Answers For Elders Radio Network

If you're single, it's much harder to plan financially in advance for retirement, as there are more options available for married couples. To alleviate worries about finances and aging, or the possibility of an unhealthy retirement where you might face a chronic illness, you may want to research alternative living facilities on your own ahead of time, or prepare irrevocable trusts to preserve assets. Elder law attorney Andrea Lee from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about various ways single folks can protect their assets for retirement and beyond.Andrea says, "I have found that frequently single individuals have a whole other set of challenges that they need to face when doing their estate and long term care planning. If there's a spouse, there are significant things that we can do to preserve assets. And unfortunately, so many single people just don't have those same resources. And it's oftentimes a huge stress and a burden for them as they anticipate aging. Hopefully they've met with a financial advisor or someone who's a little bit knowledgeable and developed a budget and a plan to make their money last."Andrea adds, "I do recommend people plan to live to 100. Not many of us make it, but some do. So it's better to plan for it. But for single people, especially if they are concerned about long term care, I do get that phone call frequently where somebody is saying I have adequate resources to pay for healthy retirement, but I am concerned about unhealthy retirement. I'm concerned about the stroke, I'm concerned about dementia, I'm concerned about ALS, or any type of [chronic illness]... For single people, unfortunately, there are not as many good options if you're facing incapacity and needing long term care. What's the priority? And it's definitely putting in place that financial power attorney, putting in place that health care power of attorney."But I would say it's also being much more conscientious about planning for the future incapacity and ensuring you have adequate resources and adequate plans to pay for that. If people are single, they have adequate resources, we want to look at long term care insurance. Is that a viable option for you? It's important. It's essential to have a housing plan in place. It's essential to sit down and say, you know, if I become incapacitated, what do I want that to look like from a practical standpoint? Because you might not have a spouse to step in and make those decisions for you. And so the question is, hey, can someone take care of me at home? Do I have the resources to hire someone if I don't have family members who can step in? And if neither of those are true, what are the alternatives that I would feel comfortable with?"So the beauty is there are a lot of options available to single people, but don't wait to plan. Sit down with an estate planning, an elder law attorney. Sit down with your family members, and have that hard conversation about what can people do for you, what are their boundaries."Learn more:About Andrea LeeLegacy Estate Planning websiteLegacy Estate Planning podcastsCheck out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Silver Sneakers is the only fitness program that provides financial rewards for staying fit. Members can grow a college fund for a loved one. So even if a senior is on a fixed income, they can actually provide money for a grandchild's college tuition. It's a great motivator to get exercising — people will often do for others what they won't do for themselves.Jan Sheeley explains, "When they go to either a gym or take an online class seven times a month, they can win $250 that goes into your college fund for a loved one."The program is available through Silver Sneakers, free fitness benefits available to senior loved ones through their Medicare Advantage program.Visit https://tools.silversneakers.com/ to see if you have the Silver Sneakers program available in your Medicare Advantage. To sign up for the college tuition reward, visit silversneakers.tuitionrewards.com.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Jan Sheeley from Silver Sneakers joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show to talk about strategies for making and achieving realistic goals for exercise, in particular to make New Year's resolutions achievable.Jan says, "Tracking things down, writing things down, is helpful. It's the same with fitness. It's the same with food. I'm going to eat one vegetable with every meal. Write down that vegetable. Write down whether you do it or not. I'm going to drink a glass of water with my meal. Write that down. So tracking things, writing them down. Then you know you've got a great achievement, you are winning."Visit https://tools.silversneakers.com/ to find resources on their blog that help with exercise and diet. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

For people with chronic conditions like arthritis, exercise can be difficult and painful. Jan Sheeley from Silver Sneakers joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show to talk about free resources at Silver Sneakers to help, and also provides some strategies for getting started with moving and exercise.Jan says "We do have online documentation, stories, an actionable items on the website. You go to silversneakers.com, you don't have to be a member. That site is completely free. Anybody can access it. We have a blog that talks about chronic conditions. You can choose which one fits you, and arthritis is a very big one."You don't have to start by going to run a mile today. No, it could be I'm going to walk around the block, or walk around my dining room table. Just get moving. When you do start moving, it engages your endorphins and makes you a lot happier. Feel good about yourself, know you're doing something actionable. Those things really improve your health outcomes."Visit https://tools.silversneakers.com/ to find resources on their blog that help with chronic illnesses. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Jan Sheeley from Silver Sneakers joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show to talk about free fitness benefits available to senior loved ones through their Medicare Advantage program. Silver Sneakers is a free program accessible through certain Medicare Advantage programs. Check the website to see if you are already enrolled in the program. Jan Sheeley is Regional Growth Marketing Manager for Tivity Health and Silver Sneakers. Jan explains, "Silver Sneakers is a free benefit with a medicare Advantage plan. It allows you to go to the gym in our network for free. You have access to live online fitness classes, and we have over 300 that you can choose from. And you can pick whether it's a yoga, whether it's a strength class, a stretch or a fall prevention class. And then we offer classes through your community center. It's available through either Aetna or Humana or Elements in Washington state. It's through different plans in every state."To find out, do I have Silver Sneakers, visit https://tools.silversneakers.com/Eligibility/CheckEligibility. On the right-hand side of the website, you just need to put in your first name, your last name, your birthday, and your zip code and hit enter, and it will show you, yes, you have Silver Sneakers. Then it will give you this long code, the eligibility number that will allow you to go into a gym."Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

