Want to Age-Proof Your Brain? Here's How - Part 2

Here are more ideas for how you can prevent Alzheimer's or dementia. And if you follow them, you can prevent Alzheimer's or dementia! 

The Spice of Life 

Good news for spice-a-holics! Spices are as good for your brain as they are for your taste buds. Herbs and spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, oregano, basil, parsley, ginger and vanilla are high in antioxidants, which may help build brainpower. And curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may be the most powerful of all. Scientists believe it eliminates plaque in the brain. 

Find Your Purpose In Life 

Discovering your "mission" in life can help you stay sharp, according to a study of older adults. Over a seven-year period, participants with clear goals and passions were less likely to develop Alzheimer's. 

Get A Life! 

Having friends and social networks lowers the risk of dementia, by providing emotional and mental stimulation. In fact, subjects in a recent study scored higher on memory tests after just ten minutes of conversation with another person. 

Improve Your Health 

Chronic health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension will increase your chances of getting Alzheimer's. Diabetes, for example, roughly doubles the risk for Alzheimer's and dementia...but controlling your diabetes can delay the onset by several years. That means diet, exercise...and following doctor's orders! 

Are You Deficient In Certain Vitamins? 

Older adults don't always get all the nutrients they need from foods, because of declines in digestive acids or because their medications interfere with absorption. Vitamin deficit - particularly B12 - can also affect cognitive ability. In cognitive tests, seniors with B12 deficiencies had smaller brains and lower scores. Conclusion: If you can't get it from food, get it from a vitamin pill! 

If you've got questions about Alzheimer's or dementia, we have answers - because we have one of the largest Alzheimer's/Dementia Resource Centers in South Florida. 

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we've been helping South Florida families answer these questions for 34 years. And we've helped them, as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA. 

We can help you, too. And we're just a phone call away.

Can Someone With Early-Stage Alzheimer's Lose Their Speech?

It's hard to answer this question with a blanket statement, because the disease progresses differently in each patient. There are, of course, some pretty common symptoms, such as memory loss. But some patients experience a wide range of symptoms, while others experience only a few.

If loss of speech occurs at all, it's usually in the mid- to later stages of Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, it shuts down certain functions of the body, one of which can be speech. The person may start out fumbling for words, or not completing sentences. Then it may move to speaking full sentences... with words that don't make sense. At its worst, the disease robs a person of any ability to speak.

One of the reasons for some loss of speech can be mini-strokes. Sometimes these strokes happen prior to dementia, and sometimes after; again, no real pattern. If a stroke is bad enough, of course, the person can lose speech altogether. However, it's good to know that therapists can help him/her regain some of it.

If your loved one with Alzheimer's loses his/her speech early, it's time to consult their physician... and it's also time to consult a specialist such as a neurologist. Mini-strokes can be too small to detect by machine. But a good doctor may be able to tell by the symptoms, and information from the family.

Keep in mind that losing speech early on is not typical for Alzheimer's patients. But visiting a specialist may be the only way to be sure. Just as visiting an Elder Law attorney may be the only way to be sure that your loved one - and your family - are protected.

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we're Elder Law attorneys. Over the past 33 years, we've walked thousands of South Florida families through the Alzheimer's Journey, with professionalism, compassion, and, when necessary, a soft shoulder. And we've helped prepare their loved ones for the aging process long before that... with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset protection plans, and assistance with the VA or Medicaid.

Walking families through the Alzheimer's Journey is what we do - every day. And we're just a phone call away.

Will Your Loved One Lose Their Dignity?

Alzheimer’s disease robs those with the disease of their personalities, their roles in life, even precious time with their loved ones.  That’s something we all know.  But if you’ve been reading these emails the past few months, you also know that there are ways to make your loved one’s remaining time precious and dignified.  But some caregivers unknowingly put their loved ones with Alzheimer’s at risk – simply by not taking steps to help them keep some of what they’ve worked a lifetime for.

When a loved one begins experiencing personality changes, Alzheimer’s could be a culprit – but it’s always important to have a diagnosis made by a doctor.  If a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s is made, there are steps every family should begin to take right away to ensure that their loved one isn’t put in a position to lose almost everything they have – including their dignity.  But this doesn’t have to be the case.

