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QUESTION: The back, inside of my arch hurts, especially with the first few steps out of bed in the morning and for the first few steps after g…
"Families with substantial debts may be concerned their loved ones will be left with their debts after they have gone."
"Tight muscles, weak muscles and poor joint mechanics can also cause knee joint pain and are often present in conjunction with arthritis."
When illness, disability or the frailties of aging strike, even the most independent individuals may feel vulnerable when faced with navigating a complex health care system.
“You’re out of the Will!” is something someone might shout at a family member who they feel has wronged them in some way.
"One of the most interesting things about the internet is that we are using the latest technology to teach ourselves the skills our grandparents and great grandparents knew."
"The quick answer to if custom foot orthotics help foot pain is 'absolutely, yes.' However, custom foot orthotics are not a magic cure-all."
"Because Diane and Jack do not have millions of dollars, however, the long-term care plan conflicts with the remarriage plan."
"The common advice on steps to take when entering a second marriage did not work for Jack and Diane. They had no plan for declining health and long-term care."
"Heel and arch pain is a common issue that many people have, and there is something that can be done to resolve it; so you're not alone."
Two out of every three people will need a higher level of care in the later years of life. The nursing home is often the only safe and appropriate way to support a family member.
"The circumstances in which a reverse mortgage is a good financial decision are limited. Outside of those circumstances, a reverse mortgage could be pretty risky."
"If a sharp decline in health comes on suddenly, it may do more to preserve your dignity if there is someone in a position to be your advocate."
"When life has purpose, hope provides the motivation to act in ways that are beneficial for our health and longevity."
Most commonly, when people experience pain in the forearm, inside or outside of the elbow while gripping, lifting or holding objects, they are suffering from "tennis or golfer's" elbow.
The opportunity to live a long life is a gift. News stories about children, teenagers and younger adults whose lives are cut short by accident…
DHS is generally happy to accept that payment for caregiver services provided by a family member is an appropriate use of the older person’s funds. It must be properly documented.
"One of the most common reasons you feel uneven when you walk is because you are! This is called leg length discrepancy."
"When it comes to the government’s role in our health care system, playing favorites is especially appalling. People’s lives are on the line."
In our two most recent columns, attorney Kelly Appleyard presented a case study that outlined planning tools that help families navigate some …
Here is a look at two common questions that can be posed to physical therapists:
"We continue Bob and Cheryl’s journey, and the rest of the tools for their success in long-term care planning."
"There are a number of complex legal and financial issues that arise as you get older and need more care ... any misstep could be very costly."
Who wouldn’t want to avoid shoulder surgery? It certainly can be avoided. Here’s how:
"In order to enjoy the financial and social benefits of this arrangement, successful multigenerational households must learn to address real and potential complications."
"Multigenerational living is more likely to occur in the western part of the country and nationwide in metropolitan areas, and the least likely in the Midwest and rural areas."
"When older adults are hospitalized, one of the worst things they are likely to receive is too much rest."
A custom foot orthotic is a device that is roughly the shape of the removable inlay (such as those found in sneakers) that comes with your shoe when you buy it.
"In reality, there are many types of trusts, and many of them are best suited to help people who are not extraordinarily wealthy."
"Estate planning has historically posed a significant challenge for same-sex couples. The availability of marriage, in particular, has had a major impact."
"A very important part of estate planning, probably the most important part, is planning for what happens to you while you are still alive."
The simple answer to flat feet and foot pain is that it is likely that your flat feet are at least contributing to your foot pain, if not the …
Over the past several years in Pennsylvania, self neglect has required involvement by Adult Protective Services more often than any other type of elder abuse.
"It may surprise some people that the majority of substantiated cases of elder abuse in each of the last three years were for actions of self-neglect (38-43 percent)."
"The filial responsibility law would allow the nursing home to sue one or all of the adult children and let the children figure out how to come up with the money."
"This is a very common problem that many people experience at some point in their life."
"Close friendships provide us with stability and security."
Driver’s licenses are intimately tied to issues of independence and safety that are of concern to aging individuals and their families.
"There are many things that can be done to improve your balance and squash your fear of falling."
When planning our estates and thinking about how to pass our property to our loved ones, most of us think of preparing a will.
"There is no magic age when a person is old enough to need services that fall under the umbrella of elder law."
You may be wondering, “Why is it so important to take care of my feet, when there are so many other things like sugar (glucose) levels, A1c le…
"In three states (Washington, Colorado and Oregon), human composting, also known as natural organic reduction, is legal."
Climate change is in the news almost daily. When looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, people have turned to composting, reusable…
Home funerals are an end-of-life choice that has been around for a very long time, however, the growth of the funeral home industry has pushed them into the background.
"The simple answer is that it is likely that your flat feet are at least contributing to your foot pain if not the actual cause of the foot pain you are having."
