Vickstrom Law

508.757.3800
Have a question? Give us a call.

Schedule Your Consultation
Would you like to meet with us?

  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning in Massachusetts: Wills & Trusts
    • Massachusetts Health Care Proxy
    • Durable Power of Attorney in Massachusetts
    • Massachusetts Guardianship and Conservatorship
    • Massachusetts Special Needs Planning
    • MassHealth Applications & Nursing Home Planning (Medicaid)
    • Massachusetts Probate and Estate Administration
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our Accomplishments
  • Downloads
    • Questionnaires
    • Legal Guides
  • Articles
  • Contact
    • Schedule a Consultation
    • Contact Us
    • Location & Directions

Let Someone Know Your Medical Wishes For National Healthcare Decisions Day

April 13, 2012 by Kristina

National Healthcare Decisions Day is on April 16th, and it’s an important reminder for every adult to let someone know their most private wishes about medial treatments and possible end-of-life care. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Durable Power of Attorney, Family, Guardianship, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Uncategorized Tagged With: Durable Power of Attorney, Family, Guardianship, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, preparedness

Why Single People in Worcester County Should Consider Estate Planning

January 25, 2012 by Kristina

When we typically think of estate planning, we see grandma and grandpa putting together a Will and possibly setting up some trusts for the following generations. It’s all about providing for our offspring, right? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Durable Power of Attorney, Estate Plan Review, Family, Health Care Proxy, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills Tagged With: attorney, Durable Power of Attorney, estate plan, estate planning, Family, Massachusetts, Trusts, worcester, worcester county

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – Legal Options and Financial Support

September 27, 2011 by Kristina

With the decline of the traditional nuclear family, individuals over 50 are increasingly vested with responsibility for the caretaking of young children and adolescents. Financial problems are the primary cause of seniors having to assume more “traditional” child-rearing duties. Whether due to a divorce, military service, substance abuse, mental illness or other secondary issues, some adults may be unable or simply unwilling to be good parents themselves. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Family, Guardianship, Uncategorized Tagged With: caregiver authorization, caregivers, child, elder, estate plan, Family, Massachusetts, seniors

Applying for MassHealth: Is the No-Cost Solution Really “No-Cost”?

July 27, 2011 by Kristina

Medicaid, or MassHealth as it is referred to in Massachusetts, is an avenue available for funding long-term nursing home care. To qualify, you must meet asset thresholds that many elders exceed. Additionally there are income requirements for MassHealth/Mediciad. Adequate understanding of MassHealth/Medicaid law and proper strategizing is a critical component of any plan for the future. With the proper planning of an elder-law attorney, you can protect your property, spouse, and assets. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Elder Needs, Longterm Care, MassHealth Tagged With: caregivers, elder, elder law, elder law attorney, Family, Massachusetts, MassHealth, MassHealth Planning, Medicaid, nursing home, seniors

Parent-Child Role Reversal

June 3, 2011 by Kristina

Most everyone would say that they want to be independent and remain in their own homes as long as possible. This sense of autonomy can be kept in place longer than ever before due to medical advances, assistive devices, and in-home care provided by family members and private caretakers. However, what happens when an elder can no longer remain safely in their home and an adult child is trying to get them the help they need?

Esther is 89 years old. She has lived alone since the death of her husband 23 years ago. She gave up driving two years ago, but is regularly visited by her children and grandchildren, who take care of errands or drive her to handle things herself. Lately, she has been rather unsteady on her feet. Mother and DaughterAdditionally, she has been very forgetful and once left the stove on all night. She is also having trouble remembering to take her medications. There were so many her daughter, Susan, sorts them every week into a pill box. Esther still forgets to take them and sometimes actually doubles up on doses. Susan can see its time for more help but Esther is adamant about not having strangers in the house and doesn’t want to end up in “one of those places…” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Conservatorship, Elder Needs, Family, Guardianship, Health Care Proxy, Uncategorized Tagged With: caregivers, Durable Power of Attorney, elder, elder law, elder law attorney, elders, estate plan, fall, Family, home bound, major life events, seniors

