Archive for August, 2010

The Truth Behind Alzheimer Disease

Because the aging process begins the moment you’re born, some complications can accompany this process.

Among those, is Alzheimer’s. However, there are steps everyone should take to decrease the chances of developing them including Alzheimer’s in order to attain healthy longevity. Alzheimer’s disease is terrible since you loose control over your life, but there are things you can do to prevent its onset. Contrary to common beliefs, Alzheimer’s disease is not an inevitable accompaniment of aging.

RISK FACTORS

There are few interesting theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but there are no absolute risk factors. However,statistic show that age, family history and genetics can give us some explanations. For example, half of the current residents of nursing homes in US have Alzheimer’s disease.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms are impaired learning, lack of reasoning power, inability to retain new information, trouble performing complex tasks and lack of orientation. Often, Alzheimer’s is confused with other conditions that mimic it, like depression, subdural hematoma, multiple small strokes, brain tumors, hypothyroidism, alcohol abuse, poly-pharmacy, malnutrition and other underlying diseases that can produce behavioral changes mimicking Alzheimer’s.

So it is not an easy task to identify Alzheimer’s with certainty. Usually, specialists proceed by eliminating other possibilities first and the process can be complex. Despite the absence of cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s, every patient should be given a good multivitamin, Ginkgo biloba, tacrine and donepezil. These agents can result in improving memory in older people.

PREVENTION

Let’s concentrate now on how to reduce chances of getting Alzheimer’s.

First, regular mental and physical activity contribute to increase the number of connections needed for normal mental function.

Second, the more schooling you have, the greater are your chances against Alzheimer’s. Like physical exercise, ongoing intellectual challenges stimulate the formation of nerve connections.

Third, stress does probably play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. It is important then to reduce your level of stress as much as possible.

Fourth, there is and important correlation between consumption of total fat and incidence of Alzheimer’s. You should eat more fish instead because of the protective effect of

Omega-3.
If you don’t eat enough seafood, you can obtain Omega-3 fatty acids in capsule form. Several other foods like artichokes, sardines and lettuce are also “brain builders”.

Fifth, studies have showed that the intake of aspirin and vitamin E may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Finally, estrogen replacement therapy for women of seventy years of age and older could be beneficial.

Also, stop smoking because it doubles the risk of getting Alzheimer’s The first priority is your health. Take action and get the products you need to reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer’s.

Gilles Coulombe B.A. B.LL D.S.A.

For more information, go to My Site

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Long Term Care Story: Dad Couldn’t Remember My Name

My father-in-law lived to age 100 years, 6 months and 3 days.

In his final years he was a confined to his home with live-in nurses to oversee medication, food preparation and to keep him from wandering off.  He was a pistol, an ornery man very annoyed that he couldn’t still live the lifestyle he was used to.  And he made everyone aware of the way he felt.  He was becoming very frail and couldn’t be active in the community any more.

The Burden

It was a great burden to his children to take those car keys away, to hear his snare and mean words as he lashed out before live-in care givers were hired.  But the burden of that decision faded and gave way to the painful experiences of him forgetting who his children were while talking with them on the phone.

This is the part that really was hurtful for my husband, Jim.  Even though we read through all the educational pamphlets on dementia and know that anything said by Dad shouldn’t be taken personally, it still stung – sometimes deeply—when my husband, Jim, would call to talk with his Dad.  It got so that Jim didn’t call as frequently and then barely as it got more painful and the conversations became more difficult.  The first few moments of each conversation Jim would have to spend time describing to his Dad who he was and for his Dad to acknowledge Jim as one of his sons, only to have to repeat the exercise a few times during the whole telephone visit

The End

In the end, my husband and two brothers were at his bedside. Jim’s 3 sisters had visited throughout his last several months.  The family was fortunate there were assets to pay for the live-in nurses for those several years.  If he had lived 6 more months, all the cash reserves and all saleable assets would have been spend on his care.  A reverse mortgage was being researched with the guardian’s signature at the ready.  It was a close call, financially.  All that was left was the family homestead that was there for almost 4 generations, which had to be sold to settle the estate.

