If you or someone you love has a disability, an ABLE (Achieving Better Life Experience) account is a great way to make life better. Start 2019 off with the Basics on ABLE United webinar and learn why more than 2,700 Floridians have become account holders and have contributed more than $14 million to their accounts – building assets for a better future. Wednesday, January 16, 6:30 – 7 P.M. ET Thursday, January 17, 12:00 – 12:30 P.M. ET Saturday, January 19, 9:00 – 9:30 A.M. ET Monday, January 21, 11 – 11:30 A.M. ET Enroll |
|---|
FOCUS ON BRAIN HEALTH IN 2019
As an Elder Law attorney, I see the devastating emotional and financial effects of cognitive decline in my clients and their families. My own father died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2014. While other major diseases are on the decline, Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive impairments are on the rise.
Alzheimer’s is currently the 6th (and may be as high as the 3rd due to massive under-reporting ) leading cause of death in the United States.
At least 47 million people worldwide currently live with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, it’s predicted this form of dementia will plague 135.5 million people across the globe.
In 2016, Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, neurologists specializing in brain health and Alzheimer’s Disease prevention at Loma Linda University Medical Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Hospital published “The Alzheimer’s Solution,” which prescribes a healthy lifestyle, including factors such as nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, adequate sleep, and optimization, (thier NEURO protocol) to make the greatest impact on preventing degenerative brain disease.
You can listen to them explain why on Rich Roll’s podcast and get the book here.
The Alzheimer’s Association® publishes an annual report revealing the burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation’s health care system. You can read it here. Join me in 2019 to take steps to keep your mind healthy.
Call our office today to set up a time to talk, to learn more, or to get help if you or someone you love is struggling with cognitive decline, or a recent diagnosis of dementia or other cognitive disease.
Before 2018 Ends: Five Estate Planning Tasks to Realistically Complete
The year is coming to an end at a blistering speed. Hanukkah has come and gone, and Christmas will be a mere memory in no time, then the New Year will be here willy-nilly. Even though you think there may not be time to do some end of year planning, here are 5 things you can do that may not bring peace on earth, but that will serve to give you a measure of security and peace of mind this chaotic time of year:
- 1. Review your beneficiaries – call you agent, look online, or at your documents to make sure that your life insurance policies and retirement accounts, CDs and other accounts name the correct beneficiaries. Pro-tip – if you make a change, keep a copy of the form you send and proof of when you sent it. Make sure you obtain written confirmation the change has been made.
- 2. Inventory your possessions – You have a phone, right? That phone has a camera you can take videos with, correct? Well get it out and walk around your house, room by room, filming and talking about what is important to you in each room, and how much it’s worth or how much you paid for it. Just like that you will have created a catalogue to protect you in case of theft, fire, flood, or here in Florida, hurricane.
- 3. Have a family meeting – This is almost a no brainer. Family gathers together at the holidays. You will more than likely be sitting around the table enjoying good food, swapping stories, and reminiscing. Why not talk about your planning as well? Depending on your situation, age, or stage in life, there is always something relevant to your estate plan to convey to your loved ones, whether it’s who wants the family silver, where you want to be buried, or reassuring children that you plan to spend their inheritance so they had better start saving for retirement ASAP.
- 4. Catalogue digital assets – Many don’t think of it this way, but any online accounts you have, from Audible to Zillow, and all of your online banking and buying in between, are digital assets. You’ll probably have some time off. You might be online. Take sometime to think about who you want to handle these if something happens to you, and who you want to have access to these accounts. Many states, including Florida, have laws pertaining to digital assets and how they should be handled.
- 5. Consider other options – Do you have a will? If so, you may want to learn about the flexibility and the benefits of a trust. You may not have time to take action, but you can learn more about making your estate plan as effective as it can be.
The end of the year is one of the best times to review your estate plan with an eye toward making changes for the better.
Don’t put off changes that need to be made. The sooner you take action, the sooner you’ll feel better about your current situation and the future well-being of your loved ones.
“Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Dylan Thomas (1915-1953)
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
As 2018 comes to a close, remember to keep pursuing your dreams, keep moving, never give up on your health, and that every day can be New Year’s Day.
Born Apart – Beautiful Video!
The only difference between them is 4.36 seconds. #NationalSiblingsDay
Posted by Special Olympics on Monday, April 10, 2017