Inspiration from an Octogenarian Activist

Add comment January 12th, 2010

As a law firm that is dedicated to serving and providing support to the elderly, it always brings us great pleasure and encouragement to read about octogenarians who are truly living life to its fullest.

This week David Tuller of the New York Times brought us an inspirational story about his 80-year-old mother, whose activist roots keep her active and passionate about life.  Click here to read the article in its entirety.

In the piece, Tuller discusses the good-natured conversations he has with his mother regarding her inevitable death.  The two ponder whether she will die suddenly in her sleep, or over the course of a week, or over a period of months.  Tuller’s mom finds humor in the conversation, and discusses the benefits of dying quickly versus having longer to say goodbye.  However, in our experience, conversations regarding the end of one’s life are rarely this light-hearted.

For most, death and the aging process are difficult topics to breach.  Having an open line of communication about the end of life, however, to address one’s desires and wishes regarding care and to do the proper planning, is imperative to maintaining a good quality of life in one’s old age.  Without planning, individuals can potentially be left powerless to maintain their quality of life, and can rapidly deplete all of their assets paying for long-term care.  Executing important documents such as a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy allow individuals to designate trusted agents to carry out their wishes regarding financial issues and important health care decisions.

We all have much to learn from Mrs. Tuller.  And as we continue to age, it is important to address some of these difficult issues in order to ensure that we can live our lives to the fullest, right up until the end.

Winter Brings More Difficulty for Independent Seniors

Add comment December 23rd, 2009

The winter months can be a difficult time for senior citizens - coping with bitter cold, falling snow, and icy roads.  Those seniors who own houses must worry about freezing pipes and blocked driveways, and those in cities have to concern themselves with slippery sidewalks and suspended public transportation.

Winter is especially difficult for seniors living in rural communities, who are often isolated and have less services conveniently available to them, as illustrated in a recent New York Times article, “For Elderly in Rural Areas, Times are Distinctly Harder (December 10, 2009).”

While the difficulties of growing older and living independently are more pronounced in rural areas, it is also important to address these issues for seniors residing in cities and suburbs.  Seniors living in the New York-Metropolitan area should know about the many resources available to them, including food and meal delivery, transportation services, assistance paying energy bills, and more.  Many of these services can be found on the Department for the Aging website, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dfta.

In addition, because winter can be a toilsome time for independent seniors and the hazardous weather can lead to unpredictable consequences, having a valid and up-to-date  power of attorney and health care proxy can be of tremendous help when seniors need assistance managing their affairs and making health care decisions.  Talk to an elder law attorney today about advance planning tools that can make difficult situations as manageable as possible.

A Holiday Gift Suggestion for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease

Add comment November 25th, 2009

If you have a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological diseases, buy him or her an iPod or a new CD this holiday season.

Not only is listening to a favorite album a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, studies show that music can help stimulate inactive areas of the brain.  This stimulation can arouse old memories, evoke untapped emotions, and even improve cognitive functioning.

The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function is a nonprofit organization founded at Beth Abraham Health Services in the Bronx.  This nonprofit brings music to individuals with Alzheimer’s by delivering iPods with customized playlists to their homes.

The Institute also conducts studies on the effects of music therapy on Alzheimer’s patients, and the growing evidence shows profound benefits of listening to old favorites on neurological, physical and emotional functioning.

Caregivers and family members can provide a multitude of benefits to their loved ones with dementia by listening to music with them.  The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function provides suggested songs on its website, so visit www.imnf.org to get some recommendations for a holiday playlist and to learn more about this important organization.

Alzheimer’s Cases Increasing Rapidly

Add comment November 12th, 2009

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease has been increasing sharply over the past several years, and will continue to grow at an unprecedented rate.  A recent article in The Wall Street Journal stated that the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease “grew 10% globally between 2005 and 2009 to 35 million… [and] this number is expected to continue climbing to 115.4 million in 2050 ” (Alzheimer’s Cases to Climb Sharply, by Shirley S. Wang, 9/21/09).

In certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, a “national Alzheimer’s plan” has been put in place to deal with the inevitable financial and social implications of this sharply increasing population.  However, no such “national plan” exists in the United States.  Also, as the article states, federal spending on Alzheimer’s research is far lower than diseases like cancer and AIDS.