Plan Now For The Future

This family long term care experience started halfway through my current career as a Long Term Care Planning Specialist.  You’d be surprised how often I hear of similar experiences of caring for elderly family members and the costs involved when the family didn’t prepare in advance for care expenses.  All of us are our own insurance company paying out of pocket for long term care unless we pro-actively decide now to put protection in place to protect our assets, our spouse’s health and our independence.  Planning now to live with dignity and have control of over your care choices is easily done by researching whether Long Term Care Insurance is right for you with the aid of an experienced professional who specialized in this field.  I encourage you to consider this important protection not only for yourself, but your adult children as well.

More at www.theuptake.org It’s the longest election in Minnesota’s history, and it’s still not over. But a ruling from Minnesota’s election contest court may have signaled the beginning of the end of Minnesota’s US Senate race. Former Senator Norm Coleman’s chances of winning the election were severely dimmed when the court ruled that only 400 additional ballots will be counted. Democrat Al Franken leads Coleman by 225 votes. The election contest has been a soap opera, drawing thousands of viewers from all over the country every day. In the above video, The UpTake’s Mike McIntee takes us through the major plot lines and moments of the trial, which has been educational as well as entertaining.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Nursing Home Neglect – How Widespread is the Problem?

It is never an easy decision to place a loved one in a nursing home – as anyone who has ever done that knows only too well. Naturally, you hope and trust that the nursing home you have chosen is well run, safe and efficient. However, most people are surprised to realize just how widespread the problem of nursing home neglect is.

We have all seen the TV advertisements and infomercials for attorneys who promise to help you if you have an issue with nursing home neglect. And unfortunately, this emotive subject often makes the headlines as well – in February 2007, a California nursing home was fined ,000 for its alleged role in the death of a resident from blood infection.

There are around 17,000 nursing homes in the United States, containing an estimated 1.5 million residents. In fact, Americans aged 85 and over are now the fastest growing segment of the population – in 2030, it is estimated that around 20% of Americans will be senior citizens.

Most nursing home neglect is actually unintentional, and neglect is more common than deliberate abuse. There is perhaps a fine line between what might be defined as neglect and what might be termed abuse – in general, neglect is often accidental, while abuse is often deliberate. But whether it is described as neglect or abuse, the numbers are alarming. Almost one million senior citizens in nursing homes and other facilities are neglected or abused each year – and around 30% of facilities are cited in one way or another.

For the period from 1999 to 2002, almost 14,000 deaths in nursing homes were caused by some kind of neglect – much of it admittedly indirect. It can often be difficult to differentiate between deaths which are caused by neglect and natural deaths in an environment where residents are naturally elderly and in poor health anyway.

The main type of nursing home neglect is neglecting the basic needs of residents. Some neglect is not easy to observe. According to a 2000 report by the national Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, nationwide, almost 25% of nursing home residents have bedsores. And around 35% suffer from poor nutrition or dehydration – conditions which many of us would not be qualified to diagnose.

A common fault in nursing homes is not providing adequate food and water or not assisting those who need help. Anyone who has spent time in a nursing home has probably observed residents being given food only to have it removed several minutes later uneaten. Some neglect is caused by a staff shortage, not having enough staff on duty to see to the needs of the residents. The recommended ratio of staff to residents is around one caregiver to every 15 residents, but according to the Department of Health and Human Services, almost 90% of facilities don’t have enough staff.

If you are trying to choose a potential nursing home for a loved one, you have the right to inquire about the staff to patient ratio. Ask about the level of staffing for different shifts – day and night. If necessary, check with your state licensing rules about staff to resident ratio requirements. Try to get a feel for how many residents are bedridden or confined to a wheelchair, thus requiring extra care.

The reasons are clear why many facilities don’t have enough staff. Many caregivers are underpaid or overworked – many also have a second job. And caring for the elderly and the infirm can be a challenging, unpleasant and stressful occupation. Not surprisingly, employee turnover in nursing homes is high – an estimated 93%.