"Only 20% of people die in their homes. Acute care hospitals are the location of death for 60% of the population while nursing homes account for the remaining 20%."
"Social elements also exist that influence nutritional health and the likelihood of maintaining independence while aging."
"Adequate nutrition, as an element of good health, increases the chances that older adults will be able to maintain their independence, which is a common desire for members of this population."
"Certainly there are times when the use of a brace alone is not enough to help you avoid having a knee surgery, but many times it can be, especially when used in conjunction with physical therapy."
"Many factors can influence the nutrition status of older adults including changes to how well we absorb and break down foods."
Much like your car or your body, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to your HVAC systems.
Fear and isolation may have made people more vulnerable to scams and con-artists, leading to a “scam”-demic accompanying the global pandemic.
Remodeling projects often devolve into frustrating experiences for contractor and customer alike. But a good roadmap, understanding of the process, and continual communication make all the difference.
When thinking about who we want to provide for after we pass on, many of us think of the youngest and most vulnerable members of our families.…
The truth is that most people with flat feet will eventually have pain in their feet, hips, knees or low back at some point in their life, specifically due to their flat feet.
"Information and resources are essential for making decisions and locating the goods/services we need and desire to live our best lives."
"Feb. 14 is also National Organ Donor Day, to remind you that there is more than one way to give someone your heart."
Question for our experts: I realize that it’s important to clean up mold as soon as it’s noticed. But do I really need a professional mold rem…
If you've heard of it, you likely have one or know someone who does. Most people have not heard of this condition otherwise.
Question for our experts: When and how does mold grow in my home or office?
The 24th Winter Olympic Games began today. For the next couple of weeks, both sports fans and even those who don’t routinely watch sporting ev…
"Stress in the later years of life stems from adjusting to retirement, caregiving for a loved one, receiving a troubling medical diagnosis, or losing a spouse or lifelong friends."
If you're wondering why the bottom of your feet are numb or burning, the truth is, this could happen for a few reasons. However, we are going to focus on a specific cause: Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
"Enough people have cared for a loved one with cancer or neurological conditions that a common question comes up about a person’s ability to take control over how the person dies."
"A thorough life book will give your family every detail they need to make sure your bills get paid and your property is maintained when you are gravely ill."
"Custom foot orthotics are devices that are made specifically for your foot using sophisticated static and dynamic 3D pressure mapping technology."
"An option to provide better protection for your pet is a pet trust. Pet trusts have been recognized in all 50 states as a lawful way to provide for your pet’s needs."
New Year’s Eve is a joyous time. Champagne corks pop as the ball drops in Time Square! The legendary Dick Clark’s name is memorialized by tele…
"There are a number of reasons that pain, numbness and weakness occur in the legs. The most common reason for this actually stems from the lower back."
Underlying all of the material trappings of the holiday season is a focus on hope, peace, and togetherness.
"By doing some simple troubleshooting on your own, you could potentially rule out possible causes and save some money."
"There are ways to help your loved one participate in holiday activities while minimizing associated stress."
"When you are putting together your estate plans, you should be aware that what you leave behind to your loved ones will include tax consequences."
Cardin and Miller Physical Therapy is opening a new location to serve Silver Spring Township and the surrounding Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Valley and Carlisle communities.
You might have heard that programmable (or “smart”) thermostats may lead to significant cost and environmental savings — but are smart thermos…
Benjamin Franklin said "nothing is certain except death and taxes." Unfortunately, these are not mutually exclusive.
Surprisingly, often times, just by stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weak ones, one can alleviate knee joint pain and restore functions even when arthritis is present.
Many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created controversy, and nursing home visitation rules have been no exception.
In our last column, we explored the definition and importance of indoor air quality, along with common causes of poor indoor air quality in ho…
"Family caregiving will become more common. Consider whether your family is prepared for the legal and financial aspects of providing care."
National Family Caregivers Month is an excellent time to recognize the contributions of family caregivers, offer them support and educate society about the unique challenges faced by these caregivers.
In order to answer this question properly, though, one needs to have an understanding of what custom foot orthotics actually are.
"Indoor air quality in a home can be much worse than the outdoor air in cities with some of the worst air pollution. In fact, you and your family might be more at risk of low-quality air in your own home than you are outside."
National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated annually every November since 1997, is an opportunity to recognize and express appreciation to fa…
Cumberland Valley has rich ties to the military community. With three military installations located within the county, this area has become a…
"Around the holiday dinner table we see the faces of people who carried us during difficult times and the people we supported along the way."
Shoulder pain that occurs when you reach for something over your head is often due to shoulder (rotator cuff) impingement.
"Every now and then, we see a family in our office that is a bit like the family of the guy who did not replace his dry-rotted tires."
