As part of our quest to help families with their aging loved ones, our team recently took the Advanced Care Planning facilitator course offered by Project Grace.  This class, as part of the Gundersen Health System, was designed to help social workers, doctors, attorneys and hospice staffs talk to their patients/clients about correctly implementing advanced directives.  Although I have been practicing law for almost 13 years, I found the class to be extremely rewarding.

An advanced directive is a class of documents that work together to help people when they are incapacitated or dying.  These documents generally include living wills, healthcare surrogates, do not resuscitate orders and more.  Although I am on the Project Grace board of directors and have talked to clients for years about their living wills, it is only now that I have learned the best way to help my clients, and their families, to openly discuss their healthcare concerns so that their wishes are followed in difficult times.

Before the class started, we had six on-line modules to complete. The modules revolved around current issues with advanced directives, effective ways to communicate with families, problems with living wills, implementing good systems and more. While some of the modules were geared more towards hospital/nursing home social workers, the learning was great fun, interesting and rewarding.  Taking the class with the Project Grace facilitators was even more interesting.

Starting bright and early at the Suncoast Hospice Garden House in Clearwater, we had our full day session on advanced directives training.  We watched some amazing videos on end-of-life wishes, had good discussion with the other attendees and had great role playing through mock interviews with each other.  Most of the discussions helped us learn how to correctly talk to people about creating and communicating their end of life wishes. The session provided us great scripts on how to talk to our clients about living wills and how they should involve their families in the process.

One of the most important things I learned was that living wills and healthcare surrogates are about much more than the legal aspects that I had focused on. The real goal is to make sure that our clients have correctly expressed their wishes to their family members and that the family will follow their end-of-life wishes, even if they disagree with them. Talking to people about these matters is, to say the least, an art and not a science.

I know that Donna, our community liaison, and Joy, our elder care coordinator, learned a lot and, like myself, cannot wait to take this into our practices.  We frequently help our clients in end-of-life decision making and we want to be the best we can in this difficult time.

Thank you to Tracy Christner, Karen Milne and the rest of Suncoast Hospice for offering this tremendous learning program to our community.

Topics for this informative workshop will include:

• Estate Planning Checkup
• Power of Attorney Update
• Medicaid and Veterans Benefits
• End of Life Decision Making
• Assistance with Care Givers

“Rep” DeLoach is uniquely qualified to help educate the St Petersburg community on Elder Law and Elder Care Law as one of very few Board Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Florida. “Rep” has a passion for working with seniors and educating both seniors directly and their families on how to properly plan for the “Golden Years”.

Activity is what helps slow the aging process for seniors.

As a certified elder law attorney I speak to many people are worried that once their loved one enters an elder care facility they will become bored and potentially resentful of being place in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The best way I have found to combat boredom in seniors is to explore the many ways to keep them active, no matter where they live. Seniors have spent their lives being active with their careers, families, hobbies, and sports. It is important to maintain a safe level of activity once a senior is unable to take part in those things they once enjoyed. Talking about keeping your loved one moving and socializing is easy, but I know that finding a way to keep your elderly parent or family member active is often difficult.

Find Activities The Interest Your Loved One

To start your search for finding safe and fun activities think about what you know about their passions and interests. Look for facilities that offer activities that they may be interested in and then explore the many things to do in their area. Our sunny and warm Florida weather allows for quite a few senior activities to run year round. Even in bad weather, there are so many things for seniors to do you can find something to keep them busy.

Ideas For Keeping Seniors Active In The Tampa Bay Area

Senior Centers – There are many senior centers in Pinellas, Manatee, and Hillsborough counties. Below are links to sites listing senior centers in the area and the entire state of Florida:

• Hillsborough County
• Pinellas County
• Full List Of Florida Senior Centers

Activities For Seniors – There are many organizations that offer activities for seniors. Below are just a few of the potential opportunities for aging people to stay active:

• Tampa Life Enrichment Center offers many activities from art to exercise and field trips.
• Tampa Parks and Recreation has many classes and trips designed for people over 50.
• The Heroing Club is an opportunity to volunteer through a Meetup group whose mission is to help people in need.
• Senior Wheels offers transportation to all sorts of places including to activities, shopping and visits to the barber or beauty salon.
• Manatee Memorial Hospital has volunteer opportunities and a Senior Advantage Program with many activities for seniors.
• There are many museums, art galleries, and theaters in the area that also have volunteer opportunities.

