Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning - November 2021

Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning - November 2021

Peace of Mind Post

WHY THANKSGIVING IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR YOUR ESTATE PLAN NOVEMBER 2021 Time to Talk

It goes like this: Would you want this person at your Thanksgiving table? If you would invite the person you want to name in your estate plan as your durable power of attorney or will executor to Thanksgiving, then you’re likely making the right choice in designating them as such. If you wouldn’t invite them, you may need to rethink your choice. How clever is that? Admittedly, I use this question all the time (with credit to my colleague, of course), but at Trinity Elder Law, we also ask our clients to consider a few other factors. Namely, what we often remind our clients is that naming someone in your estate plan isn’t like handing them a prize. You’re not awarding someone for what they have done; you are assigning them a job to do tasks in the future. Serving as someone’s power of attorney or another designation can take a lot of time and requires a strong attention to detail and the ability to make difficult decisions. Who you choose to fill these roles should be based on a person’s individual traits and strengths — not family obligation. For example, we have clients whose daughter is in the medical industry and whose son works in finance. It’s obvious which roles they chose for their children in their estate plan! Their daughter will make medical decisions, and their son will handle the finances. But it’s not always this clear-cut. You have to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the people you are considering for these roles, discuss

As crazy as it sounds, the part of Thanksgiving I’m most looking forward to is the ham.

I know, I know, it doesn’t make a lot of sense at face value. But I just don’t like turkey! So, every year, we have ham, and it’s one of my favorite dishes at the table. Food aside, I’m also grateful that we can experience a more normal Thanksgiving compared to last year’s holiday. The ability to gather with my loved ones — albeit in a very small celebration — will feel great and be very relaxing. However, it’s not just ham and family that I think about when I reflect on Thanksgiving. I’m also reminded of a helpful quip a peer in the legal field uses to help her clients decide who to name in their estate plans.

the responsibilities, and ensure both of you understand this is a job, not a prize.

Thanksgiving can be the perfect time to discuss your estate plan decisions with your loved ones or to update those involved in your plans about any changes. While you should avoid doing this during dinner, find time before or afterward to make sure there are no surprises about the next steps should you become incapacitated or if you should pass on. It’s not uncommon that our office fields a lot of calls between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Often, parents have these discussions with their adult children when everyone can be together and because Thanksgiving doesn’t come with the added responsibilities, craziness, and pressure of Christmas. It really is the perfect time for these discussions. This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll make time for important discussions you need to have with your loved ones. I hope you’ll find peace in these discussions, and that whatever you put on your plate this holiday, it’s a meal you can enjoy with those you love most.

Happy Thanksgiving!

–Julie Anderson

November is still a great time to get outside!

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TAKE CONTROL OF A

OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK IMPROVING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH ONE STEPAT A TIME Almost everyone at some point has encountered a task that is seemingly simple, but no matter what they do, they can’t complete it. These tasks can be as straightforward as making the bed or something bigger, like cleaning an entire room. For many, this is an obstacle that they may want to do but can’t, which weighs heavily on them and becomes detrimental to their mental health. It’s important to understand that the impossible task is not a sign of laziness; depression and anxiety can make any task feel much bigger and more difficult than it actually is. If you find yourself unable to do the things you need or want to do, try these techniques to help overcome your obstacles.

3 Steps to B

A dementia diagnosis can be extremely troubling for patients and their families. This degenerative disease has physical, emotional, and mental complications, leaving families feeling helpless. However, you can manage a dementia diagnosis with proper legal, financial, and medical planning, ensuring that you’re prepared for wherever a memory loss diagnosis takes you and your family.

Save this checklist for easy estate planning after a dementia diagnosis to stay in control.

Step No. 1: Consider Your Options

Because Alzheimer’s is so well-known and diagnosed, there are tons of research and resources available. Start your search with the Alzheimer’s Association at Alz.org. There, you can find more information about your loved one’s disease and options for care. Discuss opportunities like medical trials, living situations, caregiving needs, and other potential avenues you may have to explore with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. For instance, can you afford an at-home caregiver, or would a memory care facility fit the budget? Weigh your options and create tentative plans, but don’t forget about the person actually living with dementia. Ultimately, it’s their choice. Kind Words FROM OUR CLIENTS Online reviews are one of the best ways for you to help us help others! We would greatly appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google or Facebook if our team has helped you in any way. the emotions of these situations and are experts at the laws involved. I am so very grateful for their help with mom and dad’s planning.” -LuAnn C. “Julie and her team are caring, smart, and basically amazing. They understand

Break up the task. When the overarching task feels daunting, breaking it up into smaller segments can help you manage it. If you’re cleaning the

kitchen, clean for only a few minutes at a time before taking a break. It might take longer, but the space will be clean at the end of the day. Make the task more enjoyable. Play music or involve your pet in some way to make the task fun or

create a reward system for yourself. For example, tidying a specific area of the house or folding a basket of laundry may earn you time to play video games or watch TV. Alternating tasks and rewards is a great way to overcome any task, big or small.

