From the category archives:

Seniors

Senior years transformed by Internet

by Jerrold Bartholomew July 23, 2008

Who says that blogging and nursing homes don’t go together?
There is a pair of stories in the news this week that contrasts different seniors’ comfort levels with the internet. The first is highlighted over at the Greatest American Lawyer, where Enrico Schaeffer posts on the death of the world’s oldest blogger:
“An Australian woman often described [...]

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Current Scam Affecting Michigan Citizens

by Jerrold Bartholomew July 23, 2008

I recently received a letter offering a “Certified Copy” of the deed to my home. The offer explains that the Federal Citizen Information Center recommends that every home owner have a certified deed and that the National Deed Service could provide a deed for just $59.95. There actually is an article at the Federal [...]

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Canine Companionship Available to Seniors

by Jerrold Bartholomew July 20, 2008

I recently had a conversation with an elderly woman who lamented that her living circumstances did not allow her to have a pet. Isolation and loneliness can be a very real problem for many seniors who are often without family nearby or even pets for companionship.
One partial solution to this problem is offered by groups [...]

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Litigating the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Jerrold Bartholomew July 15, 2008

Recent litigation over the estate of Martin Luther King, Jr. provides an illustration of problems that can develop in the administration of a trust or estate and an opportunity to discuss ways to avoid disputes in estate and trust administration. In the case of the King family, Dexter King is president of the Estate of [...]

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Caregiver Stress, Compensation, and Medicaid Qualification

by Jerrold Bartholomew July 12, 2008

Any adult caregiver who has control over a parent’s assets (such as by power of attorney, as a trustee, or through joint bank accounts) can be in a very dangerous position for several reasons.
First, adult caregivers who receive compensation are vulnerable to charges of undue influence, constructive trust and other damaging allegations. How do these [...]

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Fake Bus Stops Used to Retrieve Alzheimer’s Patients

by Jerrold Bartholomew June 12, 2008

How lax is security at Alzheimer’s facilities in Germany? This story apparently answers that question and explains that fake bus stops are used to gather in patients who wander away:
“It sounds funny but it helps,” said Franz-Josef Goebel, the chairman of the “Old Lions” association.
The result is that errant patients now wait [...]

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A Moving Memorial Day Column on the Origin of ‘Taps’

by Jerrold Bartholomew May 21, 2008

Gertie Brooks, a columnist for my local paper, the Tri-City Times, has written an interesting column on the origin of ‘Taps’. I have no idea if the history is accurate, but Gertie seems a trustworthy source and the story, while astounding, explains much. ‘Taps’ apparently originates from the civil war and a story worthy of [...]

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A New Concept In Nursing Home Care

by Jerrold Bartholomew May 19, 2008

The reality is that families faced with the chronic illness or disability of a loved-one often have few options but a traditional long-term care facility. Aside from the financial devastation that this usually entails, there is the fact that a traditional nursing home is a difficult place to be in. It is good therefore to [...]

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New Wi-fi Device Calls Your Cardiologist in Case of Heart Attack

by Jerrold Bartholomew May 13, 2008

The same technology that allows coffee and internet afficiandos to stay in one cafe for hours on end is now helping seniors to retain their independence and cope with serious health issues. A new Wi-Fi device is capable of alerting your physician in case of heart attack. Thoughtful implementation of new technologies offers a great [...]

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Detroit Nursing Homes Receive Much Needed Funding

by Jerrold Bartholomew May 6, 2008

The Michigan Department of Community Health announced today that Detroit nursing homes would receive $1.7 million for improvements. See this Free Press article for coverage. I have never visited a nursing home that did not have a dedicated, but heavily-burdened staff. And obviously there is no end to the needs of the nursing home residents. [...]

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