Archive for March 2018
Delay in VA Claims
Robert DiCicco left a Fields Corner three-decker in 1952 to join the Marines he had idolized while growing up during World War II. A year later, he found himself crouched in a crude Korean trench, fighting for his life against a swarm of Chinese troops who outnumbered his unit 20 to 1. DiCicco survived the…
Read MoreUnderstanding Guardianships: Annual Reporting
After the probate court appoints a guardian over a ward, the court stays involved in the ward’s care to supervise the ward’s affairs and monitor the actions of the guardian. Guardians must provide regular reports, known as Personal Status Reports, to the court to keep them updated on the ward. This report must include the…
Read MoreAlzheimer’s Funding, Facts and Figures
Today we can celebrate that Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is at $1.8 billion. This is due to an increase that has just been signed into law. Congress included the largest increase in history for Alzheimer’s research in the 2018 federal funding bill, of $414 million. Another priority of the…
Read MoreUnderstanding Guardianships: The Uniform Guardian, Conservatorship & Other Protective Arrangements Act
Last July, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) adopted a new act to help states reform their current guardianship laws. Guardianship laws are complex, and they, like all laws, need updating. The ULC last issued a Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act in 1997. Their current one took two years of committee work and is now…
Read MoreDepression in Older Adults
Dr. Sarah Yarry, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in gerontology, reports: “Often in older adults, when they’re depressed, you don’t see high levels of crying and sadness you might see in a younger adult; you see it more often as withdrawal – apathy, hopelessness, loss of appetite and interest.” Depression is correlated with a higher risk…
Read MoreUnderstanding Conservatorship: Protecting Loved Ones From Scammers
“My dad has early stages of dementia. He hasn’t been diagnosed, but we’ve been noticing some major changes over the last year and a half. My mom just discovered that he’s been taking out thousands of dollars from their checking account. When asked about it, he says that he’s just helping a friend out and…
Read MoreCan a Guardianship be Reversed?
“I think that my mom was wrongly appointed a guardian. She has trouble talking and being understood, but she is not crazy or demented. What can I do?” Although rare, there are times when a person has inappropriately been deemed incompetent. Fortunately, the probate courts have a restoration process for terminating the guardianship. This is…
Read MoreWealth and Health for Retirement
A goal for retirement is to be happy, healthy and financially comfortable. To achieve that goal, you want to ask yourself: am I saving enough, how long will my money last and when will I be able to retire? With an average lifespan of 83 to 85 years, your retirement savings need to last a…
Read MoreUnderstanding Guardianships: How long do guardianships take to get? How long do they last?
Each county has a Probate Court that handles their resident’s guardianship hearings. Generally speaking, it can take over a month to complete the entire process of filing, serving, evaluating, and holding the hearing to have a guardian appointed. The length of time really depends on the specific court being used; some courts have longer wait…
Read MoreRisk Factors for Dementia
Snoring – Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – Breathing starts and stops, already linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, may also be tied to poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk of dementia. By treating OSA the risk may be lowered. Drinking diet soda – Strong evidence shows an increased risk of dementia for…
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