The Alzheimer’s Association says that more than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide. In the United States the figure for Alzheimer’s alone is nearly 7 million, on pace to hit 13 million by 2050. We all know...more
It was a heartfelt move by a high-profile person. Renowned comedian and former talk-show host Jay Leno took significant steps to ensure the well-being of his wife, Mavis, who has dementia, should he die before her. Unable to...more
Celebrities like Jay Leno and Emma Hemming Willis (married to Bruce Willis) are speaking out about their experiences with guardianship and caregiving. If you are caring for a family member with dementia too, a time will...more
While facilitating a monthly circle of support for caregivers, I’ve noticed one of the most distressing issues they face is the “driving dilemma,” meaning their loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia continues to...more
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently considered a case presenting the question of whether Anna Brudek had sufficient mental capacity to execute a deed conveying one-half of her real property to her boyfriend, Alvin Rice. In...more
Independence Day invites reflection on another form of freedom. How do we respect the autonomy of California’s elders who experience progressive forms of dementia while protecting them from potential abuse and other harm?...more
Dementia casts a long shadow in California trust and estate litigation. Contestants claim that an elder with dementia lacked sufficient mental capacity to make an estate planning change, or that dementia left the elder highly...more
Garden variety memory lapses, like misplacing car keys, are normal, but where do you draw the line? A good rule of thumb is that if you notice that your loved one has repeated episodes of memory loss, and/or troubling...more
Having a loved one with dementia can be scary, but if you add in a firearm, it can also get dangerous. To prevent harm to both the individual with dementia and others, it is important to plan ahead for how to deal with any...more
Mental capacity issues are commonplace in California trust and probate litigation. Jonathan Canick, Ph.D., who spoke last year at the Sacramento Estate Planning Council on the subject of “Aging, Cognition and Capacity,”...more
Stepmothers are frequent characters in California trust and estate litigation, as they are in fairy tales and Disney movies. With about half of all marriages ending in divorce, there are many stepmother/stepchild...more