The wealthy recluse's bequest to her nurse and doctor raises serious ethical questions.

See article by Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43516963/ns/health-health_care/

With proper support, adult children stay healthier and elderly parents can remain longer in their situation, experts say.

See article by John Richardson:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/caregivers-can-get-help-for-parents-who-need-it_2011-06-12.html

When working with caregiver agreements, it is important to remember the tax implications.  This link takes you to the IRS guide for wages paid in 2011.

If you pay a household worker $1,700 or more in cash wages during 2011, you must deduct Social Security and Medicare taxes and report the wages once a year. This includes reporting any cash you pay to cover the cost of the employee’s transportation, meals or housing. If you do not report the wages on time, you may have to pay a penalty in addition to the overdue taxes.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p926.pdf

Larry King talks to HLN's Dr. Drew Pinsky about his special "Unthinkable: the Alzheimer's Epidemic."

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/04/29/drew.larry.king.int.hln?iref=allsearch

From the Frederick County Times:

Cignet of Prince George’s County Fined $4.3 Million For Violating HIPAA

http://frederickcountytimes.com/cignet-of-prince-georges-county-fined-4-3-million-for-violating-hippa/1306/

A person hiring a caregiver must exercise care in the hiring and paying of the caregiver. This applies to any prospective employer of the caregiver, whether the employer is a family member or a trustee who will pay the caregiver from a special needs trust. Besides the practical considerations such as the caregiver's competency and background, there are many legal pitfalls in caregiver employment.

Full article at Special Needs Alliance, http://www.specialneedsalliance.org/the-voice/5/5.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704124504576118051771121770.html?KEYWORDS=anne+tergesen

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254304576116342486619476.html?KEYWORDS=MP+McQueen

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81e16c1a/article/nfl-will-play-longterm-care-insurance-premiums-for-alumni

Of course, the next issue will be how many NFL retirees will actually qualify for LTC insurance.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/114181609.html

In May, the government will no longer pay someone eligible for benefits with a mailed check. Instead, the money will be electronically deposited directly into a bank account or made accessible by a debit card. And by March 2013, the 10 million people who receive checks, out of 70 million people in all, must switch over to direct deposit or use a card.

For the government, the policy is in line with a trend toward paperless banking that will curb theft and save $120 million a year in costs.

But the first of the month won’t be the same anymore.

The change will have social and cultural impact. Some recipients have resisted it because they cannot open an account, or simply because they feel more comfortable with a check in hand.

Full story, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/business/29checkless.html?_r=2