As the family caregiver, keeping up with Ohio’s health care shifts is crucial. While the recent updates to Medicaid and Medicare aim to streamline care, they also introduce new rules that could impact eligibility and asset protection. Streamlined processes with Next...
Elders and their Caregivers
Romance Scams Targeting Older Adults: A Growing Form of Financial Exploitation
At Hickman Lowder, we encounter a wide range of challenges facing older adults and their families. In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in cases involving financial exploitation, which can take many forms. One of the most concerning and increasingly...
Food Assistance in Ohio: Understanding SNAP
As of early November 2025, many Ohio residents have not received their November SNAP benefits because of the federal government shutdown. If you are facing food insecurity, you can find help by calling 2-1-1, visiting 211oh.org, or contacting your local food bank or pantry (a locator tool is available at https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/get-help/find-food).
Helping a parent who is reluctant to downsize or move into a facility?
It is difficult to watch parents who are struggling due to increased medical needs or advanced age. Many adult children do their best to offer support; they may handle major household projects, help their parents with other necessities or even hire in-home assistance....
Your Summer Reading List: Helpful Resources From the Special Needs Alliance
This summer may be the time to answer that one nagging question that you may have or develop a deeper understanding of certain issues that affect your family. It is important for families and caregivers to understand the fundamental concepts in managing their loved...
Paying For Long-Term Care
Long-term care is not just nursing home care, like many of us think. I often speak about the “Elder Care Continuum”, which describes what many of us and our loved ones will or are experiencing as we age or face health challenges. In the beginning you may have little to no real limitations, reside in your home with no cost…
Can I Be Paid for Caring for My Elderly Parent?
Taking care of an elderly parent – even providing necessary supervision – can be the only thing keeping Mom or Dad out of assisted living or a nursing home. But providing that care can be a full-time endeavor for the caretaker, often requiring significant, life-changing decisions about their own income and living arrangements. The Medicaid rules are set up to…
Tips for Long-distance Caregiving
Caring for a family member from a distance is a daunting and complicated task. Practically, how does one ensure that a loved one receives adequate supervision? How does one ensure that Mom or Dad is eating, bathing, or maintaining the home? Emotionally, how can one remain connected in a caring, loving relationship when separated by hundreds or thousands of miles? …
Lessons from Making Bread
Solving problems for our clients is stressful work for all involved. It is stressful for our elderly who need care. It is stressful for their spouses. It is stressful for adult children caring for their parents. It is stressful for parents taking care of their loved ones with special needs. Often, the system seems too complicated and the obstacles too…
In Search of a Caregiver
I recently saw the following post in a private Facebook group for residents of my city: “Wanted ASAP: Live-in caregiver for adult woman with Cerebral Palsy and a developmental disability. Clearances mandatory. PM me for details.” It gave me pause. My first thought was that of concern for the person in need of caregiving. To me, this situation seemed ripe…