Choosing The Right Facility Is The Key To Senior Activity

No matter which activities your loved one participates in, the most important step is to choose an elder care facility that has many opportunities for it’s residents to get active and socialize. In a follow-up article I will talk about what activities to look for in a nursing home and how to ensure that a senior has the best opportunity for happiness. No matter how many tips you get, finding a nursing home or assisted living facility that you trust to care for your parent or loved one can be time consuming and difficult. My life care planning team and I are always ready to help you make this difficult decision. Contact me, Rep DeLoach, today to learn about how the elder law and life care planning services at DeLoach + Hofstra can help you and your loved one find a facility that is a perfect place to stay healthy, happy, and active. It’s easy to get in touch, 24 hours a day, by either filling out the form to the right or by calling 855.835.5502. I look forward to helping you and your loved through this potentially difficult and stressful stage of life.

We help many people with aging parents choose great nursing homes and elder care facilities to provide for their parents, as they grow older. While we know which nursing homes to avoid, some people choose facilities on their own that neglect or abuse the seniors they are supposed to be caring for. In fact, one CBS news report showed that approximately one-third of nursing home and elder care facilities, have received warnings or citations for abusing the elderly. If you suspect, or know, that one of your parents or loved ones has been abused or neglected by the staff of a nursing home it is time to contact an elder lawyer or personal injury lawyer.

The types of Nursing Home Abuse

We have represented many nursing home residents that have been abused either physically or mentally. Unreasonable restraining practices, sexual assault, battery, and choking are all types of physical abuse that have occurred in nursing homes. The most common types of emotional abuse that occur in nursing homes are humiliation, threats, or insults. While emotional and physical abuse are the most common, other types of abuse also occur including failure to provide or improperly providing medications, neglect of patients, withholding or not providing adequate food, and occasionally theft and financial exploitation.

What To Watch For

There are some common warning signs of nursing home abuse.

• Cuts, bruises, or scratches
• Unusual hair loss.
• Rapid weight loss
• Poorly or unexplained injuries
• Bad hygiene
• Unnoticed and uncared for bedsores
• Multiple infections

Reduce The Potential For Abuse

The best way to reduce the potential for abuse is to do your homework before choosing a care facility for your  parent. In a previous article, we discussed how to choose a great nursing home. Some of the things we mentioned that you should look for when evaluating a nursing home are:

• Is the facility clean? A dirty facility may indicate a lack of care and attention to detail but do not expect any facility to be perfectly clean.
• Are the other residents happy? A lack of smiling from the other patients is a sign of potential abuse.
• What is the food like? Visit during meal times so you can evaluate the nutritional quality and the quantity of food offered to the residents
• Is the staff friendly? Talk to as many staff members as possible to get a feel for how the nursing home’s employees feel about their employer and the residents.

If Abuse Has Already Occurred, Get Help Today

Florida elder and personal injury law gives the residents of elder care facilities and nursing home residents a number of rights when it comes to abuse and neglect. A Lawyer who specializes in Florida personal injury law, like myself, or Florida elder law, like “Rep” DeLoach, are your best bet to protect your parents or loved ones. We understand the elder and injury laws that are specific to Florida. Our team can also help you transfer your loved one to a new facility with a great track record. Contact us today by calling 855.835.5502 or filling out the form to the right. No other lawyers will fight harder to protect your parents or loved ones rights.

“Rep” DeLoach is uniquely qualified to help educate the St Petersburg community on Elder Law and Elder Care Law as one of very few Board Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Florida. “Rep” has a passion for working with seniors and educating both seniors directly and their families on how to properly plan for the “Golden Years”.

