More Than Just Power of Attorney
More often than not, the calls we receive in our office concerning a long term care crisis are made by one or more of the adult children of the senior in failing health. We ask whether there is a power of attorney in place which will legally permit a
I’ve Been Named Agent Under Power of Attorney – Now What?
Recently, I was asked to serve as agent under Power of Attorney for husband and wife clients. We’ll call them Harry and Wilma. Both are in their 80’s and just moved to a nursing facility. As their legal representative, I will be doing the types of things that, as an
Should a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Continue to Drive?
It’s a troubling question, given the value we put on independence and the love and the dependence we have on motor vehicles. Taking the car keys away can often seem like a death sentence but must be balanced against the safety of other drivers on the road. I’ve had more conversations
An Update on Family Responsibility Laws
Two years ago I wrote about family or “filial” responsibility laws. What does the law say about a child’s responsibility to pay for a parent’s care? The population is continuing to age and the problem of long term care isn’t going away so what, if anything, has changed in the
New Trend in Medical Care – Geriatric ER?
As I have written often, we will see many changes in the types of services and the ways they will be offered as the population continues to age, with 77 million baby boomers approaching senior status. One interesting change, in which New Jersey is in the forefront, is the appearance
A Tragic Tale and a Lesson for All
Driving is always a sticky issue with aging parents and family members. Mom or Dad’s refusal to acknowledge physical and mental limitations can put their lives at risk but if they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle they can put others at risk. A recent New Jersey wrongful
Robot & Frank – The Future of Elder Care?
A few years ago I wrote about a movie titled the Savages, which focused on the story of an elderly man suffering from dementia and his 2 children who were suddenly forced to care for him after his second wife had died. Hollywood has just released a new movie that,
Maxwell Smart with Alzheimers?
I was a big fan of Get Smart, the TV show from the 1960’s that aired in reruns through the 1980’s. The main characters were two government secret agents. Actor Don Adams played Agent 86 and his female partner, Agent 99, was played by Barbara Feldon. (Steve Carell and Anne
The Savages
This weekend I rented an excellent movie entitled "The Savages". Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney and Philip Bosco, it is the story of a brother and sister, estranged from their father, who receive a call when Dad's girlfriend, whom he has been living with for 20 years, dies. Dad has