Exclusive LEL Publications
“When someone asks us what they should know now that a loved one has been diagnosed, we don’t even know to begin to find the right answers. This book will be your starting point and a trustworthy guide. It is written by practicing lawyers who are on the front lines fighting to serve clients with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. In this book they will share with you… secret wisdom and the uncommon knowledge that comes from years of multiple client experiences.”
-Scott Turrow, New york times best selling author.
Don't Let Dementia Steal Everything
“Oh no, what are we going to do?”
Experts say that every 65 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. When someone you love gets that diagnosis, you need answers.
The authors, Kerry Peck and Rick Law, are two nationally renowned elder law attorneys who can help you make wise decisions in the midst of a post-diagnosis whirlwind of confusion.
Avoid Common Misteps such as:
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Giving away assets to qualify for nursing home benefits
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Believing that Medicare will pay for your long-term care needs
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Waiting until the last minute before seeking expert legal advice
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Assuming that nursing home Medicaid is a do-it-yourself project
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Thinking that a revocable living trust provides asset protection
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And many more.
Cruising Through Retirement 2nd Edition
Introduction: By Matt Zagula – “Why should you care what Rick Law and Zach Hesselbaum have to say about protecting you, your lifestyle and your retirement assets?”
During any calendar year, Rick Law and Zach Hesselbaum work with at least 500 singles and couples, ranging from healthy, vigorous, Vietnam-War-era baby boomers, to the fragile remaining elders of the Depression era and World War II generation. Few attorneys and/or senior advisors get to learn from the financial and legal decisions of 500+ lifetimes of decision-makers.
In this book Rick and Zach join forces to share with you how to find the best place to stand in today’s economic earthquake.
They know that you are looking for four things from a legal and financial advisor:
Rick Law and Zach Hesselbaum know that most retirees make lots of poor investment and legal choices-unsafe, complex, and with pie-in-the-sky promises. Want to sleep better? Read this book! It was written by two very talented people who work together to provide boomer retirees, maturing seniors and frail elders with legal and financial solutions. Rick describes himself as a “learn-a-holic” and somewhat cynical realist. Over the years, he has read and collected 114 books (at last count) on investing, taken numerous courses and worked with more than 2,000 clients and their financial advisors. (His most highly recommended books on investing are listed in the Appendix section of this book.) He has a well-earned reputation for insights into the future and wisdom based on his broad business, investment and legal experience.
- Safety, because it’s too hard to get back what you lost.
- A reasonable rate of return on your money. Most people do not expect to be stock market wizards. They want a safe and consistent way to be able to support their lifestyle.
- Simplicity, because nobody wants to be a fool. They want to make legal and financial decisions they can understand.
- Income for life. Nobody wants to run out of money before they die. If you are out of money, then you are out of options.
Rick Law and Zach Hesselbaum know that most retirees make lots of poor investment and legal choices-unsafe, complex, and with pie-in-the-sky promises. Want to sleep better? Read this book! It was written by two very talented people who work together to provide boomer retirees, maturing seniors and frail elders with legal and financial solutions. Rick describes himself as a “learn-a-holic” and somewhat cynical realist. Over the years, he has read and collected 114 books (at last count) on investing, taken numerous courses and worked with more than 2,000 clients and their financial advisors. (His most highly recommended books on investing are listed in the Appendix section of this book.) He has a well-earned reputation for insights into the future and wisdom based on his broad business, investment and legal experience.
Rick Law
Author, LEL Founder, Managing Partner
Are you ready to take steps to plan for your retirement? Don’t be left out in the cold. When you’re out of money, you’re out of options. Cruising through Retirement is a handbook for navigating the ever-evolving world of retirement planning and beyond!
Alzheimer's and the Law
By direct request of the American Bar Association, renowned Elder Law attorney and Senior Advocate Rick Law, has penned a new book with co-author attorney Kerry Peck. “Alzheimer’s and the Law: Counseling Clients with Dementia and Their Families” is designed as a textbook for all practicing attorneys in any discipline!
Alzheimer's and the Law
From the Foreward by best selling author Scott Turow:
In my new novel, Identical, Tim Brodie, an elderly private investigator, who hopes to unravel the mysteries of a murder that took place nearly three decades before, visits a nursing home so he can interview Lidia Gianis, 87, a woman Tim has known for years, but who is now deeply in the grip of dementia:
This dialogue, unfortunately, is based more on experience than imagination. My mother, who passed in 2011 at the age of 91, spent her last 6 years, increasingly confused by dementia. The perseveration and repetitions that characterize Lidia’s conversation became familiar to me, as did the fact that my mom could have unpredictable flashes of amazing lucidity. Caring for her was always a challenge, even though I had the complete support of my sister, Vicki, who shared the responsibility with me, and the heroic assistance of two wonderful cousins, Joy and Sy Dordick, who spent time with my mom, and often stood in for me when I was travelling. Nonetheless, when my mom lay dying, I felt compelled to ask her whether she wanted to go on with her life. That was simply not a decision any of us felt we could make for her.
“Is he my husband?” Lidia asked Eloise, her attendant, as Tim entered.
“Oh no, honey. He just a friend.”
Eloise propped Lidia up in the leatherette recliner. “You all go head and visit. I’m just outside, case you need me.
“Tim sat down in a wooden-armed chair a few feet from Lidia.”
Do I know you?” she asked Tim.
