Adamsky Law Offices Blog

Knee replacement surgery can improve the quality of life even for very elderly patients, according to a study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) . The study found that patients in their 80s can benefit both physically and socially from knee replacement surgery, also called total knee arthroplasty (TKA), once thought too risky for the very elderly. “As patients are living longer, there is an upward trend in the demand for quality of life among the elderly population,” said Edsel Arandia, M.D., lead author of the study and an orthopaedic surgeon at Philippine Orthopaedic Center and a Fellow at Singapore General Hospital. “As patients age, debilitating diseases like arthritis of the knee begin to develop. We conducted this study to determine the viability of TKA in octogenarians and to learn whether their quality of life improves after TKA.” Dr. Arandia and his team reviewed data from 128 patients older than 80 years of age wh...

There are several drugs, that are too commonly prescribed, that pose a risk of deadly side effects for older people. Zyprexa, Resperidol and Seroquel, among others, were developed to treat severe psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. These drugs all bear the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “black box” warning label. This warning label says that they may have life-threatening side effects for older people with dementia. But, doctors and facilities still prescribe these drugs to calm patients down and make the more amenable to care. This is a horrendous situation that needs attention and a solution, but there does not seem to be one yet. For more details, read the article in the Bakersfield Californian at: http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/696836.html

The Federal Government each year releases the federal poverty measure . There are actually two slightly different versions: the poverty thresholds, and; the poverty guidelines. The poverty thresholds are the original version of the federal poverty measure. They are updated each year by the Census Bureau. They are used mainly for statistical purposes, such as preparing estimates of the number of Americans in poverty each year. The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They are issued each year by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes, such as determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. The poverty guidelines are sometimes referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL) although that is not an official title. There are three lists issued: one for the 48 contiguous states and DC, and one each for Alaska and Hawaii. T...

The FBI is warning consumers to be vigilant when seeking employment online. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has receive numerous complaints from individuals who have fallen victim to work-at-home scams. Some unemployed people are desperate and will turn to any sources to earn money. Be sure you know what you are doing online and otherwise. Scams may include hiring people to process payments, transfer funds, or reship products. The victims may be asked to receive and cash checks that are fraudulent, or to transfer funds that have been obtained illegally, or to receive merchandise that is stolen and re-ship it to the criminals running the scam. These "employees" are duped into committing crimes for their "employers." Job scams often provide criminals the opportunity to commit identity theft when victims provide their personal information, sometimes even bank account information, to their potential "employer." The criminal/employer can then...

Most people don’t think they need to engage in “Estate Planning.” They may say, “That’s only for the rich.” But, everyone needs to plan for the inevitable. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, you need to plan ahead. Here are ten reasons to plan. 1. Loss of Capacity. What if you become unable to manage your own affairs? Without a plan, a Judge may have to decide what happens to you and your money. With a plan, you pick the person who will handle things for you. 2. Minor children. Who will raise your children if you die? Without a plan, a Judge will decide. With a plan, you get to nominate the guardian of your choice. 3. Dying without a Will. Who will get your assets when you are gone? Without a plan, the law says who gets your stuff. With a plan, you get to choose who gets what, and how and when they may receive their inheritance. 4. Blended Families. What if your family has multiple marriages, children and grandchildren? Without a plan, some will not be treate...

Life & Estate Planning is always a complex task. Everyone’s situation is unique and your particular personal and family issues must be considered. Many people have fairly simple circumstances. A married couple with one child, doesn’t have too many complex decisions to make. But, for those with multiple marriages and children from different families, planning decisions can be complex. First of all, you must discuss this with your spouse. If you each have children from prior marriages, and you each have certain assets that you brought to your current marriage, then you have to decide what will happen when one of you dies, and then when the second one dies. Consider how you treat your respective children. Will it be equally, or in some proportional way? Will you blend your assets after the death of one of you, or have you already done that? How will you split them apart later? A divorce agreement may contain terms that compel you to plan your estate in a certain way. You mu...