And if you suspect nursing home neglect what then? A realistic first step is to talk not only to the residents, but to the staff and residents, families as well, if you possibly can. It may be an isolated incident of neglect, or there may be a pattern. You also have the legal right to see a copy of the latest state survey of any nursing home, according to Medicare regulations.

If you feel you need to take the matter further, every state has a department within the Department of Health which deals with the enforcement of nursing home regulations. They also investigate any complaints filed by family members. Remember, your loved one may not be able to give you the full story.

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What Are Long Term Care Insurance Leads and Can They Benefit Your Business?

Long term care insurance leads offer great potential to any insurance agent. If you aren’t familiar with these types of leads, it is best you familiarize yourself with them first. Then you can begin to take advantage of their potential through quality long term care insurance leads. This is a segment of insuring that can prove quite lucrative for a savvy agent. Long term care insurance is gaining popularity as the cost of medical care skyrockets. Most young people don’t realize its importance, but even they are beginning to see it as useful. The fact is, if you are in an accident, regardless of your age, you might be unable to work or care for yourself. This is when long term care is necessary. Indeed, anyone could benefit from it and not having it could put you in financial ruins. For these reasons, selling LTC insurance is easier than you might think, especially if you start with quality insurance leads. Although it is possible to talk anyone into a sale, it is much easier to sell a policy to someone who has demonstrated interest in a potential policy. This is where long term insurance leads come in. By using leads you gain a significant advantage. You already know the lead is interested in learning more about long term insurance, and this increases the likelihood of a policy purchase substantially. Today there are many companies that specializing in collecting lists of potential leads for a variety of different types of insurance. Purchasing leads is a quick way to increase your business, but it isn’t the only way. Just like companies that specialize in providing long term care insurance leads, you too can collect your own leads. A great way to do this is to have an opt-in section on your website that allows interested visitors to request more information. Often a person interested in long term care policies will be willing to fill out information about themselves in an effort to learn the rates they qualify for. By creating forms with relevant questions, you can start getting your own leads, and collecting pertinent information on these leads that could help you close the deal. Once you understand a little about LTC insurance and feel confident you can answer any questions that might arise, then you are ready to start selling policies. Whether you decide to purchase leads from a company specializing in their collection and sale, or you decide to collect your own long term care leads; taking advantage of quality leads will increase your sales dramatically. It is so much easier to sell a product to someone when you already know they are interested in buying it. So take advantage of insurance leads to get your business booming.

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Understanding Long Term Care Insurance

“Old age may seem a long way off. But on the day it doesn’t, it will be too late to do anything about it.”

Sooner or later, we all need help. While we age, our wisdom increases but our body decays. All over America, tens of thousands of people need regular professional care. Though it is not an eventuality for everyone, the right thing to do is to be prepared. This is where Long term care insurance comes into play. Truth is not every family can afford the kind of care that sick people might need to get through daily activities. The result is taking a sabbatical from work or worse even, dipping into retirement fund due to lack of options. We all want a cheerful and comfortable life for our families. The tax of long term care could do just the opposite.

Long term care is needed by people who are unable to perform at least two activities of daily living or need supervision while performing these activities. Though the majority of people need it due to old age, debilitating accidents, chronic diseases or a health conditions that require constant monitoring are other reasons why even young or hitherto healthy people might require long term care. Taking out a Long term care insurance policy should cover the expenses like home care, assisted living, adult day care and even nursing home in the untoward event that you need the assistance due to a physical condition or due to the complications developed in old age.

There are several options in long term care insurance through which you can choose the type of care and the maximum expenses that could occur. You can also choose the benefit period, i.e., the amount of time you will be expecting long term care. It could be anywhere between three years and ten years while there is also the option of unlimited term care. You can pay for the insurance using limited pay plans or life plans. Through limited pay plans you can choose to pay the premiums for a certain period like ten years or till you reach a certain age. Generally, people pay the cost of insurance in premiums till they retire.

Like every other insurance policy, term care insurances come with several stipulations too and one needs to be wary of these while buying one. The most important factor, however is to start on a policy as soon as possible. With age, one might develop health conditions that can increase the cost of premium or can make one ineligible for long term care insurance. Also, the cost of the premium is lesser when one is younger.

