Elder Care Attorney, Mindy Felinton encourages readers to take a proactive role in talking to parents about their plans for care in later life during Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month and relates that it is thought that the disease actually begins about 20 years before any signs become noticeable.
Delray Beach, FL November 18, 2019: Mindy Felinton, founder of Felinton Elder Law & Estate Planning Centers, has posted a new article on her law firm’s website entitled “Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month Reminds Me Why I Do What I Do,” in which Ms. Felinton shares two incidents that shaped her future.
Felinton writes, “My desire to work helping the elderly in a legal capacity began a long time ago.” She continues adding, “In effect, the seeds for my career were planted years ago when the phone rang, and, upon answering I heard the panic-stricken voice of my friend on the line. She was terrified that she was going to lose her home because of the devastating cost of her husband’s nursing home care.” “Another dear friend,” says Felinton, “sought my advice when she discovered that her husband had early onset Alzheimer’s.”
According to Felinton, “I’ll never forget how my journey began, especially during this month that is dedicated to Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness. This is a time that I am reminded once again of how quickly and easily families can be devastated by this and other diseases if they have no plan in place and no one to turn to for guidance.” Felinton points out, “I continually have prospective clients come to my offices whose elderly, and sometimes not so elderly parents are in the grips of late stage Alzheimer’s.” She continues adding, “These are circumstances where there has been no communication between parents and their adult children about the future. The what if questions were never asked. What if something were to happen? What if I were to suddenly become ill and not be able to make decisions anymore? What if I were to get into an accident, be suddenly killed or permanently disabled, who would care for me?” She further elaborates, “Parents have been so busy taking care of their children that their own future needs are all too often not even considered. Most people tend to forget about their own long-term health care needs in favor of more immediate needs and desires.”
“The adult children,” writes Felinton, “who have children and busy lives of their own, are typically caught up and have not been able to turn their attention fully to their parents. So signs of dementia may go unnoticed during short visits or phone calls.” As she points out, “So this disease tends to sneak up on families. And when elderly parents can no longer make important legal decisions due to mental decline, the adult children are suddenly thrown into a position of having to figure things out. It can be very disconcerting and chaotic. But there are solutions.”
The entire article can be read at https://www.felintonlaw.com/alzheimers-disease-awareness-month-reminds-me-why-i-do-what-i-do/
About Mindy Felinton
From a young age, Mindy wanted to be the voice that would make an impact in people’s lives. She became an attorney and has practiced law for over 30 years, so that she could fulfill her desire to help others. As a special prosecutor, Mindy defended the underdog (literally) in cases of animal abuse. As a state attorney in Florida she fought for justice. During the last 25 years, Mindy met many wonderful people who did not know their rights, did not understand the law, and did not know what options were available.
Mindy assists families with Medicaid planning to help with the cost of nursing home care and with obtaining veteran’s benefits to make the cost of care more manageable. She also prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives. Mindy is passionate about educating both other professionals and the public concerning VA Aid & Attendance benefits, Medicaid benefits, and the use of trusts for the protection of assets. She shares her experience and professional knowledge through free workshops, and as a frequent lecturer at State Bar Conferences.