Alzheimer’s Disease and Advance Health Care Directives
There are more than 5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Projections by the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) are that by 2050 more than 14 million Americans will suffer from this disease. What can you do if you are medically diagnosed with Alzheimer's? Aside from following the advice of your medical doctor a critical step in your overall estate plan is an Advance Health Care Directive to ensure your future wishes are met when you are no longer able to think or communicate clearly because of your disease progression. Having an Advance Health Care Directive that accurately and legally reflects your ... Read More
A Guide for Dementia: Communicating Feeding and Other Wishes
Many of us have experienced the pain caused by Alzheimer's and dementia. In the final stages of these cognitive diseases, the individual may no longer speak, recognize loved ones, or move purposefully. Not everyone has a plan for dementia and Alzheimer's. It is crucial to have conversations and a plan for end-of-life care. When quality of life declines, many choose to stop hand-feeding and hydration and allow the dying process to begin. Suppose the person no longer has an effective way to be heard. In that case, institutions, where such people are usually confined, are legally and morally obligated to continue ... Read More
The Risk for Dementia Increases by Living Alone
Nearly all older adults prefer to age in the comfort of their long-time homes and familiar community surroundings. Aging in place often means living alone. Pew Research findings show that older people are more likely to live alone in the United States than in any other country worldwide. This preference of living solo, however, comes with hidden danger. Research from Science Times reports that living alone in your fifties and sixties increases the likelihood of dementia by thirty percent. The conclusion drawn is based on a report from sciencedirect.com, a website replete with large databases of scientific, academic, and medical ... Read More
