Absolute Trust Talk

Did you know that as of July 1, 2022, there will be some significant changes in the eligibility rules for Medi-Cal? Medi-Cal is the California implementation of Medicaid and something that many people depend on. Unfortunately, if you need Medi-Cal help now, these changes won’t be rolled out in time. But if Medi-Cal is something you’re planning on down the road, then these new law changes may help. Many more Californians will qualify for this support to help pay for nursing home care without spending down their assets or doing complicated asset transfer planning.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe is joined by Absolute Trust Counsel’s associate attorney, Madison Gunn. Together, they discuss the changing laws and what California residents can expect once enacted. Some questions they will answer include:

• What are the new Med-Cal rules and requirements?
• Will these changes impact Medicare benefits and what is the difference between Medicare and Medi-Cal?
• Who will not be affected by the new Medi-Cal requirements?

And more!

Whether you have yet to complete your Medi-Cal planning or estate planning, don’t miss Kirsten and Madison’s information on the big changes coming to this law. And remember, it’s never too early to plan for the future. We look forward to sharing these critical insights with you.

Picture NBA player Brian Grant, known for his tenacity and fearlessness on the court. After pushing his body through conditioning, training, and contentious games, he learns he has Parkinson’s disease two years into retirement. Naturally, this came as an enormous shock. However, Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. In fact, by 2040, the number of people living with Parkinson’s is set to double. Once Brian learned how to navigate living with this disease, he launched The Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) to “help people become their best, even when it seems impossible.” The disease affects your movements, your mental health and non-motor skills, among other functions, completely altering your way of life. And often, people experience symptoms years prior to the onset of other more prominent ailments.

In this new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten sits down with Katrina Kahl, Executive Director of The Brian Grant Foundation. Katrina has over 20 years of experience in public health and advocacy. She is also known for her work as the Associate Director of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Together, Kirsten and Katrina discuss the science behind the disease, the causes, symptoms, and methods to help alleviate some of the issues surrounding Parkinson’s. They also talk about the origins of the foundations, some current projects, and the abundance of free resources that BGF offers to help improve the quality of life for those with Parkinson’s.

As we age, the goal for many of us is to stay in our homes for as long as possible. Sure, we might need some help down the road, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, right? That sounds great in theory, but we don’t think about all the extra costs and the challenges we may face in obtaining home care. Often, calls are made to home care services with urgent requests for help, but knowing what benefits and aid might be available in advance can help you plan and even improve quality of life by avoiding urgent health care situations – this includes veterans and their families. In addition, our wartime heroes face a variety of even more unique health care needs as they age due to training and experiences on the battlefield.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Absolute Trust Counsel attorney Madison Gunn guest hosts a conversation on benefits for vets and their unique aging journey with Carmen Perry. Carmen has more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the senior care industry. As the Vice President of National Accounts at Veterans Home Care, she works with VetAssist – a unique and exclusive program that “helps veterans or their surviving spouses apply for little-known Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to pay for assistance with daily living. So, if you or someone you know is a veteran, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear about all the benefits that the VetAssist Program offers as well as some new technology that can help families care for seniors from a distance.

Life is full of changes, and we all experience transitions that can impact our lives in significant ways, whether they are big, small, planned, or unplanned. As an older adult navigating a journey in aging, adjustments often bring on feelings of anxiety and stress, even if they are positive. Whether you’re retiring and slowing down, grieving the loss of a spouse, or moving to a new community that will better meet your lifestyle needs, it can be a challenge to integrate and meet new people.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk Live, Kirsten is joined by guest Penny Reed of Rossmoor Counseling Services. Penny is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience and expertise in geriatrics, mental health, and the impact of chronic disease on individuals and their loved ones. Penny’s social work background also includes program management, program development, and psychotherapy through various agencies. In this discussion, Kirsten and Penny will be diving into some of the common struggles her team sees among Rossmoor residents, both new residents and “old-timers,” and what they do to help.