"You may have heard it portrayed as a trendy upgrade, but have wondered how it works and whether it’s worth investigating for your home."
"Introspection is an important first step. The parent’s words and actions during an attempt to reestablish contact will be key to the child’s potential acceptance of an olive branch."
If you’re wondering if a knee brace can keep you from having knee surgery, the answer is yes, if it is a specific type of brace.
No matter how you choose to care for your loved one’s physical remains, we pride ourselves on our ability to help you select from a variety of…
"An understanding of this growing social phenomenon is important as our population ages and families struggle with rifts in their relationships."
"Fall is here, and many homeowners in our area will be evaluating new heating and cooling (HVAC) systems for their homes, often wondering what’s the best way to approach such a decision."
From Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, Medicare recipients are able to change from Original Medicare (administered by the federal government) to a Medic…
If you're wondering if physical therapy can help with the back pain that is really holding you back, the short answer is absolutely! We help p…
"Medicare has protections in place to make sure that your OOP costs don’t get out of hand. They’re in the form of a little category in your plan called MOOP."
"People who own savings bonds often ask about how the bonds affect income taxes, the administration of their estate, and public benefits for long-term care."
"There are many things that can be done to improve your balance and squash your fear of falling."
Whether they’re concerned with affording retirement or love their job, Americans are working later in life. In fact, the percentage of older a…
The power of words is the bread and butter of professionals who work in fields such as marketing or translation. Would you rather purchase a h…
"If you're wondering if custom foot orthotics help foot pain, the quick answer is absolutely yes! However, custom foot orthotics are not a magic cure-all."
"While a sense of discomfort about death may prevent some people from considering funeral pre-planning, concerns about the cost may be a deterrent to others."
"Pre-planning allows for decisions to be made without the stress of grief and with plenty of time to consider choices."
I’ve had many patients over the years say they’ve tried “everything” from new shoes to over-the-counter insets, but nothing helps their foot pain.
The latest installment of an elder care journey looks at finances and payments ahead of a parent's death.
"Reading about Bill and Sue’s experiences gives good insight about not only the challenges that regularly occur along an elder care journey, but also what little-known tools and opportunities are sometimes available."
If you’re trying to figure out why you’re getting headaches so often, there could be many potential answers.
Initiating a conversation with an older driver about his/her driving safety can create feelings of dread for family members.
According to AAA, a typical driver makes 20 decisions per mile and has less than half of a second to respond to changes in the road.
"Often, pain/numbness in the arm and hand is a result of something gone awry at your neck, even if you have no neck pain."
"Age alone cannot be used to determine one’s fitness to drive, since the ability to drive safely is dependent upon cognitive and physical skills, which vary greatly among older adults."
Is it time to step in and take a more active role in your parents’ daily lives?
If you’re asking yourself if custom foot orthotics are worth the cost, the short answer is yes, absolutely.
"There is something like fast food when it comes to legal planning for yourself and your family. There are shortcuts that are convenient but come with undesirable consequences."
This week's column contains a summary of residential care options.
One of the more common causes of low back pain that is present with standing and walking is related to the bones of the pelvis being out of alignment.
When it comes to care at home, services for individuals living at home differ in scope and cost.
The National Council on Aging estimates that 1 out of every 10 Americans aged 60 or over has experienced some type of abuse.
"Seeing your physical therapist first saves you time because most primary care and specialty physician offices are over-booked with patients. Because of this, many people have to wait weeks or months to get an appointment."
"The abuse and neglect of older adults and adults with disabilities are complex topics that have been gaining increasing awareness, especially since the 1970s."
"Often I get this question: 'When is the right time to ..?"
"As you sit for prolonged periods in front of the TV, in front of books studying, at your computer or at a job that involves mostly sitting, there is a lot of stress on the muscles that support your spine and head."
"If accumulating money is not a child’s primary point of focus, a parent who is concerned about future management of family wealth should plan accordingly without necessarily casting a negative judgment on that child."
"The travel industry is optimistic that vaxications will lead to the recovery of their industry as business and conference travel continues to lag."
"Believe it or not, there are many, many people who experience pain when they are at rest, getting out of bed in the morning, changing positions and while coughing/sneezing."
"If Elder Law Month doesn’t sound relevant or interesting to you, consider a statistic from Genworth that seven out of 10 people will need long-term care services at some point during their lifetime."
"As we turn the calendar to May and highlight 'Older Americans Month,' older adults in our society continue to battle the stigma of ageism."
"You can use the best orthotic in the world and it will not help if the soft tissue tightness and irritation are not addressed first."
"Before you decide to put your home in an irrevocable trust, it is important to have a basic understanding of what you are doing and why."
"After a year in which the news constantly focused on certain health care decisions, some may wonder whether it’s necessary to recognize National Health Care Decisions Day on April 16."