Without a governmental program in place to manage the rapid increase of Alzheimer’s patients and their specialized needs, the responsibility ends up falling on individuals who are ill-equipped to take care for someone with Alzheimer’s.  Family and friends are left to assist in coordinating and funding the long-term care of their loved ones, but are given little guidance on how to do so.  Medicare, our national health insurance program that is available to individuals 65 and older, does not pay for long-term custodial care, which is typically the kind of care individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease need.  The family is often left overwhelmed and financially devastated by the cost of such care.

Paying out of pocket for long-term care is extremely expensive.  This is why it is so important to see an Elder Law attorney when family members begin showing signs of dementia.

An Elder Law attorney can make sure that an individual with Alzheimer’s receives the care he needs, and does not end up penniless in the process.

Hispanic Population May Be At Greater Risk For Alzheimer’s

Add comment November 11th, 2009

A New York Times article published last October has pointed out some alarming developments about the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Latino community. The article refers to studies that suggest Hispanics may have higher risk factors for dementia. Even worse, Alzheimer’s seems to be appearing at a younger age for this group.

A multitude of elements seem to be contributing to this observation. Financial hardship and language barriers prevent some from seeking adequate medical care and early diagnosis. Lack of accurate information about Alzheimer’s in the Latino community leads others to assume that symptoms are part of the normal aging process, which can be incorrect.

On a more positive note, experts think a genetic predisposition to the disease in the Hispanic population is unlikely. What is more significant is the range of other degenerative disease conditions prevalent among Latinos, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, that in a significant number of instances exist concurrently with Alzheimer’s.

Elder Law planning provides an important advantage to anyone that faces the prospect of a serious disabling illness such as Alzheimer’s Disease.   Proper planning opens up the possibility of obtaining needed care under the Medicaid program, and preserving assets and income at the same time.  Serious illness or injury does not have to be accompanied by financial ruin from medical expenses and long-term health care costs.

Typically, an individual’s money, investments, home and other assets can be kept within the family unit. That means these assets can be used for the patient’s benefit while he or she is alive, and what remains can help the family after their loved one is gone.

In most instances, it’s not too late to achieve Medicaid eligibility, even if a patient has already entered a nursing home. Lamson & Cutner’s Special Report, 25 Strategies to Prevent Financial Ruin from Long-Term Health Care Costs discusses this in the first two Strategies it outlines.

The above New York Times article points out that the majority of Hispanic Alzheimer’s patients live at home with multigenerational families. L & C’s Special Report will also give you details on getting home care assistance covered by Medicaid and how an Elder Law attorney can help.

See the NY Times Article at the following link: More Alzheimer’s Risk for Hispanics

Alzheimer’s Disease Triples Health Care Costs - How to Protect Assets, Dignity and Quality-of-Life

Add comment October 22nd, 2009

The Alzheimer’s Association has released the 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, which reveals a disturbing statistic. Those over 65 with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have total health care costs that are three times greater than others who are not afflicted with these illnesses. This fact translates into an often unbearable financial situation for the victims and their families.

According to the report, today “Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia.” How specifically do these illnesses increase expenses by a factor of three? In the following ways:

•  Alzheimer’s patients have a higher frequency of hospitalization, nursing home residency, and other costly long-term care health services.

• There is often a cluster of other degenerative medical conditions that appear along with Alzheimer’s, which in themselves require expensive health care procedures and prescriptions.

• Out-of-pocket health care costs that are not-reimbursable through insurance are greater for these patients.

The current recessionary environment imposes additional financial strain on people with dementia, along with their families. It’s for this reason that Elder Law strategies are especially valuable right now. With an attorney’s guidance, these techniques can allow an individual to become Medicaid eligible and receive full payment for needed treatment and health care services. Additionally, these strategies can preserve the money, income and assets of the ill person, so that this money can be used to keep the patient’s lifestyle intact as long as possible.

See Lamson & Cutner’s Special Report, 25 Strategies to Prevent Financial Ruin from Long-Term Health Care Costs to learn more about specific solutions and case studies relating to Alzheimer’s patients. Home care and nursing facility options are both discussed in detail.  You can also see an overview of a detailed Elder Law approach to your specific situation at www.lamson-cutner.com. Just click on the scenario that matches your circumstances.

You may also view the  Alzheimer Association’s 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.