Some things you’ll learn from this episode:

• Best practices for seniors going through transitions in life.
• The impact that support groups and constant daily engagement can have in the life of an older adult.
• How COVID-19 has changed the way seniors seek support and how communities such as Rossmoor adapt to meet this change.

And more!

Whether you have a senior family member who has recently undergone a transition in life or you find yourself going through one, this is an episode that everyone will find some comfort in because you’re not alone! So, grab a pen and paper, take a seat, and press play.

If you take a look around the next time you’re out in public, chances are you will pass by at least a handful of people with their headphones in. And while there may be many catching up on their favorite podcast, there are just as many that are getting down or chilling out to their favorite tunes. It’s not hard to notice that music can indeed change your mood, like discovering a new song on the way to work that can make your whole day. Or, feeling the nostalgia when you hear the Breakfast Club soundtrack that makes you want to punch a hand up in the air. Music plays a large part in our lives and can influence the way we feel, but did you know that it also has an impact on our health?

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten is joined by special guest, Dan Cohen. Dan is a long-time social worker and both the founder and CEO of Right to Music - an organization that advocates for integrating music interventions into health care, especially for those in long-term care or with dementia. He also developed the extraordinary and Sundance award-winning documentary, “Alive Inside,” highlighting some of the amazing results from using music as a tool for dementia patients.

Together Kirsten and Dan discuss the positive effects that music can have on people, including:

• How to relieve isolation, boost spirits, and reduce negative aspects of aging
• What your music habits say about your mental health
• How music can help loved ones suffering from dementia
• The epidemic that’s currently plaguing nursing homes

And more!

Now more than ever, our older adults need our support to speak out on their behalf, to help them fight isolation and reconnect with loved ones and peers. While music seems like such a simple thing we hear on a regular basis, it is also something that has slowly proven to be a vital tool in healthcare. We’re excited to share this episode with you as well as Dan’s expertise in the hope that you too can give the gift of music to either yourself or someone you know.

Many of us have been reconnecting with elderly parents and loved ones for the first time in a long time. And while we may have been in touch over the phone or via Zoom, you might be surprised at some of the changes you will see. It can be hard to accept that our parent's health, mobility, self-sufficiency, or even safety has begun to decline. With these concerns come many questions, and you may be tempted to jump right in to help solve them, but there is a time and place for everything.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten is joined by guest Linda Fodrini-Johnson, licensed family therapist and professional certified care manager. Together, they discuss returning home and what to do if you notice a parent beginning to struggle with their day-to-day routine. Some tips you’ll learn about in this episode include:

• Why it’s important to observe what’s happening in your parent’s home before you start having discussions.
• How to prioritize any safety issues you may recognize.
• How to determine what legal planning has been done or needs to be done.
• Ways to break into conversation on the issues at home.

And more!

Whether this is a conversation you’ve been putting off or one you’re not sure how to start, this important episode will give you the ins and outs you need to approach your loved ones. It’s time to press play!

Retirement can be an intimidating subject to approach. You may be worrying that you've started too late, aren't sure how much to put aside each month, or that there's something you're missing out on. This can be especially hard for women, as there is no template to follow for today's retiring career women. If you think about it historically, in general terms, a man identifies as his career or whatever he did for a living. On the other hand, a woman identifies as a wife, mother, homemaker, etc. At some point, the man has to retire, right? But that role as wife, mother, and homemaker never really goes away.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk Live, Kristen is joined by guest Helen Dennis, a nationally recognized leader on the issues of aging and retiring. She is an author, a speaker, a teacher and has helped over 25,000 employees prepare for the non-economic aspects of retirement. Together, they discuss the working woman and how to navigate the retirement transition. Some insights from this episode include:

• How to cope and navigate a loss of structure following retirement
• Understanding the non-economic aspects of retirement
• Identifying ways to still feel empowered once stepping away from the workforce

And more!

Whether you've been considering retirement for a while or are brand new to the topic, this is an important episode with information that every working woman should know. So take a seat, settle in, and press play.

