Elder Care Newsletter

Many of these issues can a sign of a
problem with cognitive functioning
An early sign to the family of an elder who has Alzheimer's is often poor money management. An elder, who normally pays their bills on time, will start to miss payments with the first stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Stockpiling bills can be the result of a more innocuous issue such

Hoarding and stockpiling

as problems with eyesight. If one's eyes are not functioning properly, it may just be too difficult to read correspondence. Not paying bills might be a sign of depression. Some older adults just feel like giving up. Most people don't go the extra step to understand why things like this happen.

If there is expired food in the pantry maybe your loved one is not getting enough nutrition. Logically, if he or she is getting to the grocery store on a regular basis, the food would not be expired. Has depression set in and the will to live vanish? Did a neighbor who once took him or her to the store move or die? If there a memory issues, along with poor money management, in the early stages of Alzheimer's many individuals forget to eat and do not maintain good hygiene.

On the flip side, many older adults hoard food (and other items). To an elderly person who has faced more than his share of tough life experiences, the security of being surrounded by belongings provides an element of control in his environment. The elder who has suffered a personal tragedy - the loss of a spouse, for example - may give in to hoarding to try and stop the emotional pain. The newly retired elder may also feel insecure about the future, where he will live and if he will have enough to eat.

It goes without saying that if a loved one still lives at home, it should be evaluated to ensure that it does not pose risks of tripping or falling. My book, "Susan B. Geffen's Essential Book of Elder Care Forms" covers all of these issues and is an organic way of starting the conversation with a reluctant parent and to get important paperwork organized. There are over 15 forms and 44 pages in the book, and they are ALL essential!

Ask yourself, "Are all all of mom and dad's important documents and contact information in order? This book is a must for everyone! It took me over 24 months to put it together. Just fill-out the forms and you can feel confident that you have everything organized and ready when you need them. The price is $29. Once its complete, its priceless!

To order (it makes for a great holiday gift for those you really care about) just email us and be sure to mention the title of the book, how many you want, and your address. We will contact you to arrange payment by credit card or check. "click here" to email us.

My other book, "The Seven Triggers of Mental Health Decline in Seniors and How to Disarm Them Forever," is a great gift for yourself or a loved one who is suffering from age-related depression. It is positive, educational, and instructive about ways to avoid or overcome age related depression. The price is $24.95. To order, just email us and be sure to mention the title of the book, how many you want, and your address. We will contact you to arrange payment by credit card or check. "click here" to email us.

Wills and Trusts

If you are a parent, please have a will or trust done. This is the best gift you can give to your children. If something happens to you, you can ensure that no one, not a relative nor the courts will fight over who should care for them.

If you are an older adult with grown children, it is important to make sure that your "end of life" wishes are clearly spelled out and who is to carry them out. If you have do not want your estate to go through a two year, costly probate, create a trust now! You will be glad you did.

In the holiday spirit, for those of you who do not already have an estate plan, I have attached a HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATE valued at $500.00 which you can use towards my estate planning services. All I ask is that you make an appointment by December 31, 2010 and use it by March 2011.

I probably will not be writing another newsletter before the end of the year, so let me wish you a great one now. I truly care about all of you and with this final Newsletter of 2010, I blanket you with LOVE.