Be sure to join “Rep” DeLoach at Oak Manor on Thursday, May 10th at 11am.

Used with persmission from www.caring.com

Finding a Florida based dementia or Alzheimer care facility that affordably cares for your family member in the way they deserve can be almost impossible without some knowledge and research. Over the years I have learned a number of tricks in how to help my clients get the best care possible. While many people feel that the only way to ensure their loved one is cared for properly is to use in home care, the costs, both tangible and intangible, associated with 24 hour 1-on-1 care is usually prohibitive. I have helped hundreds of people create life care plans for their loved ones who are experiencing the onset of dementia, only one has chosen to use in home care. Since in home care is usually not possible, the question becomes how do you choose a facility to provide your parent, grandparent, sibling, or other family member with great long-term dementia or Alzheimer’s care.

Evaluating A Care Facility

My experience has provided me with many insights in how to evaluate potential facilities in Florida for the proper care of the dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. The first thing to keep in mind is to start the process as soon as possible, before there is a critical need for it. You should try to involve your loved one as much as you possibly can to help them become more comfortable with where they may eventually live. It is important to keep in mind that, even if a facility may say that it has the ability to care for Alzheimer or dementia patients, they may not actually have everything necessary to care for your loved one’s special needs.

Starting Your Search For Quality Care

The State of Florida’s Nursing Home Guide is a good place to start your search for a facility, but do not use their ratings as the only, or most important, part of your decision. Once you have a list of two or three facilities, you need to visit each facility, both announced and unannounced, during both days and nights and on weekdays and weekends. It is very important to see the entire facility and make sure you visit at least once during a mealtime.

Pay Attention To The Details

During your visits to each facility you should evaluate it based on many specific factors.  Some individual needs, like your loved one’s propensity to wander, make it difficult to tell you the specific points to observe, however I have found that each of the hundreds of evaluation items fall into a few broad categories. These categories include:

• Quality of Care
• Standard of Service
• Quality of Food
• Social Interactions
• Amount of Participation by Residents
• Staff Quality
• Environmental Factors
• Accessibility
• Suitability to Your Family Member
• Affordability

Make The Daunting Task Easier

While choosing a dementia or Alzheimer’s care facility can sometimes become overwhelming there are people who can help you. A lawyer who focuses on elder care and life planning, like myself, is usually the best place to get assistance in placing a loved one in long-term care. Not only does my team of compassionate life care specialists and I help you place your loved one in the best facility possible, we also can help you ensure that the costs are as low as possible and that there will always be funds available to pay for their extended care. We will also help guide you away from any facilities that, in our experience, have had questionable care in the past. To get help in placing your family member in a dementia or Alzheimer care facility contact us today by completing the form to the right or by calling 855.835.5502 and asking for “Rep” DeLoach. My team and I look forward to speaking with you about your individual needs and answering your specific questions. Contact us today.

Florida DUI Law For Drugs

Florida law is complex and not totally black and white when it comes to driving under the influence of marijuana. According to Florida statute 316.1934 a person is under the influence of a chemical substance when their normal functioning is impaired. It goes on to define normal functioning to include the things that a person does every day including the ability to judge distance, make judgments, walk, see, hear, and most importantly drive an automobile. In a nutshell, if the drug a person has taken negatively affects their ability to do the things they could do when not under the influence they are considered to be in violation of the law.

A Drivers Liability In Marijuana Related Accidents

In Florida if a person is found to be driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, they may be liable for any personal injuries they cause to other people. In fact, a driver’s liability when DUI is even higher than in an ordinary car accident. If the driver is a teenager, their parents may be held responsible for the injuries their child causes. In some cases, even if their child is in college the parents can be held responsible.

