Category Archives: Elder Law
When Alzheimer’s Patients Are Targeted by Financial Scams: Legal Steps Families Can Take
Financial scams aimed at elderly individuals are increasing, and those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are more vulnerable to these types of fraud. Alzheimer’s disease makes it hard to spot frauds, withstand pressure, or keep track of your financial activities. Scammers take advantage of their vulnerable state through phone calls, emails, online chats,… Read More »
Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship: Which Option Protects a Loved One With Dementia?
When a loved one starts to experience dementia or Alzheimer’s, it can be a tough situation for families to decide on the best way to manage their finances, healthcare, and well-being. Alzheimer’s can slowly impact an individual’s capacity to pay bills, make medical decisions, or handle legal issues. When such cases happen, two legal… Read More »
Elder Financial Abuse: How to Spot It and What Legal Options You Have
Elder financial abuse is one of the most rapidly growing forms of exploitation. It is a silent form of abuse, which is usually perpetrated by someone the elderly person knows and trusts. It is, therefore, vital that you know the signs and the available legal options. What is elder financial abuse? Elder financial abuse… Read More »
Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney: Which Do You Really Need?
As we prepare for our future, two legal options are often mentioned in the process: guardianship and power of attorney. Though they are similar in the fact that another person is making decisions for someone else, they are used in very different ways. What is power of attorney? A power of attorney (POA) is… Read More »
Medicare vs. Medicaid: Strategic Planning for Long-Term Care Costs
Without a doubt, one of the biggest dilemmas that families face when preparing for the later years is how to pay for long-term care support. Many people assume that Medicare will be available to cover the costs of nursing homes or extended care, only to find out too late that is not the case…. Read More »
How to Update and Review Your Estate Plan at Senior Transition Points
Your estate plan should never be treated as a “one-and-done” effort. Life changes and so should your estate plan. For many older adults, the biggest shifts happen later in life. You might move into assisted living, get a new diagnosis, or simply realize that you need day-to-day help because your life is becoming too… Read More »
Can the Presence of Belly Fat Predict the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?
As our knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease grows, medical researchers have tried to find more ways to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s in patients. Alzheimer’s is a condition that slowly erodes the brain’s function leading to memory loss, mood disturbances, and behavior changes. Recent research indicates that a physical precursor of the disease might manifest… Read More »
Study: Older Adults in Poor Physical and Mental Health are More Apt to Feel Lonely
JAMA Network Open recently published a study indicating that there were high rates of loneliness and social isolation among older adults, especially those who reported that they had poor physical and mental health. Adults between the ages of 50 and 80 often report social isolation and loneliness. In 2018, 33.9% of the survey’s respondents… Read More »
New Study Discusses Molecular Mechanism in Alzheimer’s Disease
The Institute of Neurosciences at the University of Barcelona has conducted a new study that has led to the discovery of a new molecular mechanism that affects RNA processing and alters the process of protein synthesis in the brains of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The study was conducted using post-mortem samples of patients… Read More »
Study Reveals that Alzheimer’s Disease Harms the Brain in Two Phases
A recent study indicates that Alzheimer’s disease injures the brain in two distinct phases. An analysis of genetic activity of brain cells in individuals who have died with Alzheimer’s disease revealed the condition progresses in two stages; a slow increase in inflammation, followed by a more rapid degeneration. According to the study, the first… Read More »