Estate planning is essential for seniors facing cognitive decline. This guide covers resources and support available to manage finances, healthcare decisions, and care options to ensure seniors receive the appropriate support.
Caring for an older adult with dementia can be an emotionally challenging journey for families. There may come a point when the needs of your loved one surpass what can be provided at home, even with the best of intentions and efforts. Transitioning to a memory care facility can be the best option for both […]
Dementia is one of the most devastating conditions affecting seniors, resulting in an eventual loss of cognitive functions. While there is no cure for dementia or the two leading diseases that cause dementia, Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, there are treatments that can slow the effects and help make life more manageable. In order for […]
We all forget things now and then, especially as we get older. However, if someone you love has grown noticeably more forgetful or absentminded over time, it could be a precursor to a serious cognitive issue like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. Possible Signs of Dementia in Seniors Memory loss is exceptionally common […]
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month Alzheimer’s Disease is a public health crisis impacting more than 5.8 million American seniors, 50 million worldwide, or one-in-ten people in the United States age 65 or older. As Baby Boomers continue to age, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is also expected to increase. While there is currently no known cure, advocates […]
Living with Alzheimer’s can be a challenge for the entire family. Whether your family has professional Alzheimer’s care assistance or if you are caring for your loved one alone, it can seem as if each day is full of new challenges and developments. One of the things that makes Alzheimer’s care so challenging is that […]
THE NEXT BIG HEALTH CRISIS: DEMENTIA Somewhere in the world, every three seconds, someone is being diagnosed with dementia. Dementia is a catchall phrase that refers to many types of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases bring about the onset of dementia including but not limited to: Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, vascular dementia […]
Ever increasing life expectancies mean we get to spend more time with our loved ones, but it also means facing greater health problems as we age. One of the most challenging health issues for aging adults is dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather describes a group of symptoms that are associated with […]
People who have spent a great deal of time with those with Alzheimer’s disease begin to notice behavioral patterns that are common between them. One of the most commonly recognized behavioral patterns associated with dementia is confusion, agitation and aggression associated with the late afternoon when the sun is setting. This phenomenon is known as […]
A Special Needs Trust (SNT), sometimes called a Supplemental Needs Trust, provides for the needs of a disabled person without disqualifying him/her from benefits received from government programs like Social Security and Medicaid. A Special Needs Trust makes it possible to appoint a trustee to manage assets and qualify or retain for public assistance benefits. […]
In a recent column in the New York Times, physician-author Danielle Ofri described an incident in which she and another doctor were examining a patient with Alzheimer’s. “A fate worse than death,” the other doctor murmured. Dr. Ofri, too, felt uncomfortable. She felt that there was something almost shameful in bearing witness to a fellow […]
Wandering Seniors and Alzheimer’s, Dementia or Memory Loss Those suffering with Alzheimer’s or most forms of dementia or memory loss have a tendency to wander whether they are at home or in unfamiliar surroundings.They are trying to make sense of the world they find themselves in at that moment.Patients will sometimes leave clues that they […]
When a person applies for Medicaid eligibility there are many pitfalls that an unsuspecting or unsophisticated applicant can run afoul of. To help them retain the benefit of certain monies that they would normally have access to third parties or the applicant themselves can create a special needs trust to help keep the public benefits […]
If you have a loved one with Dementia who will be attending events that you are planning to host this holiday season for your family and friends, here are some tips to remember: 1) Be honest with family members and friends about your loved one’s disease. Let them know what to expect before they visit. 2) Plan […]
What is Special Needs Estate Planning? Special Needs Estate Planning focuses on providing for the special needs of our loved ones with disabilities when we are no longer there to organize and advocate on their behalf. Parents of children with special needs must make careful estate planning choices to coordinate all of the legal, financial, […]
What are some early warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease? Dementia and Alzheimer disease are often confused as being the same, but they’re not. Dementia describes a set of symptoms that include degraded memory, reasoning, and thinking. Alzheimer disease is a brain disease that causes dementia, but dementia can also be caused by other conditions. One […]
The distinction between mild cognitive impairment and dementia can get a bit blurry. In California, Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) facilities can accept people with varying degrees of memory loss. Once a person is diagnosed with dementia, there are additional licensing requirements a facility in California must meet. The definitions that follow are from […]
Not necessarily. The issue of whether an individual has the capacity to execute a document, whether it is a contract, a Last Will or Durable Powers of Attorney is a legal issue not a medical issue. Proper execution of a legal instrument requires that the person signing have sufficient mental “capacity” to understand the implications […]
Question: How does ElderCareMatters.com help families across America who are wrestling with elder care / senior care issues? Answer: ElderCareMatters.com is America’s National Directory of Elder Care / Senior Care Resources for Families. This national Elder Care / Senior Care Directory includes thousands of up-to-date, useful Elder Care / Senior Care Q&As, and articles as […]
Millions of people are affected by dementia, and unfortunately many of them do not have all their estate planning affairs in order before the symptoms start. If you or a loved one has dementia, it may not be too late to sign a last will and testament or other documents, but certain criteria must be […]
The Future and Security of your Son or Daughter What Will Happen After I’m Gone? Imagine for a moment that tomorrow evening, on your way home from a party, you and your spouse pass away in a car accident. Have you ever wondered what will happen to your child with a disability after you are […]
Question: “Help! My mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and my family and I have no idea how to proceed in helping her. At what point do we consider nursing home care, and how will we afford this, etc?? Please provide us with some guidance as to how we should proceed and what our […]
Planning for Your Adult Children With Special Needs Can Also Protect Your Assets From Nursing Home Costs Parents and grandparents of an adult disabled child often ask what’s the best way to make provisions for that member of the family who will not be able to be self-sufficient. Parents generally try to consider the future […]
Answer: It is my pleasure to provide you with the following list of the 87 different elder care services that are currently provided by the members of the national ElderCare Matters Alliance on ElderCareMatters.com: Accounting Services Adult Day Care Advance Medical Directives Aging in Place Services Alzheimer’s / Memory Care Communities Annuities Arbitration Asset Protection […]