When Near-Death Alzheimer’s Patients ‘Wake Up’
An elderly woman never speaks, no longer recognizes her loved ones when they come to visit, and shows no expression. By the looks of her, she is a human vegetable.…
Gus Don’t Dance Now, and I Don’t Care
If you have seen the Staff page of my website, www.ElderLawMS.com/staff, you know that Gus is my therapy dog. He is a handsome, blond Golden Retriever, about 95 pounds, a…
Parent Under Conservatorship May Have Capacity to Amend Will or Trust
We are often called on to assist in having a spouse, child or parent appointed as conservator over another family member who is no longer able to manage his or…
Don’t Get Hit With Surprise Ambulance Bills
Sometimes, a Good Samaritan turns out to be anything but. That's how Delores Cantz feels about an episode in March, when the 82-year-old slipped and fell while dancing at a…
Baseball, RBIs and Caregivers
Dear Will, A couple weeks ago you had a great night at the ballpark. Your team was behind (and eventually lost, but that’s not a big deal). You came to…
MS’s New POST Gives Power to Personal Health Decisions
One essential part of every personal estate plan is the Advance Health-care Directive (AHCD). This document allows you to name the persons who would have authority to make medical or…
Indoor Cold Increases Risk of Falls in Older Women
Turning down the thermostat to save some money could cost older women by raising their risk of falls, according to a new European study. In an experiment with 88 women…
Uncle Brewer’s Bed
Dear Melissa, Last night I slept in your room. Even though you have been gone from this house for over a decade, it still is hard not to think of…
How To Pass Wealth Down To Your Kids (or Grandkids)
“So you’re here to do some estate planning. What are your goals?” I asked Martha, a lovely lady in her 60s. “Well, I want to help my children out if…
The Life Care Plan – Helping You Care For Mom
A Common Family Crisis. Consider the following situation: Your mom has recently begun to suffer the effects of dementia, stroke or other incapacitating illness. You have a spouse and full-time…