of our book, Senior & Boomers Guide to Health Care Reform & Avoiding Nursing Home Poverty Reveals Little Known Secrets Seniors & Boomers Can Use to Save Hundreds of Thousands on Long-Term Care
Lifetime Protection Program
The Next Lifetime Protection Program Members Event is being held at 4 pm on July 18th . We have helped many families concerned for their loved ones especially when the families are not nearby.

Please contact our office at 781-237-2815 or email us at [email protected] as soon as possible to activate your 2019 Lifetime Protection Program Membership and receive our new report, Essentials in Estate Planning .
RECIPE CORNER
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TO - GO
1 c. heavy cream
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3 c. chopped pound cake or
angel food cake
2 c. sliced or chopped
strawberries

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream and sugar
until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla until combined.

Transfer mixture to a piping bag. Among four glass jars, layer pound cake or angel food cake, whipped cream mixture and strawberries.
Dennis Sullivan & Associates | DSullivan.com