ElderSmart shows how to help loved ones in transition
At the holiday gathering this week, you're sure to come across someone dealing with the "Elder Transition." It may be a cousin or friend with an elderly loved one-or perhaps it'll be your Uncle Jim, who's in his 80s and lives alone.
Because we're living longer but not "better"-an entire new set of dangers has surfaced for our elderly loved ones who strive to maintain their independence in the face of advancing frailties. These dangers creep up like a gathering storm then come together to cause real pain and suffering. Traditional ways of dealing with old age are insufficient. The "Elder Transition" transcends the boundaries (like Medical, Financial, Social) that we normally categorize our life in.
"It used to be that all people had to do was plan for their retirement," said Martin J. Fogarty, leading elder law attorney. "The new reality is that we need to plan not just for 'retirement', but for 'old age' as well. That's why we've created ElderSmart."
The Elder Transition creates chaos. It undoes the order and the routines and abilities you've established over the last several decades. It may come on slowly and seem manageable: but that's just a small hint of the disruption to follow if people don't respond and plan accordingly.
Your elderly loved one may be showing signs of needing some help:
• paying bills
• taking medicines or following doctor's orders
• taking care of themselves
• personal safety issues
• emotionally down/depressed
• isolated
• needs a more appropriate living situation
Alternatively, you may not see the signs in your elderly loved ones-but in their family caregivers: their spouse or daughter who has taken on the role of supporting them and is quietly being squeezed by the overwhelming job it's become.
The best way to help your loved one is to get clarity: to create an agreed upon path of well-being to support the elder in the way that honors their dignity and protects their vulnerability.
ElderSmart® is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that offers a free service to families with an elderly loved one in or concerned with the elder transition. Doctors, nurses, public benefits specialists, elder lawyers, financial & tax experts and social workers have come together to create a map that shows you the landscape your loved one is in, what dangers they may face and what you can do to protect your loved one.
This plan points out the best path forward to protect your elderly loved one by identifying and anticipating any threats to their well-being.
Here is how it works:
Go to www.eldersmart.net and take the "Elder Well-Being Assessment." This short online interview captures your concerns and inquires into the overall Well-Being of the elder and the family to reveal any lurking issues that you should be paying attention to-but perhaps aren't.
Once you complete this questionnaire, the ElderSmart® team of specialists reviews your situation and creates a family specific report for you: including next steps and priorities for you to focus on first.
"Now you can go from the chaos of the unknown to the certainty of being empowered and having clarity about exactly what to do to preserve and protect all aspects of your loved one's well-being," said Fogarty.
The Elder Well-Being Road Map can be looked at as a warning system for adult children to help their parents. This plan allows the family to be in agreement and create support for their loved one. This plan creates normalcy, calm, safety, well being, certainty and power to help and protect your loved one.
The concept of an "Elder Transition" is so new that most people don't realize they can plan ahead to minimize the pain and the dangers of the transition. ElderSmart® has made it easy, immediate and free.
To find out more about how the plan works, please contact the founder, Martin J. Fogarty. Call (847) 729-3300 to arrange for an appointment with Martin J. Fogarty or one of his associates.
For more information about the firm visit www.eldersmart.net.