A significant portion of individuals over the age of 65 will eventually require long-term nursing care — an extremely expensive proposition since such care on average costs nearly $100,000 annually for a semi-private room. Because very few families are able to pay for such care out of pocket, Medicaid (MassHealth) is the...

It is well-known that seniors are especially vulnerable to scam artists. The reasons are quite clear: seniors are often retired and available, having the time and interest to be responsive to a stranger’s proposition. They are also much more likely to talk on the phone or reply to an email that piques...

If you or a close relative has been diagnosed with a disease that will interfere with your ability to be independent physically and/or mentally, you are at a serious crossroads. You can proceed blindly, pretending the inevitable will not happen, or you can take control and plan for incapacity. 

When a loved one begins to show signs of dementia, one of the first questions many families ask is: “Can they still sign legal documents?” The answer depends on the person’s mental capacity at the time the document is signed. In Massachusetts, mental capacity isn’t judged by diagnosis alone—it’s about whether your...

Financial abuse of the elderly is a growing problem in Massachusetts and throughout the country. Tragically, elder financial abuse often goes unreported, either because the victims are unaware they are being scammed, ashamed of having been taken advantage of, or fear retaliation. The best way to protect them is to contact Surprenant...