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Tips for Communicating with An Elder Adult with Alzheimer’s Disease

June 17, 2020/in Uncategorized/by KT Williams

Did you know that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month? Supporting public education and those impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease has never been more important. According to the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5.8 million seniors are currently living with the disease, two-thirds of whom are women, and the vast majority of care is provided by family members, friends, and other unpaid volunteers. 

As advocates across the health care, nonprofit, and legal communities gather to raise awareness and offer resources to those in need, let us take a moment to consider these tips for communicating with someone suffering from the disease:

  • Know what to expect. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease and the most common form of dementia. There is currently no known cure. Symptoms include memory loss, diminished problem-solving abilities, and poor judgment. Symptoms also worsen over time. Impacted seniors are generally able to function during initial stages of the disease, but, as it progresses, aging adults have trouble expressing thoughts and emotions. They may jumble their words, struggle with simple tasks, and exhibit unpredictable behavior. Late-stage Alzheimer’s typically involves around-the-clock care and can even be life-threatening.
  • Learn how to communicate. Communication is critical in any relationship, including with an aging loved one with Alzheimer’s. During the middle and latter stages of the disease, communication will become difficult, but do not get frustrated. Remember, he or she is not in control of what is happening. Try to speak slowly and use simple, clear sentences. Call the senior adult by name and remind him or her of who you are if there seems to be some confusion. Find different ways of saying the same thing when necessary and create a calm environment whenever possible. Above all, try to be patient and compassionate.
  • Learn how not to communicate. Poor communication can create stress for both the speaker and the struggling elder adult. Refrain from saying things like “Did you forget?” or “How could you not know?” It is important to meet Alzheimer’s adults where they are at and not punish them for their condition. Try not to talk as if he or she is not in the room. Refrain from using sarcasm or irony, and do not use patronizing language or “baby talk.”
  • Get legal documents in order. Following a positive diagnosis, family members should consider helping their elder loved one obtain a durable power of attorney. This will allow a trusted confidant to make legally binding decisions on his or her behalf. An advance directive and health care privacy release are also important legal considerations, as are any estate planning updates that would provide for long-term care and changing inheritance circumstances.

Having an elder loved one with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be overwhelming. We are here to help you by providing information and trusted legal support. If you or someone you know would like more information or guidance about related legal matters, contact our office today.

https://ktwilliamslaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P42.Williams.BlogJune2.jpg 450 800 KT Williams https://ktwilliamslaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/williams-law-logo-rgb-640px.png KT Williams2020-06-17 16:41:242020-06-17 16:42:52Tips for Communicating with An Elder Adult with Alzheimer’s Disease

Married Couples Living in Different States Can Use a Trust to Reduce Income Taxes

June 3, 2020/in Estate Planning/by KT Williams

Are taxes a reason not to live with your spouse? It may seem like an unusual estate planning strategy, but the benefits should not be underestimated. There are many legitimate reasons why married couples might live in different states and, whether by happenstance or design, tax planning could be one of them. 

Consider that states have varying tax regimes; some have high taxes and others have low taxes. For example, top earners in California are subject to a 13.3 percent state income tax, and that is in addition to a 37 percent top federal income tax bracket. In other words, wealthy Californians pay half of their income to the state treasury and Uncle Sam. Middle income earners do not fare much better, either. Individuals making $58,000 a year pay a 9.3 percent state income tax. In Florida, however, the state income tax is 0.0 percent. No matter how much you make you will not pay a dime in state income taxes in the Sunshine State. Why not use such discrepancies to your advantage? 

Let us share one creative solution: A spouse living in a high-tax state could gift intangible income producing assets to his or her spouse living in a low-tax state. Intangible assets are not physical in nature and include trademarks, copyrights, patents, literary works, broadcast rights, computer software, and lease and franchise agreements. Then, after a reasonable period of time, the low-tax state spouse would contribute the assets to a Qualified Terminable Interest Property trust, or “QTIP” trust, which is treated as a grantor trust. At this point, the income would be taxed to the lower-tax state resident and the QTIP trust’s distributions circle back to the spouse living in the high-tax state. 

The financial benefits could be enormous. Plus, QTIP trusts have other perks. A QTIP trust is a marital trust that can provide for your spouse after your death while also protecting your assets for future generations. They further offer flexibility for an estate’s personal representative to maximize federal estate tax savings after you pass away. 

We know this blog may raise more questions than it answers. We are here to help you create the right estate plan for your own needs and circumstances. For more information about creative tax savings solutions and QTIP trusts, do not wait to contact our estate planning attorney today.

https://ktwilliamslaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P42.Williams.BlogJune1.png 450 800 KT Williams https://ktwilliamslaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/williams-law-logo-rgb-640px.png KT Williams2020-06-03 15:04:542020-06-03 15:05:03Married Couples Living in Different States Can Use a Trust to Reduce Income Taxes

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