2025 Idaho Legislative Issues Seniors Should Watch, Part 1
Release Date: 04/22/2025
What Happens When Someone Dies - Probate Part 1
Senior Matters Podcast
In this episode of Senior Matters, host Mark E. Wight is joined by estate planning attorney Carly Ward to explain the probate process and why it matters even if you already have a will. They cover what happens when someone dies without a plan, why some assets still go through Idaho probate, and how to navigate court appointments, notice requirements and deadlines, and small estate affidavits. Learn the difference between formal and informal probate, what a personal representative is, and when probate might protect your loved ones. Whether you’re settling an estate or planning your own, this...
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Senior Matters Podcast - The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Memory
Senior Matters Podcast
If you’ve ever asked a loved one to repeat themselves or noticed your parents withdrawing from conversations, this Senior Matters episode is for you. In this episode of Senior Matters, host and estate planning attorney Mark E. Wight talks with the Alzheimer's Association and from the Treasure Valley Hearing and Balance about the growing connection between hearing loss and memory issues. They share eye-opening information about how untreated hearing problems can increase the risk of dementia, including key signs to watch for and the power of early detection. Idaho families are facing a...
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The Story Behind Idaho's Warhawk Air Museum
Senior Matters Podcast
In this heartfelt episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, host Mark E. Wight interviews , co-founder of the —a historical landmark in the Treasure Valley dedicated to honoring veterans and preserving military history. What started as a love for restoring WWII fighter planes has become one of Idaho’s most impactful institutions. Sue shares the museum’s beginnings, its deep connections with veterans through programs like the and , and the community’s growing involvement. The episode also highlights the museum’s current expansion, including the creation of a and a special...
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Do I Need a Will or Do I Need a Trust?
Senior Matters Podcast
Host and Estate Planning attorney explores two of the most important estate planning tools—wills and trusts. Learn why probate exists, how it works in Idaho, and how trusts can help your family avoid court, be more protected, and maintain privacy. Whether you want to protect your family, avoid delays, give your family a wonderful gift or understand your options, this episode gives you clear, easy-to-follow guidance. In this episode, you’ll learn: · How probate works (and why it happens) · What a will does—and...
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Right-Sizing Your Home for Seniors
Senior Matters Podcast
In this episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, host Mark Wight sits down with Kathleen Reynolds, a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing older adults today: transitioning out of a long-time family home. With compassion, humor, and decades of experience, Kathleen shares how she helps seniors and their families navigate the emotional, physical, and financial aspects of right-sizing, relocating, or preparing a home for sale. From helping aging parents declutter and prepare their home, to understanding what “rightsizing” really means,...
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Inflation and Retirement in Today's Climate, Part 2
Senior Matters Podcast
As life expectancy increases, so do the financial challenges of retirement. In this insightful episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, host and estate planning attorney Mark E. Wight sits down with fiduciary advisor Scott Summerlin of Starlifter Wealth Management to unpack the new financial realities facing today’s retirees. The conversation begins with a striking shift in retirement demographics—retirees in the 1970s lived to about 71. Today, a healthy 65-year-old woman can expect to live to 85 or longer. That’s 20+ years of retirement, and without the right planning, inflation and...
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Inflation and Retirement in Today's Climate, Part 1
Senior Matters Podcast
In this essential episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, host Mark E. Wight is joined by fiduciary financial advisor Scott Summerlin from Starlifter Wealth Management for a discussion about retirement planning, investment strategy, and the evolving needs of seniors. Scott brings over two decades of experience and holds both Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, giving him the expertise to offer personalized, relationship-based financial advice—free from commission-driven product sales. This episode opens with a clear explanation of what it means to be a fiduciary and why those standards...
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2025 Idaho Legislative Issues Seniors Should Watch, Part 2
Senior Matters Podcast
On this episode of Senior Matters, host Mark E. Wight speaks with Robert Vande Merwe, Executive Director of the Idaho Healthcare Association continue their conversation about major changes impacting senior care and healthcare providers in Idaho. Their conversation is based on the 2025 Idaho Legislative Session. Starting July 1, state regulations for nursing homes, hospitals, and home health agencies will be eliminated, shifting more responsibility to federal oversight. We discuss how these changes affect care quality, patient admissions, and facility inspections. Robert also addresses...
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2025 Idaho Legislative Issues Seniors Should Watch, Part 1
Senior Matters Podcast
In this compelling episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, estate planning attorney Mark E. Wight welcomes Robert Vande Merwe, Executive Director of the Idaho Health Care Association, for an overview of what seniors can expect from the 2025 Legislative Session. We think it’s important to share what might be impacted by new legislation on senior healthcare services across Idaho. Together, they discuss how Idaho’s senior care facilities—including skilled nursing homes, assisted living centers, and in-home care providers—are struggling to hire and retain qualified staff, particularly...
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Blended Families - Estate Planning Is Essential
Senior Matters Podcast
In this episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, estate planning attorney Mark E. Wight dives into the complex and emotionally charged world of blended families and estate planning. Using real-life stories and decades of experience, Mark walks listeners through familiar challenges that arise when remarried couples have children from previous relationships—what he calls the "Yours, Mine, and Ours" scenario. He discusses how the lack of proper estate planning can unintentionally create financial and emotional rifts between stepfamilies, especially when a family business or separate assets are...
info_outlineIn this compelling episode of the Senior Matters Podcast, estate planning attorney Mark E. Wight welcomes Robert Vande Merwe, Executive Director of the Idaho Health Care Association, for an overview of what seniors can expect from the 2025 Legislative Session. We think it’s important to share what might be impacted by new legislation on senior healthcare services across Idaho.
Together, they discuss how Idaho’s senior care facilities—including skilled nursing homes, assisted living centers, and in-home care providers—are struggling to hire and retain qualified staff, particularly in rural areas. Vande Merwe sheds light on how Medicaid reimbursement rates often fall below minimum wage levels, making it nearly impossible for providers to remain financially stable without sacrificing the quality of care.
Listeners will also learn about a recent legislative shift toward managed care and how it may further limit access to services for seniors and people with disabilities. Vande Merwe shares why now is the time for families to get involved—whether by contacting legislators, supporting elder care organizations, or making personal financial plans for future healthcare needs.
Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare professional, policymaker, or simply planning for retirement, this episode delivers a powerful call to action. This is the episode 1 of 2. Understand the impact of state funding decisions, learn what advocacy efforts are underway, and explore how proper estate planning can help safeguard your access to care.
Key topics covered:
- Idaho’s senior care workforce
- Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement
- How legislative changes affect access to long-term care
- The risks of underfunded elder care systems
- Action steps for Idaho families to plan ahead
🔗 Listen now and share this important conversation with friends, family, and caregivers across Idaho. Planning for long-term care is not just a financial decision—it’s a step toward protecting your health, independence, and dignity as you age.
Part 2 will post on April 29, 2025, and will be available at https://www.idahoestateplanning.com/podcast.