“Tim Brodie, Lidia. We met a million years ago at St. D’s.”
“I don’t know you,” she said. “I had a stroke and my memory is not so good.”
“Yeah, well, my memory isn’t what it once was either.
“In thirty years on the police force, and twenty five since then as a P.I., Tim had done lots of interviews under daunting circumstances, questioning children and the mentally handicapped, and naturally enough, the desperately bereaved. But this would be a new chapter and Tim had no idea how to start.
On Lidia’s bedside table, there were photographs of her two daughters and of her twin sons and a passel of kids.
“Now who are all these folks?” he asked her.
“I don’t know. The girl just put them there. But they’re all nice people.
“Tim picked up one photograph, a group shot of Lidia’s grandchildren.
“Now these grandkids of yours, they’re a good-looking bunch.”
Tim meant it. The Gianises were always a handsome family.
Lidia was frowning. “Is that who they are?” she asked.
“Beautiful,” Tim said, “All of them.”
“Yes, I think they’re all nice people. I have a son, did you know that?”
“Two, I believe.” He tapped the picture beside her of her identical boys.
“My sons come here all the time. One of them is a big deal, too. Is he an actor?” she asked Tim, referring to Paul who was now running for Mayor. “People just love him. They tell me so all the time. Everyone here knows who he is.
”Tim said he knew Paul too, then asked about Cass, hoping for any information about the other twin.
Lidia pondered a second and shook her head. “I had a stroke and my memory’s not so good.”
She raised her hand again to stare at her bracelet, which, by whatever logic was left to her, once more brought her attention to Tim. “Who are you?” she asked. “Do I know you?”
This dialogue, unfortunately, is based more on experience than imagination. My mother, who passed in 2011 at the age of 91, spent her last 6 years, increasingly confused by dementia. The perseveration and repetitions that characterize Lidia’s conversation became familiar to me, as did the fact that my mom could have unpredictable flashes of amazing lucidity. Caring for her was always a challenge, even though I had the complete support of my sister, Vicki, who shared the responsibility with me, and the heroic assistance of two wonderful cousins, Joy and Sy Dordick, who spent time with my mom, and often stood in for me when I was travelling. Nonetheless, when my mom lay dying, I felt compelled to ask her whether she wanted to go on with her life. That was simply not a decision any of us felt we could make for her.
“Are you ready to quit?” I asked my mother.
She shook her head no. I doubt that she understood the ful implications of the question, but she got the basic point and Alzheimers or not, my sister and I abided by her decision that she was not ready to die. The medical interventions continued, although she was gone days later, notwithstanding.
The complexity of that moment and of entrusting such a profound question to someone whose capacities were so compromised makes for intense family drama. But the legal implications of such situations are in many ways even more difficult to unravel.
That is why this is such a fascinating and important book. It is not the usual ponderous legal treatise. It’s a practical quick start guide so that you, as a professional, can be a beacon to a client, a friend, a loved one, or even a colleague who has been affected by the darkness of dementia.
When it comes to understanding Alzheimer’s disease, lawyers are lay-people. Every one of us knows someone who has been affected, but the disease is so pervasive and frightening that many of us try to block it from our minds. When someone asks us what they should do now that a loved one has been diagnosed, we don’t even know how to begin to find the right answers. This book will be your starting point and a trustworthy guide. It is written by practicing lawyers who are on the front lines fighting to serve clients with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. In this book they share with you their practice-pointers, secret wisdom, and the uncommon knowledge that comes from years of multiple client experiences.
You are about to meet some great storytellers and many deeply admirable people. The authors know that no matter how well attorneys fulfill their legal role, when it comes to
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia sufferers and their families need help from a team of capable and concerned professionals. Within these pages you will hear from nurses, legal guardians, advocates for elder-abuse victims, hospice personnel, Alzheimer’s Association leaders, technology visionaries, geriatric psychiatrists, police officers specializing in scam prevention, family caregivers, forensic experts, and even prosecutors. Each one has an important story to tell that will provide you and your client with the gift of deeper understanding.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the scourges of our time, and one whose toll on the country will only deepen with the aging of the Baby Boomers and the inevitability of increased life spans. Curing Alzheimer’s would probably do more than any single step to reduce health care expenses and–far more important–improve the quality of life of the elderly here and around the world. But until there is a cure, you’ll be grateful to have this book at your side.
About the Author
Rick Law
Founder and Lead Partner, Law Elder Law, LLP
I love the work that I have the opportunity to do. Most of my clients are seniors, and they come to us to make wise decisions about life, aging, and protecting their loved ones. In my role as lead attorney of the Law Elder Law organization, it is my job to surround myself with people who are committed to serving our clients in a world class manner.
We must be people who are trustworthy and client-oriented.
We must be people who are trustworthy and client-oriented.
Our team must see itself as an organization where not only our clients, but also our co-workers, are treated with respect and courtesy and a heartfelt commitment to put the interests of others above our own. We can provide world class service only when we ourselves live out the Golden Rule in such a way that we imagine what we would want, and then grab the initiative and do that for others.
I invite my clients to hold me personally accountable for the actions, performance, and results of anyone on our team. My commitment to building a world class organization is a commitment that is never-ending.
I am married to Rosemary Law and we have four children – Adam, Diana, Catherine, and Ethan – and four grandchildren – Lucy, Daphne, Evan, and Phoebe.