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The Senior Solution The Senior Solution! …Also Just in Time for Tax Season! Are In-Home Care Expenses Tax Deductible? Are you looking to find a tax writeoff for the assisted living bills that you have been facing this year? Well, if you have been keeping accurate records for assisted living costs and medical expenses, then when tax time rolls around, you’ll be well prepared to qualify for write-offs. First and foremost, the taxpayer must be entitled to itemize deductions. However, other requirements differ depending on who the taxpayer is: the senior or the caregiver. For seniors, or if you’re preparing taxes on a senior’s behalf, you can deduct qualified medical expenses the taxpayer paid for during the tax year. A doctor’s certification for a medical condition can help you provide verification of medical expenses if needed. For caregivers, you’ll need to first make sure your loved one qualifies as a dependent. If you paid at least half of the support for that person and the senior’s income is not exceeding $3,950, then you can deduct those qualified expenses on your tax return. Or if you are part of a formalized multiple support agreement with other family caregivers, you can still
deduct medical expenses if, collectively, the caregivers provide more than half of your loved one’s support – even if you, individually, did not contribute more than half. You will also be allowed to take a dependency exemption for that individual. To read more detail on this topic please see IRS Publication 502. So what qualifies as a medical expense, and can you take a tax deduction for assisted living? Generally, anything that is directly related to the individual’s medical care, including health or Medicare insurance, long-term care insurance, eyewear, hospitals, hearing aids, and so forth, qualifies as a medical expense. You can find a complete list in IRS Publication 502. But what about the actual monthly cost of assisted living? According to Craig Kellner, CPA and Partner at EFP Rotenberg LLP, Board Member of Empire State Association of Assisted Living and a specialist in assisted living situations, a facility like a nursing home is easy to take a deduction on, but it’s not so simple when it comes to assisted living: “Nursing homes are primarily used for medical care, and medical
care is always deductible. Assisted living is not necessarily there for medical reasons. It’s often a safety or companionship issue, so an assisted living facility is not usually deductible.” However, if your loved one is receiving substantial medical care, is in a special needs unit, or is in dementia care at an assisted living facility, then they may qualify for a tax deduction. “You need to have a certified plan of care from a licensed health care practitioner, and be unable to perform at least two activities of daily living,” such as bathing, dressing, or eating, says Craig Kellner. “Then those costs would be deemed to be medical.” Or, if they have dementia and require substantial supervision to protect their health and safety, then AL costs may be deductible. For other types of housing, such as senior independent living communities, generally the only deductible expenses would be directly related to medical costs – such as, if you pay out of pocket for nurse visits.
This April issue of The Senior Solution is brought to you by At Your Place LLC! If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a FREE In-home assessment, please call us anytime at (360) 859-3084! And check out our updated website: www.AtYourPlaceSeniorCare.com
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Caregiver spotlight of the month: Yvette! Yvette has been a member of the At Your Place team for several years and has done an outstanding job caring for our clients. With a background in the medical field, this has particularly prepared her for the caregiving field she now works in.
Hot Cross Bun Recipe! Yields: 20; Total Time: 2hrs 45 min
Ingredients: 4 c. flour 1 pkg. dry yeast 1 tsp. cinnamon ½ c. oil 1/3 c. sugar ½ tsp. salt 3 eggs
2/3 c. currants 1 beaten egg white 1 c. powdered sugar 1 Tbls. Hazelnut liqueur or milk ¼ tsp. vanilla milk
Preparation: In bowl combine 1-½ c. flour, yeast, cinnamon. In saucepan, heat & stir ¾ c. milk, oil, sugar, and salt till warm. Add to flour mixture; add whole eggs. Beat with mixer on low speed for 30 sec. Beat on high for 3 min. Stir in currants and remaining flour. Knead on floured surface (3-5 mn). Shape into ball. Put dough in greased bowl; cover and let rise until size is double. Then punch dough down; put onto floured surface. Cover for 10 mn. Then divide into 20 smooth balls 1-½ in apart on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double. With sharp knife, make shallow crisscross slash across each bun. Brush with egg white. Bake at 375 F for 12-15 min or until golden brown. Then cool slightly. In bowl, combine pwdr sugar, hazelnut liqueur or milk, and vanilla. Stir in 1 tsp. milk at a time until it reaches drizzling consistency. Drizzle buns with icing. Serve warm! http://homecooking.about.com/od/brea drecipes/r/blbread93.htm
Born and raised in Manchester, England, Yvette acquired a degree in Nursing and specialized in Ophthalmology. After a few years, she transitioned into Midwifery where she found such joy and fulfillment in seeing beautiful babies being born. Soon her traveling nursing career brought her to America where she met her husband of twenty years. With the birth of their son, Yvette took leave from the medical field to dedicate her time to an even more rewarding pursuit: her family. “I would consider the most ideal job to be taking care of other people; I didn’t ever want an office job. I wanted to do something with purpose.”-Yvette Eventually, she felt it was time to reenter the workforce, but rather than returning to the hospital environment, Yvette wanted to transition into a more fulfilling way to help and care for others.
“Why not take care of the elderly?” she considered. Yvette had spent much time caring for her own grandmother until she passed away. So this led her to apply for a position at our company, At Your Place. “When I came in for the interview, everyone was so friendly and was a relaxed atmosphere. It felt like home, yet still very professional,” stated Yvette. As she has spent several years now working one-on-one with the elderly in their own homes, she has much wise counsel to give: “In-home care is MUCH better care, because you are able to connect, listen, share stories, and be there for their immediate needs. It is personalized care! And you continue to get to know them personally, their likes and dislikes, which is so beneficial for improving care.” She also has great advice for seniors or their loved ones who are searching out some form of extra care: “Depending on your desires and needs, and if you want to stay in your home as long as possible, in-home care is the best, where you will receive personal and quality care while still maintaining independence!”
Our company strives to provide compassionate In-Home Senior Care in Vancouver and Camas WA. Our mission is to help seniors live confidently and age gracefully in their own homes for as long as possible. We choose to make a positive difference in the lives of mature adults and their families. The At Your Place team will perform our duties with confidence, concern, commitment, cheerfulness, and care. We treat every contact and perform every task with honor. Call us today at: (360) 859-3084!