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The Aging Brain: The Reason Seniors Are Most Vulnerable To Scams
by Shannon Miller, ESQ. The Snake Oil Salesman has existed in society from the beginning preying on those who were old, weak, or compromised in some way. Unfortunately, the increased demand for Alexa, Zoom and social media as delivery methods for the snake oil sales pitch coupled with a thinning of the cortical insula in the brain as we age has created the Perfect Storm for exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens. And these attacks can be devastating– 80% of our nation’s wealth is held by those over the age of 65, which can be...
read moreWhat To Do And Not To Do With Your Estate Planning Documents
Shannon Miller, founder of The Miller Elder Law Firm, is a Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney talks about what to do with your estate planning documents. A common question I get in my practice is “I have an estate plan in place, my affairs are in order, now what do I do with it?” First of all, congratulations! 50% of Americans do not have an estate plan. You are on the right track for planning many events you will experience as an older adult. The better the planning, the easier the decision making process will...
read moreLegal Documents You Need If You Get COVID-19
Elder Law Attorney Shannon Miller Walks You Through The Legal Documents You Need Shannon Miller, Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney and founder of The Miller Elder Law Firm talks about steps to take during COVID-19 to get your legal documents in order. We have had many phone calls at our office asking “What do I do if I get the virus?” and I would like to address these issues head on to help you through the process. As we know, the older population is at higher risk to become sick which could result in...
read moreNursing Home Facilities: Family Communication During COVID
Tips On Staying In Touch With Loved Ones In A Nursing Home During COVID -19 “Help, I have not heard from my Mom in three weeks and I normally hear from her every day. What should I do?” Some of our clients have contacted the firm regarding not being able to get in touch with their loved ones or the nursing home facility staff. This prompted us to put together some tips on how to make sure they are safe and cared for properly. 1. Request a care plan meeting This meeting involves the staff that care for your loved one...
read moreEstate Planning: A New Process During COVID-19
No Contact Options For Signing Estate Planning Documents COVID-19 is a very serious threat and we understand the need to protect our clients, who are often more vulnerable than others due to their age and pre-existing conditions. We are getting many inquiries about estate planning stimulated by the “what if” scenario. “What if I get sick, have to be on a ventilator for weeks at a time, or die–how will my family know how to handle my affairs?” We encourage everyone to use this time to work through estate...
read moreElder Law Update: We Are Open And Here For You
Use This Time To Get Your Affairs In Order: Three Questions To Ask Yourself Our Message To You On behalf of my entire staff, we send hugs (virtually of course) to all of you and wishes for your safety and health. In the meantime, we continue to be available to address any elder law issues that arise in the course of this pandemic. We are here to help. We are working using the traditional phone, email, and virtual office technology and continue to have an office presence as needed. Our entire elder law team remains available to every client...
read moreFinancial Scams: Laws Protecting Florida’s Seniors
A Legislature Update By Senator Kathleen Passidomo at the Stopping Exploitation: Florida On The Forefront Conference Senator Kathleen Passidomo presents laws in the State of Florida that protect seniors from being exploited and scammed at the Stop Exploitation conference in Gainesville, FL. Stopping financial scams is a priority for Florida. She started the legislative ball rolling in 2012 (a Representative at the time) and continues to be an advocate for the elderly. She will be President of the Senate in 2023 and her biggest issue for...
read moreElder Financial Abuse In Florida: The Staggering Statistics
Shannon Miller Presents Elder Financial Abuse Statistics In Introduction To The Stop Exploitation Conference Elder financial abuse is a multi-billion dollar problem and Florida is taking steps to stop exploitation. Gainesville hosted a conference for professionals across the state who work with aging adults and have a mission of stopping exploitation now. Ms. Miller was the chair of the one day conference with these sponsors: Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, AFELA (Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys), Elder Options, Elder...
read moreAging Brain Clues To Prevent Financial Exploitation
Research Update On The Exploitable Brain At “Stopping Financial Exploitation” Conference Topic: Examining key clinical parameters associated with differential rates of cognitive decline, and how these indicators may someday predict cognition and vulnerability to financial exploitation. Or, how aging can put one at risk for poor decision-making and vulnerability for being scammed. Presented by Bonnie Levin, Ph.D. Bernard and Alexandria Schoninger Professor of Neurology Director, Division of Neuropsychology University of Miami,...
read moreA Bittersweet Victory For A Victim of Financial Exploitation
A Story of Fraud, Theft, Recovery, and Peace Michael McCadden was a Gainesville resident, decorated Vietnam War veteran, and a victim of financial exploitation. His tragic story begins well before his visit to The Miller Elder Law Firm. Mr. McCadden came to our law firm penniless. He had lost his entire life savings but wasn’t sure how. The investigation began to help him recover his assets and quality of life. One of his daughters manipulated him to put all of his assets in a trust which she took complete control of to steal $550,000...
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