Marijuana Car Accident Personal Injury Cases Are Complex

Due to the incredibly complex nature of liability in Florida, a personal injury case stemming from an accident caused by a person driving under the influence of marijuana can be lengthy and complicated. If you or a loved one has been injured in a DUI accident you need to contact an experienced Florida personal injury DUI attorney. Any DUI accident case that also involves personal injuries  has the potential to be lengthy and complicated. A personal injury lawyer helps to make the process quicker and easier for you to manage. If you are in the Tampa Bay area, contact Paul Cavonis at the DeLoach + Hofstra law firm now by filling out the form to the right or by calling 855-835-5502. His vast experience representing injured people in Florida means that he will help you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible. You deserve restitution for your injuries and their effects on your life. Paul is ready to help you today.

A veteran who has served at least 90 days of active duty with one day in a time of war is eligible for VA benefits (with a few caveats). Benefits are also available to the veteran’s un-remarried surviving spouse. VA benefits follow two general categories, Compensation and Pension. Compensation helps those veterans who were injured in duty. Pension is available to help needy veterans (and the surviving spouse) with extraordinary medical costs. We mostly deal with Pension benefits in our practice.

When we meet with clients, we are often thrilled when we learn about their VA eligibility. Pension benefits can make a world of difference with the elderly, especially in paying for in-home care and assisted living benefits. Pension, which many generally refer to as “Aid and Attendance” can pay up to $2,019/month for a married veteran, $1,703 for a single veteran and $1,094/month for the veteran’s surviving spouse. To say the least, these funds can make the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living stay.

Pension (and Aid and Attendance) are needs-based programs – veterans and spouses with extra resources need not apply. To further complicate matters, the VA generally does not publish the maximum asset levels the applicant may have in order to be eligible for benefits. The asset levels allowed are based upon the applicant’s out-of-pocket medical expenses and life expectancy. Many cite the asset levels at $80,000 but that is not accurate and can only be determined on an individual case basis.

Remember, if you or your aging loved one need help staying home longer or with paying for assisted living costs, VA benefits may just be the way to go. Contact our Life Care Planning Team at 727-835-5502, or by completing the form to the right, to setup your initial consultation and explore what options may be right to care for you or your loved one during the golden years.

The Long Term Effects Of Severe Injuries

Typically a permanent injury is something that has required extensive medical treatments. Usually the victim experiences grave and lasting effects on their life. Occasionally a permanent injury can leave the injured person in horrible pain or permanently disabled. In the worst cases injuries may even reduce the length of the victim’s life. To prove a permanent injury has occurred the burden of proof involves demonstrating that the physical limitations of the injuries are long term. The physical limitation must cause a significant, and separate, amount of financial loss from the short-term medical care required to stabilize the victim.

The Causes Of Permanent & Catastrophic Injuries

An automobile is involved in a large number of the permanent injury cases that I handle. I have helped many Floridians who have been permanently injured due to a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. In some cases the victim was a pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle. I have also helped elderly victims of a property owner’s negligence who have slipped and fallen, causing severe injuries that lead to large changes in lifestyle. In a few cases I even have helped people who have received horrible and disfiguring injuries from a vicious dog.

Get Legal Help For You Or Your Loved One Today

If you or a loved one has become permanently or severely injured due to no fault of their own, you need advice from a personal injury lawyer who has helped many people receive the compensation they deserve. DeLoach + Hofstra is always ready to help you, and I will always be available to help those who have been wrongfully injured by someone else. In the Tampa Bay area you won’t find better legal assistance for your catastrophic or long term personal injury case. Contact me, Paul Cavonis, by completing the form to the right or by calling 855.835.5502 to get your free initial consultation. I will ensure that you or your loved one receives the most aggressive and compassionate legal assistance in Florida.

“Rep” DeLoach is uniquely qualified to help educate the St Petersburg community on Elder Law and Elder Care Law as one of very few Board Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Florida. “Rep” has a passion for working with seniors and educating both seniors directly and their families on how to properly plan for the “Golden Years”.

Be sure to join “Rep” DeLoach at Allegro on Thursday, April 12th at 11am.