Senior Advocates and Help

Tony Page

Tony Page

Well-known member
Walter Barron a lawyer who has YouTube videos on numerous topic for seniors. Below is one about changes coming to getting your license to drive a car. I personally have not checked out all his videos but over time I intend to see if any of them would be helpful for me.

I posted this thread for anyone who knows a senior site or organization that can be helpful to seniors.

 
I scanned the video but I don't see what the "5 changes" are. Besides, driver's licenses are state issued and each state has their own requirements. Texas has had an eye test since I first got my license at 16, and at each renewal.

To me, any rules pertaining to seniors and not others is age discrimination. There are plenty of young people who should not be driving.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
It kind of bugs me that the youtube creator used a huge picture of Trump on his thumbnail, insinuating that Trump created new roadblocks for seniors renewing driving licenses. I have severe "liberal bullshit fatigue" these days.
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I agree about using Trump's photo but I wanted to see what the content was about. I wish I had seen the video before my wife went down to get her license renewed at the DMV. I didn't know there were optometrist who can directly report to the DMV that your eyesight meets the standard. Saves the hassel of a trip on going down to the DMV.

I watch another video by the same person about social security. I will probably follow some of his suggestions just out of curiosity. I always felt they calculated my monthly payments incorrectly. If nothing else it will satisfy my need to know if it was done correctly.
 
Tony Page said:
I agree about using Trump's photo but I wanted to see what the content was about. I wish I had seen the video before my wife went down to get her license renewed at the DMV. I didn't know there were optometrist who can directly report to the DMV that your eyesight meets the standard. Saves the hassel of a trip on going down to the DMV.

I watch another video by the same person about social security. I will probably follow some of his suggestions just out of curiosity. I always felt they calculated my monthly payments incorrectly. If nothing else it will satisfy my need to know if it was done correctly.
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Tony can you please post a link how optometrists can report to DMV? Thank you.
Sit down with your records and figure out your payments. What does not match up?
 
Marie Miller said:
Tony can you please post a link how optometrists can report to DMV? Thank you.
Sit down with your records and figure out your payments. What does not match up?
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Some optometrist that work for companies like Vision World can report your eye test directly via a link to the DMV.

Your DMV website usually list what businesses or eye doctors have this link directly to them.

Unfortunately we had a fire in Oct. 2022 we have no records. I will be reviewing online the records SS has for the last 35 years that they counted towards my calculation and check for zeros and to their records of my W2.

I should have no year with zero income.

One of my concerns is I retired for 2 years and the company I work for called me back they needed my help so I went back to work for 2 years then re-retired. I want to see that SS have these years in my 35 years.
 
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On thing I've not searched for or asked a lawyer about is someone to look after my wishes should I become incapacitated. I've not filled out an Advanced Directive because I don't have anyone to put down as a point of contact. One would think I'm not the only person in this position.
 
I have always had to take an eye test in order to get a driver's license. This can be done by an eye specialist, or you'll have to read the chart at the BMV. It's pretty easy to pass, though. Although I've had glasses since I was 10, I can pass the eye exam without them. In Maine, a DL is good for 6 years until you reach 65, and then the DL needs to be renewed every 4 years.
 
John Brunner said:
On thing I've not searched for or asked a lawyer about is someone to look after my wishes should I become incapacitated. I've not filled out an Advanced Directive because I don't have anyone to put down as a point of contact. One would think I'm not the only person in this position.
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It would be nice if there was a local senior group in the same position that agreed to look out for each other. It would be a team effort.
 
John Brunner said:
On thing I've not searched for or asked a lawyer about is someone to look after my wishes should I become incapacitated. I've not filled out an Advanced Directive because I don't have anyone to put down as a point of contact. One would think I'm not the only person in this position.
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John,

I found this online.

A senior with no family can legally plan for incapacitation while they are still of sound mind by appointing trusted friends, licensed professionals, or professional fiduciaries using specific legal instruments like a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, and a Living Will. [1, 2, 3]
 
Tony Page said:
John,

I found this online.

A senior with no family can legally plan for incapacitation while they are still of sound mind by appointing trusted friends, licensed professionals, or professional fiduciaries using specific legal instruments like a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, and a Living Will. [1, 2, 3]
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Thanks, Tony. My question is what "licensed professionals" is that talking about? I asked my doctor and all he was aware of was either a relative or a family friend. He was asking if I had any distant cousins, as though the idea is to just list anyone. And I'm looking at an Advance Directive for medical stuff, not a universal "all affairs" thing like a Power of Attorney would cover.
 
John Brunner said:
Thanks, Tony. My question is what "licensed professionals" is that talking about? I asked my doctor and all he was aware of was either a relative or a family friend. He was asking if I had any distant cousins, as though the idea is to just list anyone. And I'm looking at an Advance Directive for medical stuff, not a universal "all affairs" thing like a Power of Attorney would cover.
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How ridiculous. I have "distant cousins" who have no idea that I exist, so why on earth would I give them authorization to make healthcare or financial decisions for me if I were incapacitated? I'm a total stranger to "distant cousins."

