For the first time in the history of the legal profession, a new breed of lawyers has emerged in the field of dementia-focused law. According to the World Health Organization, currently 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases every year. Dementia-focused law firms are more than just compassionate attorneys; they also have a clear purpose. They help to solve the difficult legal and financial problems associated with this growing condition, so families can focus on spending time with and caring for their loved one.
Choosing the Right Skilled Nursing Facility
When helping your loved one with dementia put a plan in place, it is important to look for an elder law attorney that can help place your loved one into the right senior care facility. This attorney needs to know the best planning options for your loved one, how to get them qualified for Medicaid if needed, how to protect their assets, and they need to be familiar with the local senior care facilities. It is very likely your loved one with dementia may need to be placed into a skilled nursing facility, and you want to work with an attorney that can point you in the right direction for facilities that will give your loved one the care they deserve and meet their personal needs and expectations.
Working with a Certified Dementia Practitioner
Certified by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), Certified Dementia Practitioners are specially trained and equipped with a unique knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Those who choose to work with a Certified Dementia Practitioner can rest assured knowing they have a trusted partner and someone who is qualified to help.
During training, Certified Dementia Practitioners are given an in-depth look at the disease, along with strategies to maximize the safety, dignity, and well-being of those affected by dementia. CDPs are required to complete continuing education with every renewal of their certification, so they remain qualified and educated on the best ways to help those with dementia.
At Your Legacy Legal Care, we have a Certified Dementia Practitioner on staff to ensure the highest quality of service can be provided to families going through a diagnosis of dementia. When a loved one begins to lose cognitive function, we understand the hardships on both the loved one and their caregivers. By keeping a Certified Dementia Practitioner on staff, we are ensuring that we are not only able to help those with dementia accomplish their legal needs and planning, but that we can assist beyond our legal services.
Personal Experience
Many of our team members have experienced a loved one’s journey with dementia first-hand. Kim Hegwood witnessed what it was like for her grandfather to care for her grandmother after a diagnosis of dementia, as the hardships of being a caregiver began taking a toll. She saw the legal, financial, and emotional challenges her grandparents had to face, and she was inspired to become a dementia-focused estate planning and elder law attorney when she realized their legal documents were not sufficient for seniors with a dementia diagnosis. For many of our team members, this personal experience with dementia drives their passion for helping our clients who are going through a similar journey.
Helpful Resources
At Your Legacy Legal Care, we have an extensive library of resources and a network of senior care professionals that can assist you or your loved one with dementia. One of our best resources is the short book published by Kim Hegwood, You’re Not Alone: Living with Dementia. In a concise and easy-to-read format, the book offers helpful advice and essential information for the individuals and families dealing with this disease, including the signs and symptoms of dementia, other causes of memory impairment, the different types of dementia, how to plan ahead for legal matters and care costs, and more about dementia and caregiving. To learn more about this short book and the bonus materials you will receive with it, please visit www.yourlegacylegalcare.com/living-with-dementia.
In short, when you choose a dementia-focused law firm, you are not only ensuring that the quality of the legal documents will hold up to the needs of you or your loved one with dementia, but you will also receive the extra assistance that you need outside of legal services. A great dementia-focused law firm should be able to provide you with information on local skilled nursing facilities, a vast network of memory care professionals, resources and support groups, and the caring and understanding that comes with personal experience of the dementia care journey.
To learn how Your Legacy Legal Care can provide you and your loved ones with the elder care and dementia care services you may need, give us a call at (281) 218-0880 or book a strategy session here.
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