Too many families think that an Alzheimer’s diagnosis means that they have plenty of time to plan for the eventualities of nursing care – unfortunately due to new laws that have been put in place in the last few years, that’s not the case.

When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s vitally important that you get their financial house in order right away, whether or not there will be someone to bear the financial burden if they need skilled nursing care.  The sooner after diagnosis the better to discuss your loved one’s plans and paperwork regarding insurance, wills, burial policies, safe deposit boxes, files, and personal wishes.  Your loved one will be more able to discuss their wishes, and you can even put in place documents to allow your loved one to get their hair done, fresh flowers brought to their room, and other things that will make their life with Alzheimer’s as “normal” and pleasing as possible.

If Alzheimer’s is a concern, you need to make two appointments: the first with an elder law attorney and the second with a physician.  Your loved one may be more willing to go to these appointments if you accompany them.  Whether you come to our firm or another, making these plans early is essential so that you’re loved one is not penalized when they ultimately need nursing care.

You may want to search for a neighbor or lifetime friend of your loved one who can assist you with gathering the information you’ll need and getting them to these appointments.

Don’t take the risk of allowing your loved one to lose everything to high care costs.  Their life savings could be quickly whittled down to a mere $2000 in the bank and $30 per month in income.  How many hairdos can a woman get with $30 per month?  Fresh flowers?  What happens when your loved one’s hearing aid is accidentally stepped on, or he’d like to get something to hang on the wall in his room?  Frankly, these numbers are too thin for most people, and your loved one may have to have these costs covered by friends and family... an action that for many seniors, is something they never wanted to have happen. 

I urge you to call my office today... not for my sake but for that of your loved one.  We’ll talk over the phone to see if we’re the right fit for you... and if we can’t help you, we’ll point you in the direction of someone who can.  Don’t let your loved one suffer the loss of dignity that so many of those with Alzheimer’s do, being unable to even provide for their necessities because care costs have sapped their life savings dry.  That’s why we do what we do – to help people like your loved one live a more dignified life with Alzheimer’s.

How to Best Communicate With Your Loved One With Memory Problems

Good communication can decrease or even prevent many behavior problems.  So what’s the best way to communicate with your loved one?

The number one tip to remember is to treat your loved one as an individual with a disease, not a diseased individual. He has an entire history of life that stays with him throughout this journey. He will continue to have many of the same characteristics he had before. If he was laid back before, he may be more so now. If he had high energy/anxiety, he may be tightly wound now as well.

All people need to have their feelings validated. A person with Alzheimer’s is no different. In fact, because of memory loss and insecurity issues, he or she may need it even more. An example: Your father who has Alzheimer’s is angry with your husband most of the time. They have had a great relationship in the past, but now your father blames him for everything. As difficult as it is, keep in mind that it’s the dementia talking, not your father. You can say, “I don’t blame you for being angry” and then move on. What he is feeling is real to him, even if it is not accurate. You will probably have to coach your husband as well. Let him know that this action isn’t against him personally; it is the nature of the illness and “this too shall pass.”

Individuals with Alzheimer’s respond well to affirmation. When they do anything, no matter how insignificant it may be to you, praise them with “good job” or “thank you.” 

Other tips:
- When beginning a conversation, identify yourself. If your loved one says “I know who you are,” laugh or say something humorous.
- Slow down when you speak and use short simple sentences.
- Ask one question at a time. Give adequate time for response. Yes/no questions are best.
- When speaking, maintain eye contact.
- Lower the tone of your voice; a high pitch may be interpreted as anger.
- Eliminate distracting noise. Turn off the TV or radio, or go to another room to talk.
- Smile and be pleasant.
- Use touch to get attention (hand on shoulder, hand on knee, hand on hand).
- When your loved one is upset and you can’t communicate, try a hug. Soon anger will be forgotten and you can try again.
- Be aware of their body language. A sudden sit-to-stand change in position may indicate the need to go to the bathroom or some other kind of discomfort. Be aware of your body language too - try not to appear tense.
- Don’t argue.
- Don’t order the person around or be condescending.
- Don’t talk about your loved one as if he isn’t there; you never know just how aware he might be

How to deal with Alzheimer's at any stage...even if you are low on funds or don't know where to begin

Receive instant access to the questions most frequently asked at our dedicated online Alzheimer's Resource Center, FREE.
 