It can help to consider why the task feels so impossible, especially if you used to enjoy it. Try to remember what made it enjoyable and see if you can return to that state of mind. If the objective is not so urgent, determine its importance and if the task can be saved for another day. When all else fails, you can always ask someone for support or even pay someone else to do the task for you. No matter what you decide, there are ways to defeat the impossible task.

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DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS

3 THANKSGIVING DISHES THAT CAN COMBAT AGING

Being Prepared

Step No. 2: Create or Update a Living Will

You may already have legal directives for your medical wishes should you become incapacitated and unable to make these decisions. But an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is grounds for updating this document. For example, you may reconsider who you have named as your durable powers of attorney for your financial and medical needs. Remember, these roles are not prizes; they are responsibilities and should be given to someone you can rely on given what you know about your health after a diagnosis.

Many of us would like to turn back the cruel hands of time, and every year, people spend gobs of money to try to do just that. But here’s the truth: You can’t reverse aging. You can only slow it down and combat the symptoms that come with aging, like dry skin, aching joints, and weakened immunity.

And we’re approaching one of the most anti-aging-rich meals of the season: Thanksgiving. Here are the foods you should try to reap the timeless benefits from.

Step No. 3: Regularly Update Your Estate Plan

Dementia is a progressive disease, and a patient’s needs will change rapidly. As such, regular check-ins with your attorney may be necessary. This will allow for updates as needed, creating an estate plan that best serves the needs of today. Furthermore, partnering with an attorney who understands the complexities of a dementia diagnosis and your family’s situation can make this process easier and quickly done. Our team at Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning has helped many families navigate the legal complications of dementia. If you have questions, please contact us today.

Cranberries

These tiny bog fruits can work wonders for your waste system while also helping you avoid inflammation. Cranberries fight and prevent urinary tract infections, which can become more common as you age. This bitter fruit has also been known to reduce your risk of developing diseases that are often caused by inflammation, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Be mindful though — canned cranberries contain a lot of sugar, which can outweigh the benefits. Opt for homemade sauce, which is very easy to make and can be made with healthier sweetener alternatives.

Sweet Potatoes

Superfood alert! Sweet potatoes are rich in nutrients to fight against aging ailments. Beta carotene — the compound that makes a sweet potato orange — and phytochemicals, which are plant-based nutrients, are naturally occurring antioxidants that can prevent common diseases, including cancers. Sweet potatoes are also beneficial for those with digestive concerns and diabetes because they are rich in fiber. Much like the cranberry, be mindful of how much sugar should be added to achieve a sweet potato’s benefits.

Easy Cranberry-Apple Salad

Inspired by CookieAndKate.com

Ingredients

For the dressing: • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 1/2 tsp honey • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • Salt and pepper to taste

For the salad: • 1/4 cup dried pumpkin seeds • 5 cups salad mix • 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped into bite-size pieces • 1/3 cup dried cranberries • 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled

Turkey

Yes, the star of the Thanksgiving table can be beneficial to combating anti-aging! Depending on the cut of the turkey, it can help regulate thyroid function, balance metabolism, and, (with the help of its zinc content) prevent or fight off diseases. Like the other foods on this list, be mindful of how you eat turkey to avoid canceling out all the good it has. For example, processed turkey can be loaded with sodium, and drowning it in gravy may not be healthy.

Directions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the pumpkin seeds until fragrant, then set aside. 2. In a small jar or bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients, then set aside. 3. Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing until lightly coated, then toss and serve!

For healthy alternatives and recipes that reap aging benefits, visit FoodNetwork.com.

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INSIDE This Issue

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How Thanksgiving Can Help You With Your Estate Plan

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Overcoming the Impossible Task

Your Dementia Planning Checklist: 3 Steps to Being in Control

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These 3 Thanksgiving Foods Combat Aging! Easy Cranberry-Apple Salad

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Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner

BY DIALING 911 How One Dog Saved His Owner Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, roll over, play dead. But how about “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command BY DIALING 911

Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure. A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.

for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life.

Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a

military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a

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