"Given the encouraging data from vaccinated people, and the threat from COVID variants, it is a good time to get off the fence and get vaccinated."
If you’re struggling with heel and arch pain that is ruining your life, thankfully, there is something that can be done to resolve this common…
"For many families during economically challenging times, the lines between ownership of parents’ and their children’s resources become blurred."
"Many families call us when a parent experiences a crisis and can no longer safely reside in the family home. For various reasons, these adult children are often unaware of their parents’ financial resources."
"If you were diagnosed with COVID-19 months ago but still feel tired, achy and weak, the good news is that physical therapy can help resolve these issues."
"SSI is sometimes confused with the benefit we will cover today, which is Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI."
"The government provides a couple of different income benefits for children and adults who are disabled. These benefits are available through the Social Security Administration (SSA)."
"I wanted you to hear from one of the patients from our Cardin and Miller family about her experience as she rehabbed from a leg fracture."
It has been a year since the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania were announced by Gov. Tom Wolf. This led to his order to c…
"What would happen to your pets if you suddenly became unable to care for them, or even make decisions about their care?"
"Tired, achy feet can certainly be a real annoyance - and worse yet, can keep you from being able to perform your best at your job, as well as keep you from being able to walk, exercise, golf or just outright keep you from enjoying life."
"The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 50 percent of U.S. households have at least one dog and 34 percent have at least one cat."
"Despite a general understanding about the purposes of a will many adults have not completed this basic form of planning."
If you’re wondering whether a knee brace can keep you from having a knee replacement, the answer is yes—if it is a specific type of brace.
"The real irony in all of this is that the most effective way to be a wise control freak is to plan ahead and create foundational legal documents before a crisis occurs."
"Perhaps the greatest mistaken fear that we hear is that 'they' will take the home of a person who qualifies for Medicaid to pay for nursing care."
"Physical therapists are trained to find the root cause of your back pain and resolve it, which leads to long-term, lasting relief."
"As grandparents think about their legacy and the ways they can show love and support even after their own lives end, it is important to consider the pros and cons of legal arrangements to give gifts to grandchildren."
"Hope for your future involves having a vision, feeling empowered to reach the vision, and actively pursuing the vision."
"In fact, it can be very helpful in determining the cause of foot, knee, hip and back pain, as well as resolving it."
How you approach this fresh start can make a significant difference in the course of the year ahead, and every year after that.
"Whether you have 10 years or 30 years remaining, here are things you should make it a point to do in 2021, especially if you have not done so recently."
"Initially, this pain begins as soreness in the forearm and/or elbow. However, if it is left untreated, it can lead to significant pain, which is present every time you try to grip, pick up or hold objects."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory is committed to supporting and assisting you in exploring your options so y…
"As with Santa’s sleigh of presents, there is no limit to the source from which gifts of love, hope and faith are supplied to be given freely."
"Holiday festivities may intensify feelings of sadness and loneliness, especially if this is the first year without a beloved family member or friend."
With the new "shutdown" order once again, blanketing the state of Pennsylvania to stop the spread of the coronavirus, you may feel that you “just have to suffer with your neck and arm pain.”
"When one spouse realizes that the other is in a state of decline, there are a few first steps that should be considered."
"Many people suffer from mental health conditions throughout the year. As people age, the detection and treatment of mental health conditions becomes more complicated."
"I first try to make it clear to the patient ... that it is not the shoes or over-the-counter orthotics that are necessarily the problem - it’s their feet."
This year has provided all of us with a greater appreciation for the presence of loved ones in our lives, familiar routines and financial stability. These aspects may regularly require adjustment for family caregivers.
Handling the death of a loved one is never an easy task. We've put together some of the important information you'll need to make the initial …
"It is critical that parents and grandparents give careful thought to any gift of money or bequest in an estate plan when the recipient has special needs. For many disabled loved ones, public benefits will be disrupted by a direct gift of money."
Any time pain somewhere in your body is keeping you from getting sleep, it’s time to take action.
Cognitive impairment, whether the result of dementia, stroke or a traumatic brain injury, complicates the grief process in several ways.
"The responses and overall effects of these losses vary from individual to individual, however a common denominator in all situations of loss is grief."
Worsening balance happens to many people as they age, but there is something you can do about it before it gets to the point where you fall and risk injury.
This week’s article will explain why the best option for the family home is usually to sell it soon after it has become empty because the parent is receiving long-term care in a skilled nursing home.
This week, we will explore options for when the parents want multiple children to benefit from the family home.
Tight muscles, weak muscles and poor joint mechanics can also cause knee joint pain and are often present in conjunction with arthritis.
This is the first of a three-part series to review options of how to transfer the family home from one generation to the next.
Rest is often an elusive concept for caregivers.
The wonderful thing about technology is that it can bring people together from all over the globe to make it easier for you to find informatio…