To learn more about the Elder Care services that we provide under the
Elder Law Umbrella, call The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates
at 954.726.6602 or visit http://www.southflorida-elderlaw.com/

And additional links that offer other useful information FREE, brought to you by

The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates:

http://www.southfloridamemorylawyer.com/

www.medicaidcrisislawyers.com/reiterfeld

www.learnvabenefits.com/reiterfeld

www.estateandlonglifeplan.com/reiterfeld

Taking Care of the Caregiver

When someone in our life finds themselves a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, they have two challenges: dealing with the patient and dealing with the isolation.

Here are a few tips for being a good friend:  Don’t brag about the wonderful things in your life...too much

• Be sensitive to last minute changes of plans
• Do not minimize anything they are experiencing
• Help with errands (Duh!)
• Bring food
• Stay in touch and keep including the person even if they often refuse
  (unless told otherwise)

Our firm has made a significant investment in acquiring the best materials and resources that address the unique needs of the caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients.

These materials are as compatible for family members and friends as they are for the professional affiliate, and represent the initial steps you need to take to provide the best possible care for your loved one.

We offer these valuable resources to you completely FREE of charge, because our firm is committed to advocating for the ongoing “Fight for a Cure,” providing the support that you need to be able to cope, and to continue to educate the community-at-large about this devastating disease.

Just click this link for access to this invaluable Online Resource Center designed specifically for the caregivers to Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers: www.southfloridamemorylawyer.com

With Alzheimer’s disease, there is no 6 degrees of separation: 
                          •         Affects 5.3 million Americans of all ages

                          •         1 out of 2 sufferers are over the age of 85

                          •         1 out of 8 sufferers are over the age of 65

                          •         Alzheimer’s causes 70% of all dementias

                          •         By 2030 the number of people with Alzheimer’s
                                    will double

We are all touched by this terrible and non-discriminating disease. It is a terminal illness. And there are no survivors.

To learn more about the Elder Care services that we provide under the
Elder Law Umbrella, call The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates
at 954.726.6602 or visit www.florida-elderlaw.com

And additional links that offer other useful information FREE, brought to you by

The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates:
www.medicaidcrisislawyers.com/reiterfeld

www.learnvabenefits.com/reiterfeld

www.estateandlonglifeplan.com/reiterfeld

Aunt Gertie

My Aunt Gertie died on December 6, 2010 on the cusp of 91. She was the last of my father's siblings to pass away. So now both my parents have no living brothers or sisters.

She was my last surviving aunt.

I did not have grandparents. I was not even five years old when they were all gone. But my parents were each the youngest of five children, so I had plenty of wonderful and loving aunts and uncles who were like "substitute" grandparents.

Aunts and Uncles are great. No baggage, no issues, no responsibilities. They cheer you on, happy to see you always and save the baggage and issues for their own kids. What a joy! How I will miss that!

My parents are both living and are now the last surviving aunt and uncle to all my cousins. My parents are everyone's "Aunt Rose and Uncle Joe". No baggage, no issues, no responsibilities. Even friends used to call them that because my cousins and I used to hang out together. At my parents' 60th wedding anniversary, one of my cousins said that "everyone needs an Aunt Rose and Uncle Joe". And so everyone does.

How extraordinarily blessed I am to still have my parents, aged 89 and 88. Yet I feel somehow gypped at having no "Aunt Rose or Uncle Joe". 

So Aunt Gertie, I will take my memories, all the more bittersweet because you were my last, and treasure them because all I had to do was show up.

So, my message to you is: to show up. For your aging mothers, fathers, unts & uncles...sisters and brothers. No regrets. Because when they are gone...

To learn more about the Elder Care services that we provide under the
Elder Law Umbrella, call The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates
at 954.726.6602 or visit www.florida-elderlaw.com

And additional links that offer other useful information FREE, brought to you by

The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates:

www.southfloridamemorylawyer.com

www.medicaidcrisislawyers.com/reiterfeld

www.learnvabenefits.com/reiterfeld

www.estateandlonglifeplan.com/reiterfeld