Check out our November newsletter!
NOVEMBER 2025
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Caregivers Carry the Weight of Love Here’s How to Lighten the Load
Many Americans find themselves uniquely positioned as their loved ones grow older. Maybe a parent, grandparent, or beloved aunt always intended to age in place at home, imagining no possible future where they end up in a nursing home or assisted living facility. So, they don’t set up any essential Estate or Long-Term Care Planning documents. However, as time passes, their mental and physical capacities diminish beyond what they expected. They’re now unable to care for themselves and must rely on a caregiver for assistance. Without a proper Estate Plan or millions of dollars in savings, a loved one has to jump in to take on the caregiving duties. November is National Family Caregivers Month, allowing us to spread awareness around this vital role.
Alliance estimates that caregivers spend an average of about 20 days a month completing their responsibilities. Thankfully, you can take a few Estate Planning actions to make it easier for those in the caregiver role. ESTABLISH POWERS OF ATTORNEY It’s very difficult to care for someone when you can’t make any decisions for them. As soon as you learn or decide you’re going to become a caregiver for a loved one, you should meet with an Estate Planning attorney to establish their Powers of Attorney. This will give you the legal right to make financial and health care decisions on their behalf. You may need to manage their bank accounts to pay bills or even make medical decisions for them if they cannot do it themselves. However, you can only do this if your loved one is still of a sound mind. While establishing these documents, you should also ensure a Health Care Directive is in place. This gives you an idea of what they want from medical care, allowing you to make decisions that align with their wishes. PLAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE Once someone needs a caregiver, you can’t really plan for Long-Term Care, which is why everyone should take preventive measures to protect themselves. The simple truth is that nursing homes and assisted living facilities are extremely expensive. Unless you have millions of dollars in a bank account, you may not be able to afford more than a year or two of care. However, if you plan ahead and develop a Long-Term Care Plan, you can cover your bases and ensure everything goes as planned if you need additional care and assistance.
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, over 34 million Americans provide unpaid care to adults over 50. Around 15.7 million of those help someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Nearly every family caregiver helps with daily tasks involving hygiene, dressing and undressing, climbing out of bed, taking medications, and transportation. Forty-six percent of family caregivers take it to the next level by performing nursing or medical tasks.
For those of you currently operating as caregivers, whether in a professional or familial role, thank you for all you do! It’s a difficult responsibility, but know your actions are appreciated, even if nobody expresses it to you.
-Barry Siegel
If you’ve never talked with someone who has cared for a loved one, you may not realize how much goes into it. The Family Caregiver
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While Thanksgiving is the most anticipated holiday of the month, a couple of other special occasions in November give us a great opportunity to show our appreciation and support for those who have made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom. November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and on Nov. 11, we recognize Veterans Day. The Siegel Law Group proudly supports our country’s veterans. We even have some veterans and active-duty military members on our team. Our operations manager, Odi Gibson, worked as a Personnel Management Specialist while serving in the United States Army. Immigrating from a country with no freedoms, Odi felt a great sense of gratitude to our country for allowing her the opportunity to live the American dream and wanted to contribute by preserving the rights and freedoms of others. One of the most overlooked aspects of military service is how it affects family members. Those who enlist may have to be away from their spouse, parents, friends, and kids during deployments and while on active duty. Jay Silverstein, one of our attorneys, is probably experiencing this firsthand, as he recently left for basic training with the United States Marine Corps. It’s not easy on them, nor is it easy for their families. As Americans, we should do everything we can to support those giving their all to protect our safety, freedom, and way of life. Thank you to those who have served or are currently serving our country. We also want to express our gratitude to the families that support our service members. If we can do anything to help you, please reach out! Estate Planning is crucial for veterans and those actively serving, as they can take extra action to protect their loved ones. We can help you put a plan in place that allows you to maximize your V.A. Benefits, protect survivor benefits, and address any potential service-related challenges, in addition to our usual Estate Planning and Elder Law services. Serving Those Who Served A Message of Thanks and Support
The holidays are a magical time that brings together loved ones and a little chaos. Between the pie-making and travel plans, it can be easy to forget what we’re gathering to celebrate. This Thanksgiving, let’s not just carve the turkey, but also carve out some time for mindful traditions the whole family can enjoy. From sharing what you’re thankful for to hosting a family Thanksgiving talent show, this year is the perfect chance to create new traditions that deepen connections and spark laughter. Get ready to gobble up the fun together. GATHER FOR GRATITUDE Thanksgiving is all about honoring what we are grateful for in life, and it can be a fun activity for you and your children to share. You can gamify gratitude in several ways, like creating a thankfulness jar where everybody adds slips of paper describing what they most appreciate. You can take turns reading them after dinner and even make a guessing game out of who wrote what. It could be as simple as gathering around the table for breakfast and everyone saying one thing they’re grateful for. TURKEY DAY TRIVIA There’s no better way to digest after the big Thanksgiving feast than having fun. Pick out some of your favorite board games or a deck of cards for a post-meal game night. You could test everyone’s knowledge with a holiday-themed trivia competition or create a scavenger hunt around the house. No matter the game, ensure everyone from grandparents to kids can join in. Keep it focused on connection, not just winning. If you want to go all out, challenge all your guests to be ready with their best skills for a family talent show. A SOUNDTRACK TO THE STUFFING Create a perfect soundtrack you can play while everyone helps with the cooking or winds down after dessert. Before the big day, ask everyone in the family to add one or two songs to a Thanksgiving playlist. Prompt them to pick tunes that remind them of the season, happy memories, the joys of being together, or even their favorite dishes. You can keep adding to this list in subsequent years, turning the songs into a playable family history. Whisking Up New Traditions This Thanksgiving Fill Your Holiday With Gratitude and Games
