How Beneficial is a Dementia Care Unit for Someone with Alzheimer's?

As an Elder Law attorney, I get asked this question a lot. And I tell my clients that it can be very beneficial…if the unit is designed and staffed appropriately.

The goal of such a unit, of course, is to provide specialized care. Personnel should have specialized training for dementia. The unit itself should have smaller spaces, so patients don’t feel overwhelmed. It should be a quieter environment, to prevent over-stimulation. It should be locked securely, as many Alzheimer’s patients move around or pace.

I tell my clients to pay attention to the design of the unit at which they’re looking. Good dementia units are designed to provide more specialized care and less stimulation. In fact, many no longer have intercoms or p.a. systems.

A dementia unit should also have its own Activities Director, who designs specialized programs. Staff are often trained in how to help the seniors participate and enjoy themselves more.

Your state’s Department on Aging might provide you with a list of facilities in your area, or else point you toward the proper agency.

Another thing I tell my clients: Visit at least three facilities! Take a friend who can be objective. Then…

• Meet the staff – and observe their interaction with the patients.
• Is the facility clean? Are the grounds well-tended? (And secure??)
• Ask to see their most recent state survey.
• If the survey indicates deficiencies, what were they?
• Were they addressed? How?

 After speaking with the friend who accompanied you, make a list of pros and cons. AND LISTEN TO YOUR GUT!!

If you have a loved one with dementia, you’ll be asking yourself new questions every day. At the Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we've been answering these questions every day – for 33 years.

We’re Elder Law attorneys. And we've helped thousands of South Florida families with these questions…along with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA.

If you've got questions, we've got answers. And we’re only a phone call away.

Just When You Thought It Was All Worked Out

Being a caregiver is trying... just when you think you have everything worked out, your loved one has a change in status that turns the world upside down again.  Maybe they had a stroke, or are not getting along with another patient in the facility, or they just need more assistance than they used to.  The prospect of having to make all those changes, constantly, can be overwhelming!

I’m here to help you not to lose heart, even though there are some disturbing truths about dementia.  The very reason this disease is referred to as a “journey” is because it continues to change.  Your loved one’s brain is degenerating, and she is only going to get worse – not better.  Often, both the blessing and the curse is that the disease progresses slowly. Unfortunately, one can’t put out a sign that says “Already have one illness, can’t get another – sorry, my scorecard is full!”  There will be changes in this process and there is little choice except to forge ahead, but with assistance.

The 5th Absolute for Caregiver Decision Making is: Never Stop, Instead Progress.  Your role as caregiver is one of the most difficult you will face in this life, and there will be times when you feel like you just can’t take any more.  Before you get to this point, you must request and accept assistance - and there are many ways to find it.

Ask for assistance from the people at your loved one’s senior citizen complex - they will provide you with resources for your next steps.  When you are feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure everything out on your own, it is sometimes difficult to admit you may not know the best path to take, or even what questions to ask.  Make a copy of this and hand it to the person at the senior center, amd they will provide resources in your community – they do it every day, they care, and they want what’s best for you and your loved one.

Until next time,...

Will Your Loved One's Decisions Be Made By A Stranger?

I always try to emphasize the importance of planning ahead... you and your family want to be prepared in case something should happen to you.  A “guardianship” is a situation that some families find themselves in... and it means that your loved one’s healthcare and financial decisions may be made by a perfect stranger, appointed by the courts.  So, what is the difference between a power of attorney and a guardianship?

A power of attorney is a legal document where one person (the principal) authorizes another  person (the agent) to act on his or her behalf, either for health care decisions or for financial decisions.

Guardianship is a legal relationship whereby a court gives a person (the guardian) the power to make personal decisions for another (the ward). A family member or friend initiates the proceedings by filing a petition in the circuit court in the county where the individual resides. A medical examination by a licensed physician is necessary to establish the individual’s condition. A court of law then determines whether the individual is unable to meet the essential requirements for his or her health and safety. If so, the court appoints a guardian to make personal decisions for the individual. Unless limited by the court, the guardian has the same rights, powers and duties over his ward as parents have over their minor children. The guardian is required to report to the court annually.

A conservatorship is a legal relationship whereby a court gives a person (the conservator) the power to make financial decisions for another (the protectee). The court proceedings are very similar to those of a guardianship, except the court of law determines whether an individual lacks the capacity to manage his or her financial affairs. If so, the court appoints a conservator to make financial decisions for the individual. Often the court appoints the same person to act as both guardian and conservator for the individual. Like the guardian, the conservator is required to report to the court annually.

Powers of attorney for health care and property/financial decisions are relatively low cost and private ways to decide which family member or trusted friend will have the legal authority to carry out your wishes if you can no longer speak or act for yourself. If you do not have power of attorney, or if your powers of attorney are not drafted properly and something happens that results in your inability to make decisions, your loved ones may later face court proceedings and court-supervised guardianships and/or conservatorships. A court proceeding is not only costly, but the person appointed as your guardian/conservator may not be the person whom you would have chosen yourself.

Don’t let this happen to you or your loved one... put the right documents in place now, or it may be too late!

Lessons from a Winner

I recently had the privilege of hearing Cal Ripken Jr. speak at a conference I attended. If you are not a baseball fan, Cal Ripken holds the record for most consecutive baseball games played - 2632.  Baseball plays 162 games a year so you do the math! We're not likely to see this record broken anytime soon. 

For the new year, let me share with you just a few of the lessons he passed on to us that he credits to his remarkable success:

• Passion: Love what you do.
• Consistency: Be prepared to perform every day.
• Conviction: Have a thick skin.
• Strength: Both physical and mental.
• Balance: In work and life.

I like to think that my approach to the practice of Elder Law embodies these principals. In the New Year, our office will continue to provide the level of service excellence that you have come to rely on in all of the Elder Law services that we offer to our community. We are also going to specifically focus our resources with concentration on two efforts that are near and dear to our hearts:

• Alzheimer's Support

Our firm has recently 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.

• Long Term Care Needs Planning for families with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Our clients are crying out for support, planning and protection, for a journey that can take 10 years or more.
  
• Our "Resource Center" We are pleased to invite you to take advantage of our Resource Center. It is designed as a one-stop-shop for our allied professionals to display and gather information. It can also be used for your own personal meetings. We also look forward to hosting joint events. To reserve it, email: elana@florida-elderlaw.com.

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