Alzheimer's and Dementia, Assisted Living, Caregivers, Elder Law, Long Term Care
Smoke in the Kitchen!
By elder law attorney Rick Law, founder of the Estate Planning Center at Law Elder Law, senior advocates and elder care lawyers in the Western Chicago suburb of Aurora, IL. Memory loss can manifest itself in many ways. All too often, it is ignored by both the individual and their family members. After all no one wants to face the threat of a debilitating illness, so the easy alternative is to ignore, or shift the blame. However, ignoring the problem can cause even more problems for the affected individual. A quick and accurate diagnosis may be instrumental in developing a plan to cope with a disease such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. When memory loss is first detected, one of the authors refers to this as “smoke in the kitchen.” In many cases, there literally is smoke in the kitchen because one of the most common dangers of memory loss is that the senior forgets and leaves a burner on or does not turn off the oven, and eventually starts a fire in the kitchen. Often seniors will either ignore their memory loss or will attempt to hide the behavior. In many cases, they are aware of their worsening condition but are afraid of being put in a nursing home. Once the memory loss has been detected by family or friends, the next stage is coming to the decision that the senior is “unsafe alone” and needs aid. It is not unusual for the senior to resist and fight to avoid assisted-living situations. While men seem to be more likely to fight back since control can be a bigger issue for a man facing Alzheimer’s, it is not out of the norm for women to plant their feet and say, “I am not leaving my home.” On the Alzheimer’s journey, the goal for many seniors and their families is to keep the seniors in their home (or in the home of an adult child) for as long as possible. This will typically necessitate the need for in-home care. If your loved one has memory problems and you’re afraid of the consequences that may bring, give our office a call today 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. Sincerely, Rick L. Law, Attorney, Estate Planner for Retirees. Rick was named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney for the past 8 years in a row 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. Call 800-310-3100 for your free consultation now!