The Alzheimer's Guide explains the major issues you and your family may confront over time and suggests ways to eliminate, minimize, or manage them, including through the implementation of legal strategies.
In this Elder Law Minute video series, Wes Coulson discusses topics from The Alzheimer's Guide: Practical Advice for Families, Caregivers and Professionals.
Can Someone Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Still Execute Legal Documents?…
Whether a person knows and can understand the basic things that relate to legal documents is what determines their ability to execute them. The interesting thing is that competency is measured at the time that somebody signs. Why is this so important? People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s … [Read More...]
Memory Care: The relatively new option for Alzheimer’s care…
If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s and you’re considering facility placement, a Memory Care facility is definitely something you want to look into. People with Alzheimer's are often in good health but need extra attention and help. They also may have a tendency to wander, so people with … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and the Five-Year Look-Back Period: The time to plan is NOW!…
You may have heard me speak in other videos about the five-year look-back period for Medicaid. Well, if somebody upon a first diagnosis of Alzheimer’s engages in planning to direct his or her life savings from long-term care costs, most frequently that can be done at least five years in advance of … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Driving: Why having “the conversation” can be a bad idea…
One of the most common, well-intentioned mistakes that Alzheimer’s families make is gathering the whole family around with the Alzheimer’s person to talk about taking the keys away. While the family may have their best interests at heart, their support and concern may actually come off to the … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Powers of Attorney for Property: Why the document’s specific language matters so much…
Not all Powers of Attorney for Property are created equal. This may come as a surprise to some people, we hear "Power of Attorney for Property" and we think of a standardized form, but the language contained in these documents can differ from each other. While a basic form may give authority to pay … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and the Medicaid Look-Back Rule: Is it too late for planning?…
A really common and really unfortunate mistake that causes a lot of Alzheimer’s families to talk themselves out of engaging in planning that could very effectively protect a great deal of life savings has to do with Alzheimer's and the Medicaid look-back rule. They see their family member, diagnosed … [Read More...]
Essential Legal Documents Anyone With Alzheimer’s Needs to Have in Place…
No one plans on Alzheimer's, however a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's should put some planning in place, while they still can, and in the form of legal documents. There are a number of legal decisions someone diagnosed with Alzheimer's can and should execute, and as discussed in Can Someone … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Understanding the Scope of What’s Covered By a Power of Attorney for Healthcare…
Many people think that a Power of Attorney for Healthcare only talks about end of life situations, for example, whether or not to "pull the plug." This is unfortunate because they also may believe if they make their wishes clear to their family, then they don't need one. The reality is that a … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s Caregiving: The importance of managing your workload and stress…
People who provide Alzheimer's caregiving for a loved one are prime candidates for impossible workloads and high stress levels. It's easy to get caught up in the daily tasks required caring for a family member with Alzheimer's and these selfless personalities tend to put all of these needs before … [Read More...]
Immediate vs. Springing Powers of Attorney: Which is better for someone with Alzheimer’s?…
Just as the title suggests, immediate Powers of Attorney take effect immediately. This is quite different from springing Powers of Attorney, which don't take effect until the determination of incapacitation. While it's evident that a person with Alzheimer's should have some Power of Attorney in … [Read More...]
How to Evaluate a Geriatric Care Facility…
When evaluating a geriatric care facility for placement for either yourself or your loved one, it's important to develop a set of criteria that is essential to you. Everyone has different reasons for choosing a facility, as well as different needs and wants, and the idea that one care facility is … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Handling Driving Privileges…
Senior drivers are at greater risk of being involved in a traffic accident than any other age group. As we age, there are a lot of natural circumstances that affect our driving that aren’t necessarily Alzheimer’s related. Our reflexes get slower, we lose visual acuity, and our hearing diminishes as … [Read More...]
Why the Medicare Five-Star Ratings for Nursing Homes May Not be as Meaningful as You May Think…
The Medicare Five-Star Ratings system lends itself to the underlying assumption that one set of criteria can determine what’s best for everyone. This is simply not true. Each person entering a nursing home has different needs and wants, and therefore the priorities of what's important are different … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Why Powers of Attorney Need to be Durable…
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease and unfortunately people with Alzheimer’s will eventually lose their capacity to make decisions. So, it's important that certain legal documents, especially powers of attorney, are not only in place, but done so that they will still serve their purposes at the … [Read More...]
Why You Want to Avoid Guardianship or Conservatorship For an Alzheimer’s Victim…
People diagnosed with Alzheimer's will, unfortunately, eventually lose their capacity for making decisions. When this happens, if they don’t have someone who’s been given authority to act for them through powers of attorney, the only alternative is court proceedings that are known as guardianships … [Read More...]
Choosing The Right Level Of Care For Your Loved One With Alzheimer’s…
Choosing the right level of care for your loved one can be daunting. Older adults and adults with Alzheimer's typically want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, sometimes at risk of their needs not being fully met or of having insufficient resources available to meet them. … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s Planning: What Is A Geriatric Care Manager And Why Do You Need One?…
A Geriatric Care Manager will most likely have a background in nursing, social work, gerontology, or even a combination of these and are experienced in dealing with problems facing elders, particularly those with Alzheimer's. Because they tend to have a lot of contacts in the community, a Geriatric … [Read More...]
The Importance Of Moving Into A Memory Care Facility Before It Is Too Late…
The natural instinct for us is to want to keep someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's at home for as long as possible before moving them into a memory care facility. But, in a lot of cases, that may not particularly be doing them a favor. We are creatures of habit and when we are in … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Nursing Home Care: If You’re Single, You’re Ready To Plan…
Alzheimer's and nursing home care seem to inevitably go hand in hand. Whether you are facing this diagnosis for yourself or for a family member, there is some legal planning that needs to be done. And if you are single with Alzheimer's, the time to plan is now. It’s essential to do the planning … [Read More...]
Is Protecting Assets From Long-Term Care Costs Ethical and Moral?…
The planning involved in protecting someone's assets from the devastating costs of long-term care often spark questions with regards to its ethical and moral standpoints. As to a moral standpoint, Alzheimer's is a destructive disease that requires a specific kind of care, usually involving a … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and Nursing Home Care: If You’re Married, You Really Need to Plan…
Married couples facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis should consider planning with a competent Elder Law Attorney as early on as possible for a few reasons. One reason being, people often make the assumption that if you’re married, that automatically gives you the legal right to take care of … [Read More...]
Can A Person With Alzheimer’s Still Sign Legal Documents?…
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Southern Illinois Elder Law attorney, presents another topic covered in The Alzheimer’s Guide: Practical Advice for Families, Caregivers and Professionals and discusses the important subject of whether someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can still … [Read More...]
A Practical Guide for Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility…
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson discusses a practical guide for choosing a long-term care facility. ? Transcript: Hi! I'm Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law, proudly serving clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. I'd like to welcome you to our Elder Law … [Read More...]
Prescription Medicines Can Increase the Risk of Falls…
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson would like everyone to be aware of the potential side effects of medication. ???? Transcript: Hi! I'm Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law, proudly serving clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. I'd like to welcome you to our … [Read More...]
Alzheimer’s and “Taking Away the Keys”…
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson wants to talk about the difficult conversation of "taking away the keys". ????? Transcript: Hi! I'm Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law, proudly serving clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. I'd like to welcome you to our … [Read More...]
Are People with Alzheimer’s Still Okay to Sign Legal Documents?…
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson explains how people with Alzheimer's can still sign documents at certain times. ?????? Transcript: Hi! I'm Wes Coulson from Coulson Elder Law, proudly serving clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. I'd like to welcome you to our … [Read More...]