( www.vawatchdog.org ) From the NBC Nightly News, Friday February 23, 2007.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

On Sept. 2-3, 2010, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) will convene a two-day conference on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: From Mouse Models to Human Disease and Treatment. This meeting will bring together basic research scientists working on models of autoimmune disease relevant to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with clinicians treating lupus patients. There are numerous mouse models of lupus, but their relevance to the actual disorder is still a subject for debate. Moreover, since SLE is a heterogeneous disease, some features of the disorder may be better reflected in one or another mouse model.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases

Legalized Elder Abuse: Guardianships And Conservatorships

The American legal system has established “guardianships” for the specific purpose of protecting vulnerable individuals–called “wards”–when a judge or judicial officer determines that the ward’s decisionmaking capability is so impaired that another person–the “guardian”—needs to be given the right to make these decisions. A guardianship is particularly appropriate for wards who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, as well as advanced alcoholism and similar afflictions that render the person unable to care for his or her health and other needs. A “conservatorship,” twin to the guardianship, is set up to conserve the ward’s assets; the conservator acts as a custodian.

The legal obligations of the guardian and conservator. As defined above, these legal vehicles seem completely sensible and necessary. After all, people who are so incapacitated that their decisionmaking is unreliable obviously need professional assistance; left unprotected, their health and wealth are at risk. The law considers the connection between the guardian (or conservator) and the ward to be “fiduciary” in nature, a legal relationship of confidence or trust between two or more parties. Indeed, for legal purposes, a “fiduciary” duty requires the highest possible standard of care. It recognizes that the ward needs to have utmost confidence, reliance and trust in the guardian or conservator, whose aid or protection is essential. The fiduciary, therefore, is required to act at all times for the sole benefit and interests of the ward, with absolute loyalty to those interests.

The reality of guardianships and conservatorships. Unfortunately, vulnerable individuals are easy targets for the unscrupulous. Equally unfortunate is the fact that the legal system, having established these processes, frequently fails to supervise how they actually work. Not surprisingly, when there is a lack of oversight, as Elaine Renoire, a particularly experienced observer of guardianships and conservatorships, warns in her website http://www.StopGuardianAbuse.org, “(The system) operates to ensnare the most vulnerable people in a larger and larger trawling net, . . . a feeding trough for unethical lawyers and other ‘fiduciaries’ appointed by the courts to protect, but many of whom become nothing more than predators.”

Victims of guardianships and conservatorships. Ms. Renoire argues that wards are easily exploited by the system, frequently forfeiting their freedom, property, “and their very lives,” because, first, judges and court administrators fail to monitor these processes, and second, the state legislatures and the federal Congress fail to regulate legal practices. The result? According to Ms. Renoire, judges, who she claims are either “uncaring” or “corrupt,” fail to provide adequate due process to the wards, who in turn fail to get adequate notice of the proceedings that will result in the determination of their competence. Even when they are notified, Ms. Renoire reports that they are rarely defended by attorneys. And in those instances for which counsel is provided, these lawyers, again in her words, “(Are often) too closely affiliated with other professionals who make their living in this special area, and do not properly represent the victims’ interests. Corrupt judges do not apply the required evidentiary standards in (adjudicating incompetence), and frequently fail to obey the protective statutes . . .”

So, what’s the bottom line? According to http://www.StopGuardianAbuse.org, “(Guardians and conservators) are given power of life and death, burying their wards in nursing homes where they are kept chemically restrained with unnecessary and dangerous drugs; family members are denied any say in their care, and sometimes (they’re) denied visitation, except under guard at their own expense!”
Is the system abusive? Is it possible that the guardianship/conservatorship system is as flawed as is claimed? According to the February 15th, 2009 edition of the “Minneapolis Star-Tribune,” the process is at least as ineffective as Ms. Renoire believes, and can be negligent–and perhaps corrupt–in practice.
The front-page headline blares: “2 years and 2,808 gone,” with an accompanying picture of a now-smiling older lady. She’s identified as Peggy Greer, approaching her 86th birthday, four years after she and her family members battled the Minnesota judicial system to free her from a guardianship/conservatorship nightmare that cost two years of her life and drained her entire life savings–nearly 0,000.