A lot of people choose not to get married. They co-habitate, they mix assets, they'll buy a home, and some even have retirement plans. There are many legal protections for married couples, but some of those protections don't extend to individuals who live together, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid benefits. If an unmarried couple decides to live together, they ought to discuss how to protect each other, and consider how do you protect yourself if you choose to live with a partner. Elder law attorney Andrea Lee from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about protections and estate planning for unmarried couples.Andrea says, "We all like to think that our partners love us, and we'll do what's in our best interest, they'll always put us first. But the reality is, even married couples can each have their own will. They can each retain their own counsel. So if you're an unmarried couple and you're residing together, even if you own a home together, there is the possibility that one partner could go retain an attorney, draft a will, create a trust that says, 'Hey, when I die, my half of the house goes to my kids, or my half of the house goes to the Humane Society.' And so it can be very tricky for unmarried couples or even married couples to plan."Andrea adds, "You might be an unmarried couple. You could live together for 40 years. And if one of you has a stroke — or is in an accident and ends up in the hospital, if you are not married — your long-term partner might not have any legal ability to visit you in the hospital, to talk to your doctors, to make decisions on your behalf. That might fall to your parents — or your sibling who you haven't talked to in decades. So really, unmarried couples, it's even more important for them to sit down and prepare a plan than it is for married couples, because they don't have any of those protections that the law puts in place.""There are different rules in different states, and how each state interprets those relationships. and what rights are bestowed upon different individuals. There are some benefits where, if a surviving spouse gets remarried, they might lose some benefits. Some ... people don't want to give up money that they're earning because of a death of their first spouse by getting remarried. I do military pensions. There are a lot of people who would love to get remarried, but they are concerned about potentially the loss of a military pension, or some other benefit that they might have received."Learn more:Andrea LeeLegacy Estate PlanningLegacy Estate Planning podcastsCheck out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Dr. Marc B. Cooper sees enormous benefits in using AI to help our senior loved ones, especially in their later age. He joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about the potential of technology, particularly AI, to combat loneliness among the elderly and improve healthcare management in the future. They consider strategies that can be implemented to help elders feel less isolated. They also think about how AI can assist in the mission of The Contemporary Elder Institute.Additionally, they explored the impact of AI on content creation, with Suzanne sharing her experience using AI tools to help write a book. Marc is the author of "Older to Elder: The Thinking and Being of a Contemporary Elder." Visit his websites at www.requestingwisdom.com and www.drmarcbcooper.com.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Dr. Marc B. Cooper joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to continue their talk about aging with purpose and intention. They talk about higher consciousness and self-understanding. They ask how a higher consciousness and self-understanding can impact your life.He writes, "After 80 years on the planet, my life’s been anything but linear. In our Western culture, my adult journey followed a prescribed path for success: college, dental school, a residency in periodontics training, and an advanced degree in immunology. This was followed by two years in the Air Force as a periodontist and oral surgeon at the tail end of the Vietnam War. Post-service, I settled into private practice in Bellevue, WA, moonlighting as an associate professor at the dental school for my first few years."Then, after a little more than a decade, I pivoted. After a decade of drills and scalpels, I traded my dental chair for consulting. I began coaching individual and small groups of dental and medical practices. In the ladder part of my consulting career, my clients included national and international healthcare organizations, hospitals of hospital systems, for-profit and nonprofit boards, business incubators, C-suits, insurers, VCs, vendors, Fortune 500 companies, think tanks, and government agencies. "Existentially, I’ve been on my own walkabout. I completed the est training in 1979 (now Landmark Education) and became a program leader for them until 1984. I participated in programs and sittings at Naropa University, a Buddhist university, where I sat, learned, and added Eastern practices of consciousness. I also spent quality time with Native and Aboriginal elders, which profoundly shaped my current understanding of what it means to be an elder."Marc is currently CEO of the Contemporary Elder Institute. He leads small group programs and does Elder coaching, applying higher wisdom to client's issues, concerns, and problems. Marc is the author of, "Older to Elder: The Thinking and Being of a Contemporary Elder." Visit his websites www.requestingwisdom.com and www.drmarcbcooper.com."Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

