Senior Living Answers Archived March 2011

Welcome to our Senior Living Answers section. Here you'll find our ever-growing archive of articles dealing with real-life issues affecting senior citizens and caregivers. These in-depth discussions cover a variety of topics including physical health, psychology, and everyday living and include helpful advice for seniors and their families. Feel free to browse our current library and check back often for new additions--or subscribe to our Senior Living Answers E-mail Newsletter using the link below.

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March 2011 Newsletter

Published on March 1, 2011.

In This Issue

Assisted Living Services Are Tax-Deductible

Ask Dr. Vicki

Brain Health

Assisted Living Services Are Tax-Deductible

Medical expenses can really add up. Did you know that there may be a way to write off those expenses at tax time?

Residents, family members, and others who pay for an individual's care in an assisted living community can, in most cases, file the entire monthly cost of assisted living as a tax-deductible medical expense. Such information gives you another tool regarding the affordability of assisted living for seniors and their family members.

Under HIPAA, expenses can be tax-deductible if such services are provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health-care practitioner, and the personal care services are required by a person who:

is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living, or
has severe cognitive impairment and requires supervision to protect self and others from health and safety threats.

Under IRS rules Alzheimer's is categorized as a severe cognitive impairment, and is therefore fully tax deductible as a medical expense.

Tax Deduction for Medical Expenses

Deductions for medical expenses may be claimed whenever the total cost of these expenses exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for the year.

The costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the cost for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.
The alleviation or prevention of a physical or mental defect or illness.

The costs of equipment, supplies and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes.
Dental expenses
Premiums you pay for insurance that covers the expenses of medical care, and the amounts you pay for transportation to get medical care.
Amounts paid for qualified long-term care services and limited amounts paid for any qualified long-term care insurance contract.

Emeritus Senior Living cannot provide tax advice; for more information on how to claim your medical expenses on your taxes please consult a personal tax advisor, tax preparer, or the IRS.

How Do I Respond When a Loved One Calls Me in a Crisis?

Ask Dr. Vicki

Dr. Vicki Rackner M. D., noted author and partner with Emeritus Senior Living, is an expert in doctor-patient relations and caregiver stress. She is a board-certified surgeon and clinical faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She left the operating room to be on the cutting edge of healthcare consumerism. She is now a full-time patient advocate, helping people get the health care they want, need and deserve.

We invite you to check out Dr. Vicki's answer to one caregiver who reached out and asked "How Do I Respond When a Loved One Calls Me in a Crisis?"

Bilingualism May Delay Onset of Alzheimer’s

Emeritus Senior Living's Director of Brain Health, Dr. Paul Nussbaum is a nationally known clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in healthy aging. Specifically, his specialty is the human brain, brain-behavior relations, diseases of the brain, and brain health promotion. Doctor Nussbaum has 25 years experience in the care of older persons suffering dementia and related disorders. An expert in neuroanatomy and human behavior, Dr. Nussbaum has published many peer reviewed articles, books, and chapters within the scientific community.

Learn about how "Bilingualism May Delay Onset of Alzheimer's" by Dr. Paul Nussbaum.

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Senior Living Answers- March 2011

March 2011 Newsletter

In This Issue

Assisted Living Services Are Tax-Deductible

Tax Deduction for Medical Expenses