Stephen Rudolph FACHE, CSA Comfort Keepers Expertise: Senior Care 5496 King James Way, Suite 210, Madison, WI 54719 (608) 442-1898
Q.What are advance directives for health care?
A. Advance directives are legal documents that describe in writing your preferences for life-saving and sustaining medical care. They speak for you when you cannot –for instance, if you are in a coma. Advance directives come in two primary forms and can be prepared by anyone age 18 and over, serving to guide family members and doctors when you cannot make your own health care decisions. You do not have to have a lawyer to complete advance directives, but you do need to sign them in front of required witnesses. There are differences in the types of advance directives. A living will is a legal document that enables you to declare your wishes to receive or to have withheld life support procedures when permanently unconscious or terminally ill and unable to make informed decisions. A durable power of attorney (POA) for health care is a legal document in which you designate a trusted individual—your “agent”—to make medical decisions for you when you are unable. In your POA you can specify the treatments you would or would not want to receive. A do not resuscitate (DNR) order sometimes supplements advance health care directives. Placed in a patient’s medical chart, a DNR is usually used by people who are already critically ill and feel strongly against use of life-prolonging measures.
Stephen P. Rudolph is the owner of Comfort Keepers, a nonmedical, in-home service that provides personal cares and other non-medical services for aging adults, those with disabilities and others needing assistance. Rudolph is Board Certified in health care management, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA).
Q.Is it necessary to have a Service Contract with my son if he is going to do some work on my home and I think that someday I may need to apply for Medicaid?
A. Yes. A recent ruling by an administrative law judge (MEH Decision MDV 16/107) makes it clear that you’ll need to prove that the money you paid to your son was not a gift and therefore a “divestment”. To prove the payment was not a gift, you should have a Service Contract that was signed BEFORE you paid your son. In the past, some attorneys would rely on an MEH rule that allowed payments to relatives without a contract if the payments were considered reasonable for the type of work being performed (e.g. caregiver services, remodeling work, etc.). This recent ruling leaves no doubt that payments to relatives will be considered gifts, even if the payment is reasonable and the amount is low. The solution is to seek the assistance of an elder law attorney to draft a Service Contract between you and your son.
Prior to graduating cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1990, Iris was an occupational therapist. She worked with elderly and disabled individuals in nursing homes, and it's no surprise that she would move from one compassionate profession to another to help people achieve a secure future and peace of mind.
She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the State Bar Elder Law Section, and is an adjunct estate planning faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Iris received the 2009 Woman of Distinction Award in recognition of her 30+ years of volunteer service in this community.
Attorney Johanna J. Allex focuses on estate planning, small businesses planning, and nonprofits. She helps individuals, families, and small businesses to attain financial security and create a positive legacy for themselves and their communities. The ability to help people create the future they have in mind motivates Johanna. She feels that something as important as your legacy should not be left to chance.
She received her B.S., M.M. and J.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Johanna is on the board of directors for Natural Heritage Land Trust, Inc., a local land trust that conserves land in South Central Wisconsin. She is a member of the American Bar Association (Real Property and Probate sections), the Wisconsin State Bar, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Planned Giving Council.
She is also currently an adjunct estate planning faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Shawn Hook, DVM Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic Expertise: Veterinarian 2935 S. Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, WI (608) 274-3880
Q.I was looking at the internet and saw that a lot of the drugs for my pet like flea and tick preventative and heartworm preventative cheap. Is it the same thing as what my veterinarian sells?
A. No. All of these medications are either redirected, meaning sold through 3rd channels or contraband meaning drugs illegally brought in from other countries like China. These medications can be expired, repackaged or even the wrong medication. All of these things can be very dangerous for your pet. In addition the drug companies, especially for heartworm and flea/tick preventatives will back there product with a guarantee. This guarantee is not honored when the product is purchased illegally. Some websites will say that their guarantee is better than the manufacturers, however you need to read the fine print. They will only give you your money back for the product. If an animal becomes heartworm positive and needs to be treated for adults, the online store will not pay for this, whereas the manufacturer will pay for this, which could cost three to five hundred dollars when it is all said and done. In addition things like anti-inflammatory drugs like Rimadyl® can have major side effects, the online store will only give you your money back, not pay for treatment like the manufacturer will. All of these things must be kept in mind. You may save a couple bucks up front, but in the long run you may be paying a lot more. For more information talk to your veterinarian or visit the FDA's web site at www.fda.gov/consumer/update/petdrugsonline121407.html .
Dr. Shawn Hook resided in madison until the age of 4. He then moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where he grew up in the country above a cheese factory. Shawn gained experience with many different types of animals helping out on different farms near his home. After graduation Dr. Shawn Hook moved back to Madison to go to the Unniversity of Wisconsin - Madison. It was at that time that he began working for a veterinary clinic and fell in love with veterinary medicine. Dr. Shawn Hook graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison - School of Veterinary Medicine in May of 1999. Since that time he has been practicing veterinary medicine in the Madison area. Dr. Shawn Hook has served as Vice President and President of the DCVMA (Dane County Veterinary Medical Association). Doctor Shawn Hook is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA), The Dane County Veterinary Medical Association (DCVMA), the American Heartworm Society (AHS), the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), American Ferret Assosciation (AFA), and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). Dr Shawn Hook has worked with many rescue groups including the Dane County Humane Society, Angel's Wish, Country Animal Haven, Small Scale Reptile Rescue, Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue, and ARVS. His special interests are in exotic animal medicine and surgery, ultrasonagraphy and soft tissue surgery in canines and felines. Dr. Hook took over ownership of the Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic in March of 2007. He joined the Fitchburg-Verona Rotary Club in 2008 and enjoys giving back to the community of Fitchburg and Verona. He enjoys disc golfing with his dog Skippy. Dr. Hook also shares a home with three cats, many fish, a Cope's Gray Tree Frog, and one very understanding wife (Sara).
Kathleen C. Aiken Associated Bank Expertise: Mortgage Banking 2970 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53711 (608) 259-2085
Q.My parents want to gift me money to help with the down payment. Are there any restrictions on that?
A. Yes. If you are accepting a gift for the down payment you will need a total of 20 percent down if the entire down payment is fully gifted. If you are putting less than 20 percent down AND using gift money, you have to at least have 5 percent of your own funds.
Kathleen Aiken has been with Associated Bank since 2000, as well as the finance industry for over fifteen years. She received her BBA in Finance from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Kathy is an active member of Madison Area Builders Association-Woman's Council as well as president and board member for Madison Breakfast Optimist.
