Q. My mother has Parkinson’s, and it is progressively getting more difficult for her to do things on her own. She has fallen several times and is having trouble swallowing. We have an aide who comes to help her, but this level of care likely won’t be enough for much longer. I know she will […]
Should You Tell Your Heirs What They Should Expect to Inherit?
Dear Kiwi and Mango, My wife and I are in the process of doing our estate planning documents. One decision we have yet to make is whether we should tell our heirs what they should expect to inherit, in advance. What are some things we should consider in making our decision about this? Thanks for […]
2024 Key Elder Law Numbers
When Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a-changin’,” his lyrics referenced societal changes in the 1960s. The same lyrics could also apply to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security today. Every year, the Farr Law Firm releases the newest figures for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and an analysis of important developments, statuses, and updates […]
What Behavioral Challenges Can You Expect from a Loved One with Dementia?
Dementia poses many challenges for people struggling with it, for caregivers, and for others who are close to them. It can be especially hard to witness and cope with common behaviors that often arise from certain forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia. Caring for a person who has any […]
Be Very Afraid: Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2023
Halloween is today, so now is the perfect time to add a bit of fright to your day with this year’s spookiest articles. From a man who swapped blood with his 17-year-old son in hopes of increasing his longevity to a scammer who perfectly mimicked a loved one’s voice using artificial intelligence to scam someone, […]
Are “Tip-of-the-Tongue” Moments Normal or a Cause for Concern?
Q. Not long ago, I used to have a great command of the English language, but now I keep forgetting simple words during a conversation. I’ll be having a conversation, then stop because a word is on the tip of my tongue. Sometimes I’ll find it after an awkward pause. Other times I stammer through […]
How a Healthy Gut Relates to a Healthy Brain
Q. I heard that there’s a strong link between particular kinds of gut bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. Is this true, and if so, how do I know if my gut is, in fact, healthy? If not, what changes can I make to improve it, and perhaps reduce my chance of developing dementia? Thanks for your […]
Approaching Dementia with Understanding, Acceptance, and Compassion
A year ago this week, I wrote about Katya De Luisa, a dementia educator, caregiver coach, and author of “Journey through the Infinite Mind – the Science and Spirituality of Dementia.” Besides being an art therapist who works with dementia patients, De Luisa writes books that are designed to inform, encourage, and empower those who […]
If You’re Genetically Predisposed to Dementia. . .
Q. I have been watching the documentary Limitless, with Chris Hemsworth, on Disney+. It’s been fascinating to see what he is doing to stay young and stave off disease. I haven’t seen all of the episodes but read somewhere that Hemsworth found out during filming that he is eight to 10 times more likely to […]
Important Things to Keep in Mind if You Are Planning Your Own Funeral
Dear Hayek, A wedding celebrates a beginning, and a funeral acknowledges an ending. During both occasions, friends and family gather together to share an important event in someone’s life. I planned my wedding 40 years ago, and now I want to plan my funeral for when the time ultimately comes. What considerations should I keep […]
Is Forgetting to Pay Your Bills an Early Sign of Dementia?
Kathryn, a long-distance caregiver, knew her mother was having memory problems but didn’t realize how bad things had gotten. This was until she visited her mother and took a closer look at her finances: unpaid bills, unusual cash withdrawals, and, most unexpectedly, the mortgage of the family home had been refinanced at a higher interest […]
Baby Boomers Face Spike in Homelessness — How to Prepare so It Never Happens to You!
Q. I read in The Washington Post that a quarter of a million baby boomers in the US are estimated by the government to be homeless. That seems like a lot of seniors who don’t have a place to live and likely can’t afford food to eat. I can see how this can happen to […]
How Certain Types of Dementia Can Unleash a Person’s Creativity
Arthur (Art) Lee suffers from Lewy body dementia (LBD). Words often fail him and his arms and hands often experience uncontrollable tremors. But somehow, he still paints incredible oil paintings. Whether a portrait, a landscape, or an abstract (on his most troubling days), Art is able to create masterpieces with his paintbrush. What makes Art’s […]
When Cognitive Decline Changes People, Should We Respect Their New Desires?
Q. I read a fascinating piece in The New York Times Magazine recently about a woman named Diane Norelius, who had dementia. As her cognitive decline began to alter who she was, her adult daughters and her boyfriend wound up in a bitter dispute over which version of her should get to decide what she […]
Is It Possible to Be Resistant to Dementia?
A unique quirk of DNA protected a Colombian man from developing a hereditary form of dementia for two decades. Researchers, who studied his brain after he died, have discovered that this type of dementia may go way back in the village where he resided. They believe that looking more closely at him and another person […]
Can You Reside with a Loved One in a Long-Term Care Facility when Your Health Situations Are Different?
Q. My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are one of those happy couples who spend every waking moment together and are still as much in love as the day they met. My mother has memory issues that are getting worse, and Dad needs dialysis several times a week. Mom will probably need […]
What Happens to Solo Agers Who Develop Dementia?
Q. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping at night, I scan the internet for interesting news stories. I came upon one in particular that was incredibly disturbing. It was about a woman named Joyce who was estranged from her family and kept to herself in her home. She was found dead on her sofa by […]
Feeling Widowed When a Partner Has Dementia
Q. My wife was diagnosed with early-onset dementia about two years ago. On most days, I understand and accept the diagnosis. Some days, however, I wonder if there’s been a mistake. Our world could seem normal in one instance, and then in the blink of an eye, she forgets all of the important things we […]
Does Smoking Increase the Risk of Dementia?
For a multitude of good reasons, smokers are always being encouraged to take the first steps to quit smoking. National No Smoking Day in the UK was recently celebrated on the second Wednesday of March. Every November in the US is Tobacco Cessation Month, and November 15 is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, […]
Why Did the OPM Suspend Its Long-Term Care Insurance Program for Two Years?
Seventy percent of people will need long-term care during their lifetime, and it’s catastrophically expensive! If you like to plan in advance, you may have considered long-term care (LTC) insurance as an option, and if you work for the federal government, you may have considered purchasing coverage through the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program […]
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