By Elder Law Attorney and Kane County advocate for seniors and boomers Rick Law of Law Elder Law in Aurora, IL
As you can tell from our real life stories and perhaps some you have personally witnessed, the retirement ride can get very rough. Our clients have memory and mobility issues, and some have them sooner rather than later. We work with clients in Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Oswego, and other towns and villages around the southwest suburbs of Illinois.
I think fondly of one couple that we have been involved, and I will call them Sue and Marv. They were in their mid 60s. Retire and travel – that was their plan. After all, they had worked hard, raised two sons, and now it was time to relax and enjoy each other- but this was not to happen as they had planned.
Marv was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 64.
For me, the difficult thing is to discuss what is down the road for our clients – possible options in their planning, and realistic difficult decisions they will have to make – when the person with the diagnosis is sitting there with us in the room. Marv still had the ability to enter into the conversation, even though already he was having some trouble tracking, and he knew something needed to be done. Still, he was so good-natured about what had to be dealt with and tried to make me feel at ease.
When they first came in, Sue told me that they were going to take a trip to see some of Marv’s siblings on the West Coast. She believed it might be the last time they would be able to take such a trip, and perhaps the last time Marv would be able to know and communicate with his family. I am happy to tell you that Marv is still at home and actually about the same – but this is rare. He has balance issues and has fallen several times and injured himself.
Sue has had health issues as well. She struggles to be Marv’s caregiver and to care for herself. Their sons have been a good help; however, although with the economic downturn one is now unemployed. This is not the retirement ride Sue and Marv imagined.
We were there for them with appropriate legal documents, legal advice for their estate and elder law issues, and referrals to healthcare professionals that can assist them. After almost six years, they are doing as well as can be expected and we will continue to stand by them as they travel the Elder Care Journey.
Too many families needlessly lose everything they have. Don’t let that be you. If you need help paying the overwhelming cost of long term care, give our office a call at 800-310-3100. Your first consultation is absolutely free. We’ll let you know what steps you need to take, right now, to protect yourself and your family. Call now, because when you’re out of money, you’re out of options!
Sincerely,
Rick L. Law, Attorney, Estate Planner for Retirees
Rick was named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney by Leading Lawyer Magazine. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, AARP Magazine, TheStreet.com, and numerous newspapers and articles. Rick is the lead attorney for Law Elder Law, LLP, focusing in Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Nursing Home Solutions. His goal is to give retirees an informed edge when it comes to dealing with an uncertain future. Get flexible retirement strategies that work during good times and bad, plus information on how you can save your home and assets from being used to pay for long term care.