John, you mention friends that help out with mowing, driving each other to appointments, etc. Are none of them able to be named in Advance Directives? Maybe consider finding a lawyer and discuss options with them. Or what about your pastor or someone in your church group?
 
Beth Gallagher said:
How ridiculous. I have "distant cousins" who have no idea that I exist, so why on earth would I give them authorization to make healthcare or financial decisions for me if I were incapacitated? I'm a total stranger to "distant cousins."

John, you mention friends that help out with mowing, driving each other to appointments, etc. Are none of them able to be named in Advance Directives? Maybe consider finding a lawyer and discuss options with them. Or what about your pastor or someone in your church group?
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I've thought of talking to a lawyer to see what he thinks. I don't really know anyone I would burden with something personal like this. Honestly, I'd have to read the Advanced Directive to see what its scope is. I assume it's limited to making medical decisions in specific circumstances.

Not only do I not have relatives I'd list, the ones I've got I would want as far away as possible if I got incapacitated. Those people would steal the wallpaper off of the walls.
 
John Brunner said:
I've thought of talking to a lawyer to see what he thinks. I don't really know anyone I would burden with something personal like this. Honestly, I'd have to read the Advanced Directive to see what its scope is. I assume it's limited to making medical decisions in specific circumstances.

Not only do I not have relatives I'd list, the ones I've got I would want as far away as possible if I got incapacitated. Those people would steal the wallpaper off of the walls.
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Maybe spend some time googling or AI-ing forms specific to your state. A lot of people don't understand the difference between Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney, and DNR (do not resuscitate) forms. One of my best friends got heated when I told her that a lawyer cannot prepare a DNR, those are medical forms that doctors must sign. So there's a lot of confusion around those forms.

Even though my husband and I have each other, 5 children and a bunch of grandkids, we still don't want to burden to anyone. I pretty much let everyone know that I don't want to be on life support, period.

Also this: "Keeping a copy of your advance directive or out-of-hospital Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order on your refrigerator is a widely recognized best practice because emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are specifically trained to look there for vital medical history and emergency documents." (From google)
 
John Brunner said:
I've thought of talking to a lawyer to see what he thinks. I don't really know anyone I would burden with something personal like this. Honestly, I'd have to read the Advanced Directive to see what its scope is. I assume it's limited to making medical decisions in specific circumstances.

Not only do I not have relatives I'd list, the ones I've got I would want as far away as possible if I got incapacitated. Those people would steal the wallpaper off of the walls.
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There are organizations Senior Advocates that are sponsored by Medicare that might be able to help, one is Solace, link below.

Caregiver Support | Caregiver Advocates Covered by Medicare | Solace

Struggling with caregiving? Connect with a patient advocate for comprehensive caregiver support. Book now and start getting the relief you need!
www.solace.health www.solace.health
 
John Brunner said:
I've thought of talking to a lawyer to see what he thinks. I don't really know anyone I would burden with something personal like this. Honestly, I'd have to read the Advanced Directive to see what its scope is. I assume it's limited to making medical decisions in specific circumstances.

Not only do I not have relatives I'd list, the ones I've got I would want as far away as possible if I got incapacitated. Those people would steal the wallpaper off of the walls.
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Look for an estate attorney. Initial consultation should be free of charge. You can use an attorney and work his fee out. I suggest a firm just in case you outlive him. We need to reassign our trust but it is what it is.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Maybe spend some time googling or AI-ing forms specific to your state. A lot of people don't understand the difference between Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney, and DNR (do not resuscitate) forms. One of my best friends got heated when I told her that a lawyer cannot prepare a DNR, those are medical forms that doctors must sign. So there's a lot of confusion around those forms.

Even though my husband and I have each other, 5 children and a bunch of grandkids, we still don't want to burden to anyone. I pretty much let everyone know that I don't want to be on life support, period.

Also this: "Keeping a copy of your advance directive or out-of-hospital Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order on your refrigerator is a widely recognized best practice because emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are specifically trained to look there for vital medical history and emergency documents." (From google)
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Thanks for that. I have a DNR. It's the Advance Directive I'm struggling with. I would only give Power of Attorney to an attorney, although there's always risk no matter who you choose.

As an aside, my elderly (in her 80s) friend has a son and a daughter (her husband died when the kids were pretty young.) The son was high-level at NIH then got recruited to teach at a university in Texas. He's very successful. He and his mom are very close. The daughter is somewhat spiteful and lazy, works in the administrative side of UVA hospital, and is often on the verge of getting fired for taking too much leave, no-showing, etc (she has 2 kids that have graduated college.) The daughter has "issues." The daughter has been to my friend's doctor behind her back trying to get the doctor to sign documents so the daughter can take over my friend's affairs (meaning bank accounts.) I told my friend to seen an attorney and start documenting stuff and possibly erecting legal barriers, or maybe going ahead and setting up her son to take her stuff over.

Having children or close family is not always a viable solution for these things...sadly. I got siblings (and extended family) who are similarly untrustworthy.
 
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