Preparing for retirement means more than maxing out your 401k. Preserving our minds and bodies is equally as important because how else does one enjoy the fruits of their labor? Nobody wants to spend all their money on long-term care, doctors, and medications, right? Many of us believe that's just a fact of life, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. Surprisingly preserving your cognitive functions is a lot easier than you may think. And before going too far, no, there's no one end-all, be-all wonder drug that improves brain health and crossword puzzles aren't exactly all they are cracked up to be. So, what do we do? Get ready for a list of action items you didn't know you needed.

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk Live, Kirsten is joined by guest Dr. Quinn Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy has a Ph.D. in psychology, postdoctoral training in cognitive aging, and over 20 years of experience researching and investigating factors that affect older adults, decision-making, and memory performance. Her work has been recognized through multiple awards, grants, and peer journal publications. Not to mention, she's been featured on NPR, in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Science Magazine. In addition to regular speaking engagements, Dr. Kennedy has also launched a new webinar series related to retirement planning and brain health. Kirsten and Dr. Kennedy will be diving into some of the best strategies for taking care of one's mind to ensure quality brain health, including:

• How our brain function changes as we age.
• Planning ahead to preserve brain health and cognitive function.
• Resources available for anyone concerned about their brain function.
• Recent medical developments relating to dementia.

And more!

Whether you're just now beginning to plan for retirement or have been investing in your future for years, this is an episode that everyone should listen to. So, grab a pen and paper, take a seat, and press play.

If you have a family member with special needs, financial concerns are more than likely always top of mind. Family members or friends who want to help by gifting or leaving an inheritance to them may have good intentions. Unfortunately, many times there are unintended consequences that do more harm than good. For people who rely on certain needs-based government benefits, receiving an inheritance can rid them of their benefits. If that person has too many resources to push them over a specific cap or threshold financially, they will lose them. 

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk Live, fellow Absolute Trust Counsel attorney Madison Gunn joins Kirsten to discuss different methods to resolve inheritance issues. Kirsten and Madison review and assess a handful of special needs estate planning scenarios highlighting what went wrong as well as how to save benefits. More important yet, this expert duo will share key strategies you can use to prevent future problematic inheritance challenges in your family. While the cases review hone in on special needs, the lessons shared can impact anybody who is doing an estate plan, which hint hint, should be everyone! So, find a quiet spot and get ready to strengthen your legacy. 

Is anyone ever really prepared to deal with a severe illness or injury? Most people find themselves unprepared when thrust into the patient or caregiver role, understandably so. Roberta Carson knows first-hand just how overwhelming it can be to make the immediate transition. Her experience caring for her teenage son, Zachary, during his 27-month battle with terminal brain cancer, inspired her to start Zaggo, a nonprofit organization. She created the ZaggoCare System to provide patients and family caregivers with the information and tools needed to better manage a care journey in critical illness and injury.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Roberta to unpack the strenuous care journey for a loved one battling terminal brain cancer. Roberta admits she was unprepared and a bit unorganized in the first weeks following her son’s diagnosis. However, she quickly realized that everything her son experienced, from treatments to side effects to doctor’s visits, must tediously be documented. Roberta and her husband were responsible for coordinating his care to ensure Zach received the best care possible. There was an overwhelming amount of information to keep track of and new care procedures to learn at nearly every turn —with little or no guidance from providers. Nobody asked them how or if they could manage. It just had to be done. 

After her son passed away, Roberta understood how desperately patients and families need practical, easy-to-use information and tools to stay organized and in control. We are so sorry for the tragedy that Roberta and her family faced. And at the same time, so thankful for her strength to develop ZaggoCare. What a gift! The ZaggoCare System is an invaluable resource that will help ensure the best care possible while allowing for more time spent with loved ones. We hope you’ll consider purchasing the ZaggoCare System if you, a loved one, or a friend face a serious illness or injury. Now it’s time to listen in and share Roberta’s story with your friends and family. Her experience not only impacts those with illness or injury but provides valuable medical advocacy advice.