Cases of dementia are rising at an alarming rate, creating a public health crisis. At some point, most of us will either know someone living with dementia or someone who is caring for a person with the disease. As advisors, we must become proactive and purposeful by learning about dementia…
People are living longer, so we need to consider that they may not be able to live at home alone because of poor mobility or diminished capacity. So, planning where one wants to live should be at the core of one’s lifestyle plan. Families often suggest retirement home living when…
Ageing is a hot topic in the news this summer as the US presidential campaign ramps up. Our family was in town for the Fourth of July holiday, and invariably, the conversation turned to aging, working, and when to retire. With people living longer and in good health, many people…
On June 20, 2024, I attended the annual Ontario Bar Association’s Elder Law Day, where several informative presentations noted the rise in personal care disputes. Speakers also explored approaches that lawyers might consider to manage these disputes. The presentations triggered me to write about common issues we see related to…
There are three truisms behind care disputes. Every caregiving situation is unique. Conflicts arise when making difficult care decisions. There is no one care solution or dispute resolution that suits all cases. To complicate matters further, the cost of care can easily escalate, and privatization of health care is expanding….
Managing the care of an older person can be one of the most challenging situations ever undertaken by a family or group of friends. And it is normal for some conflict to arise over the health and personal care needs and the many ways to address those needs. No two…
May is National Caregiver Month in Canada and with the spotlight on caregiving, a perfect storm is brewing. Caregivers glue together our fragmented health care and social care services. They provide the majority of care as well. Did you know that more health care occurs in the home than elsewhere?…
April is Parkinson’s Awareness month. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s that affects the brain and cognitive function. While care management for Alzheimer’s and other dementias often gets more visibility, Parkinson’s disease can be just as complex to manage. With an aging population, the incidence…
Recently, I returned for my fourth annual presentation to a group of older gentlemen about planning for the last decade of life. With more than fifty in the audience each year, the participants are a good cross-section of men in their 80s. They are a lively, well-informed group of retired…
As planners working with elderly clients and their families, we encourage people to plan their lives until the end of life and document their wishes for the care of their body after death. People often express their wish to return to a rural community for burial. However, since the COVID…