Peggy Greer’s situation is fairly typical. In 2004, just after she turned 81, her life was in crisis. Her eldest son, a drug addict, was living with her. After suffering a back injury, she also became drug-dependent. That summer, her daughter, Judith, petitioned the local probate court to appoint her and her brother as Ms. Greer’s guardians and conservators, claiming that her mother was “suffering from dementia and chemical dependency,” rendering her “unable to arrange to her medical care,” and “unable to manager her estate (and) vulnerable to financial exploitation.” The latter claim was particularly relevant, because Peggy Greer was about to inherit a substantial amount of money.

Subsequently, a local firm was appointed as the guardian, and Wells Fargo was named as conservator. Despite the fact that her condition had improved–she was considered to be neither chemically dependent nor suffering from dementia–Ms. Greer was sent to live in a nursing home, at a cost of ,700 per month. She complained that she wanted to return to her home, but her chemically-dependent son was still living there, and the guardian refused her request to go home.

The family, realizing that at least an interim solution was required to stem the outflow of funds from the inheritance, attempted to relocate her into a less expensive assisted living facility; the guardian declined the request, arguing that “It would cost a lot to get her discharged from one nursing home and admitted to a new one when we all anticipated she would be returned to her home pretty quickly.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, that didn’t happen. The family filed a petition to replace the guardian. Legal expenses consequently skyrocketed. After a year of the conservatorship, these fees totaled at least ,000; adding in the other costs, including the nursing home rent, the 6,800 inheritance—which was one of the justifications for the conservatorship itself—was exhausted. Additional funds would be necessary.

The conservator, Wells Fargo, petitioned the court to sell Peggy Greer’s home, despite the fact that the guardian was trying to move her back into it. Nonetheless, Wells Fargo pursued the sale, claiming that “The protected person is not able to return to independent living.”

The probate judge finally agreed to a “reverse” mortgage, whereby a bank captures the equity in a home in exchange for making periodic payments that allow the homeowner to remain in the home. In the case of Ms. Greer—again, not particularly surprisingly—the bank that received the reverse mortgage was Wells Fargo.

At this point, Charles Heintz, the chemically-addicted son, died, which allowed Ms. Greer to return to her home.

Although she was able to take care of most of her own needs, she received constant, 24/7 care from a home health agency. The cost? ,000 a month! Although her nursing home doctor recommended that this assistance be discontinued, the guardian refused.

Finally, in January, 2007, the guardian agreed that this care, now totaling more than ,000, should be scaled back, a decision that neatly coincided with the liquidation of her funds. As her son described the situation, “Once the money ran out, almost to the day, suddenly the care was no longer needed.” Peggy Greer summed it up this way, “My money was all used up, was all gone, without my knowledge or OK or anything.”

The final tally, as of October, 2007, reported that the total spent on her behalf since March 2005 was 2,808. The guardian and the conservator each earned more than ,000, with the conservator earning an additional fee from the reverse mortgage. The amount owed by Ms. Greer: $ 48,388. Total assets remaining: zero.

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How to Choose a Power Wheel Chair Lift

There definitely has been a lot of progress and innovation in the recent decade when it comes to mobility devices. There have been many accessories and other gadgets designed. Those who have been struggling physically on a day to day basis can now get into their cars with ease, drive with specialized vehicle accessories and climb over a flight of stairs independently. The power wheel chair lift is a new addition to the range of technologically advanced mechanisms and has been such a great help to those who seek more convenience and comfort.

The Power Lift – The power wheel chair lift is basically a motorized lift that is self-propelled and requires electricity power to function. Because it works on electricity, the power wheel chair lift is generally a tough device that can carry considerably heavy amounts of weight.

