October 2015
Elder Law Practice of Timothy L. Takacs has received a Second Tier ranking in Nashville in Elder Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for the Sixth Edition of “Best Law Firms.”
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Time change happens this weekend. The annual return to Daylight Standard Time is a great time to tackle seasonal chores for elderly loved ones.
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A Pew Research Center study indicates that 57 percent of Americans would ask their doctor to stop treatment so they could die if they had an incurable disease and were suffering a great deal of pain. Yet of adults 75 and over, the study found that only 17 percent had talked to their families about their end-of-life wishes.
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If you're on Medicare and overwhelmed by the mail you're getting during Open Enrollment, you're not alone. Medicare Specialist Bonnie Woodard explains more.
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For the tenth year in a row, Timothy L. Takacs has been selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers of America ® 2016 in the field of elder law.

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Recent graduates of the Powerful Tools for Caregiving Program are now certified to teach the program in Middle and East Tennessee. From left to right (front): Catherine Pippin, Chattanooga; Debra King, Hendersonville; Kim Phillips, Lebanon; (back) Christin McWhorter, Chattanooga; Pati Bedwell, Hendersonville; Tabitha Satterfield, Nashville; and LeAnn Beck, Chattanooga.

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Public Benefits Specialist Berkley Crain returned recently from the CMS National Training Program in St. Louis with valuable information about Social Security, Medicare Quality Star Rankings and more.
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People with dementia — especially those with Alzheimer's disease — often live for years after reaching the point where they need 24-hour care, leaving families in an emotional, financial, and logistical quagmire.
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If you're new to the Medicare Open Enrollment Process or confused about your options, this article may help.

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People who receive Social Security won't be getting bigger checks in 2016, the Social Security Administration announced last week.

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What do you need to know about Medicare Open Enrollment? Medicare Specialist Bonnie Woodard explains in this Medicare Minute.
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Myths about Medicaid law abound. Elder Law attorneys who practice in this field know most of them. Perhaps the most prevalent of such myths is the one about the Medicaid applicant’s home – that she will have to sell her home in order to qualify for Medicaid nursing home benefits. Another is that the applicant will have to give her house to the government or the nursing home.

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Get ready, get set, go! Today marks the start of 2015 Medicare Open Enrollment.

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It is estimated that as many as half a million people each year receive hospital care that contributes in some way to their deaths. In fact, medical errors are the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. Personal health records (PHRs) are seen as one way to help reduce the numbers of preventable deaths.
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The fraudsters are at it again. During the countdown to the start of Medicare Open Enrollment on Thursday, be aware that not everyone who contacts you about a Medicare plan may have your best interests at heart.
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With the start of 2015 Medicare Open Enrollment just a few days away, it's no surprise that many Medicare-eligible people are wondering about their options. If you're one of them, know that help is available.
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If someone in your family joins the 10 to 12 million people in our country at any point in time who need help, you may join the 40 million Americans who are currently serving in the role of family caregiver. What should you expect?
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Dementia educator Teepa Snow offers tips for caring for loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
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What should you think about as you compare Medicare drug coverage during Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7, 2015?
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What are the most common mistakes people make when they're trying to preserve assets for an elderly loved one who needs nursing home care? Certified Elder Law Attorney Tim Takacs explains.

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Intimacy and aging is a highly debatable topic, especially when you no longer recognize your loved ones’ behavior. Geriatric psychologist Melissa Henston provides some insight into aging and sex.
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As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services prepares to finalize a plan to pay physicians for discussing end-of-life treatment options with Medicare patients, the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds an overwhelming majority supports such coverage.
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You probably don’t know it, but Social Security can give you a big, lump-sum check for $40,000 or $50,000 or even more — a bonus, like winning a lottery. Should you take the bucks?
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