Alzheimer's & Dementia Planning

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”
– Abraham Lincoln

THE DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S CONNECTION

Ever notice that, as we age, we hear those two words – “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” – more and more?

“Did you hear? Betty’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s!”
“If you ask me, Dave’s got a mild form of dementia.”

The fact is – and there’s no escaping this – the older we get, the more we’re going to hear it. And there’s no escaping this, either: We may well have to hear it about one of our own family members.

Since the disease we now call Alzheimer’s was first named, it’s often seemed somewhat interchangeable with “dementia.” And, to some extent, they’re branches of the same tree. But they are still, nonetheless, different branches.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines dementia as “deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain.”

The leading cause of dementia? It’s Alzheimer’s disease. But that doesn’t mean that everyone with dementia also has Alzheimer’s; there are a number of “members” within the dementia family. Many types of dementia, in fact, can actually be reversed or managed; such as those caused by some diseases like Parkinson’s, stroke, AIDS, or MS, as well as conditions like depression, drug or alcohol problems, nutritional deficiencies, syphilis, and certain metabolic conditions. Tragically, the same can’t be said of Alzheimer’s; it can’t – yet! – be reversed.

Whether it’s Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you’re concerned about getting good care and wondering where you’ll find the strength to carry on throughout the course of a disease that can sometimes last for 10 or even 20 years. And when you think about the cost you begin to worry if you might lose everything to Alzheimer’s.

The Baby Boomer Epidemic

Perry Como, Peter Falk, Rosa Parks, Glen Campbell, Otto Preminger, Norman Rockwell, Aaron Copland, Estelle Getty and Ronald Reagan.

Aaron Copland, Estelle Getty , Ronald Reagan

All geniuses.

These beautiful brains disintegrated before their eyes, the eyes their loved one and those of us who admired them.

A day doesn’t go by in my office where we are not helping families with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia. No amount of money, no amount of denial, will make this go away. That is a solemn promise.

It is and will continue to be a Baby boomer epidemic. We will either get it or care for someone who has it. 10 million. That’s right. 1 in 8 boomers with have their retirement years robbed from them – and will take their caregivers with them. So when I meet 3 cousins and their spouses to celebrate my son becoming a lawyer I can count on at least 1 of them to be stricken with the dreaded curse.
Over the next 30 years, Alzheimer’s will cost this nation 20 Trillion dollars. $20,000,000,000. Every 70 seconds an American is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This will be every 33 seconds in 30 years when the number of people with the disease will triple.

Think 30 years is an eternity? The Gulf War was thirty years ago. So was the movie Home Alone. Think again. Is this the legacy you want to leave our children and grandchildren? I think not.

Baby boomers have been changing the world since they were born. This is their chance to make one more big and lasting change. Boomers take nothing lying down.

Boomers and Friends- A Call to Action
Change this before it changes you. Our sheer numbers and knack for self-help can help lift the secrecy and stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s.
We are reaching out and learning more.
But time is running out

“What Steps Should I Be Taking Right Now?”

Of course, it’s important that you talk to your doctor as soon as your loved one starts to show signs of memory loss or Dementia.

And even though you may be fearing the worst… that it’s Alzheimer’s disease… There are any number of less serious reasons why someone might be experiencing memory loss or Dementia. Not all of them are related to Alzheimer’s . . . but some of them have very similar symptoms.

But even if the medical side of things is being handled, there are several crucial steps on the legal and financial side of things which you should consider immediately. That’s for two very important reasons:

Because planning must be done when the person still has capacity.
Because the cost of care for someone with Alzheimer’s is incredibly expensive. Studies show that the cost of care in Broward, Palm Beach and all of South Florida averages more than $174,000 for an Alzheimer’s patient over his or her lifetime.

And while that may sound outrageous… when you consider that the cost of adult daycare is often $50 per day or more . . . or that the cost for an Alzheimer’s Assisted Living community in Broward and Palm Beach and surrounding areas averages at least $3,000-6000 per month . . . or that the cost of a South Florida Alzheimer’s Nursing Home is typically more than $7,500 per month and you quickly realize that the $174,000 lifetime figure may be low!

That’s why you should take steps now . . . while you can still plan. After all, who can afford these coast without some assistance?

Fortunately, there are often programs available to help you if you act now and plan ahead.

The first step is to consult with an Elder Law Attorney who works with Alzheimer’s clients.

It’s critical that you and your loved ones have a chance to put the proper planning in place while there is still time. The simple fact is that none of us knows how much time we have on this earth. When Alzheimer’s or memory loss is part of the equation, however, life becomes more complicated.

That’s because you may “know” exactly what your spouse or loved one would want. But if those wishes have not somehow been put down in writing, then the law may not recognize your supposed “knowledge.” Everyone who goes to a doctor is fully aware of the strict privacy laws that exist today. The law in Florida says the Alzheimer’s patient must have the legal capacity (i.e. the ability to understand) the planning steps. For that reason, that’s why we suggest you act right now… while the Alzheimer’s patient can participate in the planning. The longer you wait, the greater the risk becomes.

Taking Care Of The Caregiver

While the consequences of Alzheimer’s and Dementia can be stunning, it is important to remember that there is good information available to you and your family. Our firm has helped hundreds of families in Broward County, Palm Beach County and all of South Florida. We can help you discover what initial steps you need to take to provide the best possible care for your loved one and still make sure you are taking care of yourself.

Our firm has made a significant investment in acquiring the best materials and resources that address the unique needs of folks like you who are caregivers to Alzheimer’s or Dementia patients. You’ll have access to a great deal of relevant and useful information to help you cope, compliments of our firm.

Click here for your Special Report on “Hybrid” or “Legacy” Long term care policies.
Click here for your Special Report on using Irrevocable Trusts for asset protection planning.