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Your Legacy, Your Rules Strategies to Keep the Peace After You’re Gone
When we pass away, we want our loved ones to have time to grieve and reflect on all our shared experiences together. This can be a difficult time for families, and emotions can run high. You may have heard horror stories about Probate from a friend or watched a TV program showing family members fighting over who gets what. We all want to avoid this situation when we pass away, but how can you prevent family infighting if you’re no longer around? It all starts with some vital Estate Planning strategies. ESTABLISH AN ESTATE PLAN. If you pass away without an active Will, Trust, or any other Estate Planning documents, your Estate will be subject to Probate. At Probate Court, an estate administrator will identify assets, pay off debts, and distribute assets according to the state’s intestacy laws. This means you will have no say in who receives what, which can lead to frustration from loved ones.
You need to establish a clear Estate Plan that includes a Will, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney. Every document you include in your Estate Plan should help eliminate ambiguity so your loved ones know this is what you want. HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION WITH THOSE INVOLVED. One primary reason family infighting is so common after a loved one passes away is that the family doesn’t know the plan. They may have assumed they would receive a specific asset, but you left it for someone else for a particular reason. After establishing your Estate Plan, sit your family down and discuss it. Set expectations, offer reassurance, answer questions, and explain your decisions. You can also include a letter of explanation in your Estate Plan. While this isn’t a legally binding document, it does give you a chance to reaffirm your intentions and provide further reasoning behind your decisions. KEEP YOUR PLAN UPDATED. Life changes, and we need to ensure our Estate Plan reflects every change. You should make an effort to update your plan every three years, or whenever you experience a significant life change, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, a life-altering disability, a move to a new home, or the birth of a new descendant.
Sudoku
Check Out Our Seminars
Boca (Location for all dates: Spanish River Library, 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton )
Living Trust • Thursday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. • Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. Medicaid Planning • Thursday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. • Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m. Wellington (Location for all dates: Fairfield Inn: 10616 Forest Hill Blvd, Wellington )
Living Trust • Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. • Thursday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Medicaid Planning • Thursday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m.
Naples (Location for all dates: Naples Bay Resort & Marina, 1500 Fifth Avenue South, Naples )
Living Trust • Tuesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. • Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.
To reserve a spot, call us at 561-955-8515 ! For more information scan the QR code above or visit our website SiegelLawGroup.com/events !
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Inside This Issue
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The Legal Tools Every Caregiver Needs
From Thankfulness Jars to Turkey Trivia
Thank You to Every Service Member and Their Support System
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Don’t Let Family Infighting Tarnish Your Legacy
Check Out Our Seminars!
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Reimagine a Retirement Routine That Works for You
Find Your Rhythm in Retirement Build a Retirement Routine That Feels Right
Retirement is a well-earned chapter in life, but transitioning to it can feel like stepping into the unknown. After decades of routines built around work, it’s easy to feel adrift. Fortunately, structure can go a long way in finding your freedom. START WITH PURPOSE Waking up with something to look forward to is one of the simplest ways to infuse your day with purpose. Whether it’s reading the newspaper, taking a morning walk, or working toward a long- held dream, these purposeful starts add rhythm to your day. Set small goals that excite you: Learn a new hobby, volunteer in your community, or dive into a creative project you’ve always wanted to try. Learning and progress feel good at any age. BALANCE PLANNING WITH PLAY Planning isn’t about creating a rigid schedule; it’s about sprinkling your calendar with things you love. Doctor appointments and
errands can sit comfortably beside lunch dates, gardening time, or a painting session. Mix the predictable with the spontaneous. After all, retirement is your time, so make it flexible and fun. REIMAGINE YOUR ROUTINE Establishing new routines adds a sense of comfort and control. A consistent morning routine, complete with your favorite breakfast and a bit of movement, can kick-start your day with energy and intention. End your day with a relaxing ritual to wind down, reflect, or connect with loved ones. KEEP IT FRESH Avoid falling into autopilot mode. Challenge yourself to try something new regularly, whether exploring a new walking path, attending a local workshop, or picking up a new skill. Your retirement life should be anything but dull. This is your time to thrive!
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