Aging Starts Now

Partner and attorney Chris Johnson interviews Dana Hentschel outreach coordinator with Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law and PAC Certified Independent Trainer with Mental Health America of the Midsouth about normal aging vs. not normal aging, next steps if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, and community resources.

You have set up and funded a trust, now what? Are these items in the trust indefinitely? Does the trust end upon someone’s death? Does the answer differ based on the type of trust someone has? Tim Takacs and Barbara McGinnis, both Certified Elder Law Attorneys, answer these questions in this episode.

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis joins fellow partner and attorney Chris Johnson to share some cautionary tales and mistakes they have seen families make. So many times, families come to our office during a crisis or after a death with a real mess that could have been avoided with a little communication and planning. This is especially true for those couples where one spou...

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with Dr. James Powers of Vanderbilt University Medical Center about tips for healthy aging.

Attorney and partner, Chris Johnson interviews Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Terry Wilson. They discuss what a VSO is, the services a VSO provides, and how veterans can reach their local VSO for assistance.

Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and TennCare Specialist Josh Bey explain TennCare’s hardship exemption rules for saving the family homestead from “the nursing home.” Are you a child who takes care of you parents in their home? Do you operate an income producing family farm? If so, this podcast is for you.

Partner and Attorney Chris Johnson and Medicare Specialist Josh Hunter speak with Kris Hizer, a Senior Health Benefits Consultant specializing in Medicare Insurance. Topics include how to choose the right Medicare broker, what a Medicare broker does, and the differences between original Medicare and Advantage Plans.

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with Chad Richards, financial advisor at Rock Castle Wealth Advisors, about Social Security Benefits. When should you start drawing your social security? What are the variables to consider? How do spousal benefits work? Chad Richards explains.

Founding Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Tim Takacs speaks with Lynn Wood the Caregiver Support Coordinator for Mental Health America of the Midsouth about the File of Life Program.

Founding Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Tim Takacs and Public Benefits Specialist Josh Hunter speak on Medicare basics. When will Medicare pay for rehab? How do you know if you are on inpatient or observation status in the hospital? What happens if you run out of Medicare days?

Attorney Tim Takacs speaks with Alissa Drescher, Grief Center Director at Alive Hospice, about misconceptions about hospice and grief support services in the community.

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with Sid Sadler, Volunteer Coordinator of the Tennessee Respite Coalition, about respite, free resources, and ways to volunteer. For more information, visit www.tnrespite.org or call 615-269-8687.

Attorney Chris Johnson interviews Melody O’Dell, Market Operations Manager at DispatchHealth. DispatchHealth’s mission is to create the most advanced and complete in-home care model in the world. By offering on-demand healthcare for people of all ages in the comfort of their home, DispatchHealth helps reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations, improve clinical outcomes and decr...

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and Partner and Attorney Chris Johnson discuss the myths and misconceptions of estate planning.

Certified Elder Law Attorney and Partner Barbara McGinnis interviews Ashley Hunter with FiftyForward’s Victory Over Crime program about popular scams and how to avoid them.

Partners and Certified Elder Law Attorneys Tim Takacs and Barbara McGinnis explain the importance of telling your attorney everything and how seemingly insignificant details can impact your estate plan.

You have your trust, now what? What happens if you don’t fund your trust? Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and attorney Chris Johnson explain what happens if a trust isn’t properly funded. They also outline the steps to take to properly fund your trust.

Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and attorney Chris Johnson explain the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, the pros and cons of each, and applications for each type of trust.

Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and Public Benefits Specialist Joshua Bey discuss the importance of Caregiver Agreements, even for family members, especially if planning to apply for future TennCare benefits.

Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis and Public Benefits Specialist Josh Bey discuss Qualified Income Trusts (QITs), sometimes referred to as Miller Trusts.

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with Elder Care Coordinator and former Ombudsman Pati Bedwell on “How to Spot Elder Abuse.”

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with the Executive Director of Community Life Bridge, Loren Sluder. Community Life Bridge is a non-profit serving Sumner County. Its mission is to bridge the gap of unmet needs for mature adults in Sumer County. Learn more about the Community Life Bridge program at www.communitylifebridge.org.

Attorneys Chris Johnson and Tim Takacs discuss Special Needs Trusts, including the different types of trusts for special needs and who can benefit from these types of trusts.

Partner and attorney Chris Johnson speaks with Advance Care Planning Coach Dr. Kim Fischer, a board-certified physician anesthesiologist and an advanced care planning coach in Denver. She helps families feel reassured, prepared, and empowered to navigate end-of-life issues with confidence. Dr. Fischer is passionate about enabling advocates to speak for their loved ones from a place of clarity and...

Partner and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis speaks with Neuropsychologist Mark Phillips about “How to Keep Your Brain Healthy.” Dr. Mark Phillips is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with over 30 years’ experience providing comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for memory loss and other cognitive disorders. He works primarily with older adults and specializes in hea...