If something happens to you and you’re unable to communicate, how will those caring for you know how to manage your affairs? That’s the basic question answered by the power of attorney, a legal document that gives another person the authority to act on your behalf. If you are unable to make your own decisions due to illness, injury, or other circumstances, a power of attorney helps your loved ones manage your affairs and make important decisions about your business, finances, and health. The person who acts on your behalf is called the “attorney-in-fact” or “agent.”

“Life’s struggles serve to awaken our individual strengths and purpose.” That’s how attorney Marty Fogarty describes how he came to practice Life Care Planning. Marty is founder of The Heartland Law Firm, a Life Care Planning Law Firm in Glenview, Illinois.

In 2000, Marty launched his firm focusing on estate and financial planning. As an attorney with a CFPTM designation, Marty envisioned a law firm that offered a holistic practice with multiple disciplines.

There’s no escaping it: the holiday season is a stressful time for everyone. It’s even more challenging when you factor in a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

How do you celebrate the holidays without making things worse? To answer this question, we consulted Claire Merendino, R.N., an elder care coordinator at Bratton Law Group, a Life Care Planning Law Firm with offices in Philadelphia and New Jersey.

Linda Strohschein’s elder care story is like that of many attorneys who head up Life Care Planning Law Firms. Her first exposure to the elder care world happened at home.

When dementia strikes, you will likely observe many changes with your loved one’s behavior, language, memory, and ability to perform familiar tasks. One of the areas that dementia will impact dramatically is communication. You may notice that your mom or dad struggles to find certain words, doesn’t seem to understand what you say, and can no longer communicate the way they once could.

It’s not unusual for people to find new friends when they move into a nursing home. But what happens when those friendships turn into something more? We posed this question to Pati Bedwell, an elder care coordinator at Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law, a Life Care Planning Law Firm in Hendersonville, Tennessee. A veteran of the senior care industry, Pati has truly seen it all.

What does an elder care coordinator do? To the uninitiated, the role may seem somewhat mysterious. What could possibly keep an elder care coordinator busy all day?

Do you live far away from elderly loved ones?  If so, you know how difficult it can be to stay connected when you can't help with caregiving duties. You may feel guilty for not being closer. You may wish you could be there to help. Hopefully, you have siblings or other relatives nearby who can care for your relative, so you can rest easy knowing that their needs are being met.