Estate Planning Myths Explained

September 10, 2010 by Kristina

Occasionally, I run across a great article written by someone else. Today is one of those days and I just had to share it with you. Clients are often confused when they come in for initial consultations and have preconceived notions about planning their estates based on things that they’ve heard from their friends, neighbors, hairdresser, etc. Most of the time the information shared is incorrect, or at least incorrectly applied to their situation. This article does a great job of debunking the most popular “myths” of estate planning.  I only added one little thought in bold below. Thank you to my colleague, Attorney Gina Barry, from Bacon & Wilson in Springfield for putting this article together…. and as far as I know unicorns are still mythical creatures.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Elder Needs, Estate Plan Review, Estate Taxes, Family, Gifting, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills Tagged With: caregivers, elder, estate plan, estate planning, Estate Tax, Family, Federal Estate Tax, MassHealth, MassHealth Planning, Medicaid, Probate Court, Taxes

Hoarding: How to Help a Loved One Declutter

September 2, 2010 by Kristina

The issue of hoarding has recently gathered a great deal of attention, particularly due to news reports and popular television shows.  However, hoarding is not a new or a small problem. The problem of hoarding has been documented since the turn of the century and is thought to significantly affect nearly 15 million Americans, many of them elderly. A great article recently appeared in the Boston Herald dealing with the clinical aspects of Hoarding.  Unfortunately, research has been lacking in this area – until now. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Elder Needs, Family, Guardianship, Housecalls, Uncategorized Tagged With: attorney, child, elder, elders, Family, home bound, Massachusetts, seniors, worcester, worcester county

Affordable Care Act: More Affordable AND more Effective Health Care for Seniors

June 16, 2010 by Kristina

What does the new, federal health care law, the Affordable Care Act, mean for seniors? How will it affect Medicare recipients? Throughout the health care reform debate of the past few years, Medicare has been a significant issue. The Affordable Care Act (“Act”), the law passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this spring, seeks to provide better quality and more affordable care to seniors and Medicare recipients. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Legislation, Uncategorized Tagged With: Congress, elder, Family, Federal

Astor Matter Reminds Us that Trustworthiness is Essential When Nominating Substitute Decision Makers

October 22, 2009 by Kristina

Lately, the matter of Brooke Astor’s estate has been covered in the media. Like many people she had an estate plan in place which included a Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy, which nominated subsituted decision makers in the event she would lose the capacity to make important financial and/or medical decisions at some point during her elder years. She did not want to burden her family with obtaining a Guardianship and/or Conservatorship through the courts. She did end up suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and her son took over her financial powers. He just didn’t do a very good job… [Read more…]

Filed Under: Conservatorship, Durable Power of Attorney, Elder Needs, Estate Plan Review, Family, Guardianship, Health Care Proxy, Uncategorized Tagged With: caregivers, celebrity estates, child, Durable Power of Attorney, elder, elder abuse, elder law, elder law attorney, estate plan, estate planning, Family, Health Care Proxy, Massachusetts, Probate Court, seniors

Senior Centers: The Importance of Elders Staying Active & Social

October 14, 2009 by Kristina

I’ve been trying to come up with a new slogan for area senior centers. So far I’ve come up with Senior Centers: come for the free food, stay for the crafts! or Senior Centers: It’s WAY more than BINGO!

But seriously, senior centers offer independence for aging adults. They play a very important role in the lives of elders today by encouraging them to become and remain social. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Elder Needs, Family, Uncategorized Tagged With: Add new tag, caregivers, child, elder, elder law attorney, Family, prevention, seniors, spouse, worcester, worcester county

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Search by Category

508.757.3800
Get in touch with us.


Schedule a Consultation
Meet with us and learn more.

Vickstrom Law


Vickstrom Law, PC
Kristina R. Vickstrom, Esq.
255 Park Avenue, Suite 507
Worcester, MA 01609
508.757.3800


Change text size

Having trouble reading our site? Click below to make text easier to read!
  • 90%  100%  110%  120%  

Contact Us

Have a question? Give us a call.
508.757.3800


Would you like to meet with us? Schedule a Consultation

Want to leave us a review?
Review Vickstrom Law

Articles

Image of a Social Security card, for Divorce, Remarriage, and Social Security article

Divorce, Remarriage and Social Security

September 10, 2018 By Kristina

Stock photo representing a family - Naming a Legal Guardian

Four Steps to Naming a Legal Guardian

July 23, 2018 By Kristina

Click here to visit our Article Library »

Copyright © 2000-2025 • Kristina R. Vickstrom, Esq., Vickstrom Law, PC. All rights reserved • Disclaimer • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025