Can we commit to being alone together yet?
How soon can we safely meet as a small group of family members or close friends, commonly known during the pandemic as a “pod?”
​
As you wait for your turn to get vaccinated, you may be wondering if it's worth creating a pod to ride out the lonely days of winter.

​Should I Consent to My Ward/Loved One Getting Vaccinated?
Keep in mind that you are obligated to consult your ward and apply the substituted judgment standard; that means making the decision based on their previously expressed wishes and values, not what you or their physician thinks is best for them. If your ward is capable of being involved in the decision-making process, then you must consult with them and give them a simple explanation regarding the risks and benefits. If you are not aware of your ward’s wishes regarding vaccines, you should consider their values and thoughts on medical intervention in general and weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination in light of your ward’s values and their personal situation.

​Social Security Benefits
If you receive Social Security or SSI, you likely have already noticed that your check is slightly larger this year. The Social Security Administration provided a 1.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefit payments, which brings the federal SSI payment to $794. In addition, the amount that workers can earn before losing their eligibility for disability based on their work has increased to $1,310 for non-blind individuals. 

One of the worst side effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been a drastic rise in uncertainty. As our collective attentions are turned toward public health, the economy and our personal well-being, there has been an unfortunate rise in identity theft and fraud as scammers attempt to exploit the situation. Particularly within the senior population.
​
COVID-19 has provided fuel for cyber criminals to prey upon the public’s concern about this global crisis. Recent scams are designed to trick people into sending money, to disclose personal information or to click on emails and websites that deliver computer malware onto the recipients’ computer or network. 

Some people get scared off by the term "estate planning" because they think it sounds like something only the wealthy need to do. When in truth, one of the greatest gifts you can make for your loved ones is leaving instructions regarding your wishes. Not only for after you die, but in case you can't make health or financial decisions while you're alive.
​
Remember, it's not always about money, it's about planning to make things easier, for the transfer of your assets and if anything should happen to you. 

​One of the worst side effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been a drastic rise in uncertainty. As our collective attentions are turned toward public health, the economy and our personal well-being, there has been an unfortunate rise in identity theft and fraud as scammers attempt to exploit the situation. Particularly within the senior population.
​
COVID-19 has provided fuel for cyber criminals to prey upon the public’s concern about this global crisis. Recent scams are designed to trick people into sending money, to disclose personal information or to click on emails and websites that deliver computer malware onto the recipients’ computer or network.