Your Options – There are many options for you out there when it comes to planning on buying a power wheel chair lift. However, the satisfaction you expect from purchasing one really depends on whether it is most suitable for you and your lifestyle.

The first thing you need to do before choosing and buying a power wheel chair lift is to find out exactly what your specific needs are. Even those who have been helping you for quite some time now will not be able to know your specific requirements, needs and wants. Only you can figure out what is the most comfortable and convenient for you.

Find out what you already do and what other things you’d like to be able to do. Ask yourself if you spend more of your time at home. If you work from home, usually like to cook in your kitchen instead eating out, or watch over the kids, then you can focus more on the quality of the functions of a power wheel chair lift rather than on its size or weight.

Now, ask yourself what other things you’d like to try out. Perhaps would like to be outdoors, or travel more often. Other than doing the usual traveling like dropping the kids to school or going grocery shopping, think about visiting the city, riding on public transport or going on road trips. For these activities you may need to focus on how good a power wheel chair lift works as well as how compact it is in terms of weight and size.

Believe it or not, there is now a power wheel chair lift that can fold electronically into the back of a vehicle and become hidden from sight. There are also those that can be secured at the back of the vehicle so it does not move about while the vehicle is running.

Always ask the sales clerk if you are unsure about the features and capabilities of a power wheel chair lift. Don’t forget to ask about installation, as this can sometimes require an installation professional (although most lifts are fairly easy to install). Most importantly, inquire about what guarantee you have, insurance coverage and refund policies.

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Workable Alternatives To Long Term Care Insurance

Health care insurance premiums take the biggest bite out of most people’s incomes. Adding in the cost of a long term care policy just isn’t possible for most of us. Though people have tried other ways to finance these types of policies such as private funding and reverse mortgages, they have not had much success. Do we have any other options?

One possible alternative is Life insurance. To fully appreciate how this works you must understand how life insurance works. The most basic kind of life insurance is term life insurance. Your life is insured for a period of time such as 10 or 20 years. When you are no longer living your beneficiaries get the money from the policy. The policy does not have any worth other than that specific circumstance i.e. there is no cash value.

Permanent insurance, a kind of life insurance where there is a cash value has four variations – whole life, universal life, variable life and variable universal life. Whole life insurance involves paying the same premium each month and part of the premium is invested so that you accumulate some savings you can borrow against or receive if you cash in the policy. Universal life is a combination of term insurance and savings account but the difference here is you can change the amount of your life insurance. Your premium varies according to the amount of life insurance you have.

Variable Life insurance the third type of permanent life insurance gives you a greater range of choices in where to invest your money. Your death benefit depends on how well you choose your investments though there is generally a minimum death benefit. Your premium payment will remain the same. Variable universal life insurance allows you to change the amount of your death benefit and premium.

One of the alternatives to long term care insurance is to use a viatical settlement firm.A viatical settlement company can purchase your life insurance while you are still living. The settlement firm will get the money from your policy when you die and so they pay the premiums. You receive a single payment for the value of your policy while you are alive that you can choose to use for long-term care needs.

The amount that you receive from a viatical settlement company is usually 10 to 50 percent of the actual value of the policy. Your life expectancy is the prime factor in how much money you will get – the shorter your life expectancy the more money you get. Insurance experts recommend that you check with your agent regarding viatical settlement firms. Only about half of the states regulate viatical settlement companies. Even in the states that do regulate there are “bad” companies who will try to cheat you.

Another possible alternative to long term care insurance is accelerated death benefits. This is a provision that a permanent life insurance policy may have which helps in providing money to help pay for long term care. The benefit of this arrangement is that if you do not require a nursing home or in home care the policy still has a death benefit. With a conventional long term care policy if long term care is never required the money paid in premiums is gone.

Do You Need a Living Trust For Your Estate Plan? Some Points to Consider

There is much more to estate planning than simply creating a will and making your wishes known.

Part of any sound estate plan should be ensuring that your heirs face as few problems as possible, and occasionally a living trust can help carry out this goal. Using a living trust as part of an estate plan makes sense for many seniors, and it is important for anyone planning an estate to look at what living trusts have to offer.

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