Sonya’s 75-year-old mom Louise began to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease in 2006. She was forgetful, confused, and agitated. One morning she rang her neighbor’s bell at 6 in the morning looking for her daughter. Another time she left her stove on. Some neighbors called the fire department because they smelled gas.
It became apparent to Sonya that something had to be done. My Elder Advocate was called in to evaluate Louise’s situation and develop a plan for the short term and for the long term.
Using the MEA Needs Evaluation we determined that we had a lot of work to do. Louise had given her daughter Power Of Attorney. Louise also had a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy with clear instructions. We also realized that we did not have a correct diagnosis. We recommended that she see a Geriatric Specialist who, based upon extensive testing and in consultation with other specialists, diagnosed Louise with Alzheimer’s disease.
Louise was started on a drug and therapy program. She also attended a day program for Alzheimer’s sufferers at a local hospital that provided many specialized and innovative programs.
Our Elder Law Attorney had Louise’s $500,000 home and other assets transferred to Sonya who transferred it all into an irrevocable trust. The attorney also filed an application for community Medicaid (NY) that provided home health care for Louise. Two years later Louise was admitted to the Dementia unit in an assisted living facility where she stayed until her death in 2010.