More about aging with purpose and intention: Suzanne Newman is joined by Dr. Marc B. Cooper on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to delve further into the significance of living with intention and purpose as individuals transition into elderhood. Dr. Cooper highlights the importance of authentic elders in decision-making and the need to redefine aging positively. He describes how to live with intention and purpose.He describes the mission of The Contemporary Elder Institute, how he hopes to accomplish the mission, and what a person needs to be to accomplish it.Marc says, "My intention is for listeners to consider what makes Elders unique, why they are closed out in our culture, and the possibility that if Elders were heard in the world, the world would work." Visit his websites www.requestingwisdom.com and www.drmarcbcooper.com."Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Aging with purpose and intention: Dr. Marc B. Cooper joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to discuss the evolving role of elders in society, particularly as the population over 65 continues to grow. Suzanne Newman shared her personal experience of being downsized, which led her to establish Answers for Elders. Both Suzanne and Dr. Cooper emphasized the importance of storytelling and legacy for baby boomers, who control a significant portion of wealth. They discussed the need for elders to guide younger generations and the value of inquiry in fostering personal and societal growth, while also addressing the challenges of ageism and the importance of living authentically as one ages.Marc says, "If you sit down on a bench with Margaret Mead, what kind of conversation would you have? Or an Einstein, or Rubin... How would you talk? How would you be? There's something about them that calls forth something out of you, what a true elder is.”Learn:* What is the difference between Older and Elder?* What qualities and characteristics does one need to become an Elder?* What are the benefits and costs of becoming an Elder?In 2017, he sold The Mastery Company, an entrepreneurial expression founded in 1984. The company grew into a global company. After the sale, he started Seeking Wisdom, a think tank that eventually evolved into the Contemporary Elder Institute. He leads small group programs and does Elder coaching, applying higher wisdom to client's issues, concerns, and problems.Marc says, "And along the way, I authored 13 books, wrote 2,320 newsletters/blogs, published 220 professional articles, featured on podcasts, and burned through 1.25 million air miles."If you are on the cusp of retirement, or two to three years post-retirement, thoughtfully considering what’s next for your life, I suggest you read my book, "Older to Elder: The Thinking and Being of a Contemporary Elder" and visit my websites, www.requestingwisdom.com and www.drmarcbcooper.com."Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Elder law attorney Andrea Lee from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk more about special needs trusts, comparing first party special needs trusts and third party special needs trusts.Andrea provides an example of a third party special needs trust: "Let's say I am a parent of a disabled child, and my disabled child does not have assets. Maybe they're on Medicaid, maybe I support them, but they don't have their own money. I might draft a will, and in my will give my two healthy kids their distribution outright, and then for my disabled child, I in my will might create a special needs trust, using my money for that disabled child because that money never belonged to that disabled child. It was my money and I'm putting it in a trust for that child. That would allow that child to continue accessing Medicaid, continue accessing long term care, continuing accessing Social Security without having to spend that money down."Now, that's one use of the special needs trusts. But as an elder law attorney, we most frequently use them when we have a married couple, and sometimes we even use them when they're both healthy, but we almost always use them if we have a married couple, and one spouse is incapacitated."My mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2014. My dad was very healthy. And when my mom was diagnosed, we faced the reality that, as long as my dad was alive, as an elder law attorney, I could use my resources and my knowledge and my skills to help preserve most of my parents money. And I could do that by making sure my parents have a valid estate plan, transferring assets to my dad, moving some things around, maybe just creating a great plan to preserve assets."But even though my mom was the one with dementia, there was the possibility that my dad could die first. I mean, he could have a stroke. He could be in a car accident. So when we have a married couple, what we frequently will do is we will impoverish the incapacitated spouse, enrich the healthy spouse, and then in that healthy spouse's will, we would create a special needs trust. So in my parents' situation, if my dad happened to have died first, the house that he lived in would go into that trust. The retired accounts would go into that trust, their families would go into that trust so that my mom could receive long-term-care benefits, and all that money could be preserved and help supplement what Medicaid does not cover. So that's a type of special needs trust that can be used by married couples to ensure they never have to spend all of their money down in order to qualify or to keep a spouse on Medicaid benefits for, among other Social Security type of benefits."Learn more:Andrea LeeLegacy Estate PlanningLegacy Estate Planning podcastsCheck out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

So many of us have a loved one that may have special needs, a disability. Maybe a spouse has just been diagnosed with dementia and needs care, and they're afraid of losing their house or their money. If you're in that situation, or maybe your parents are, or a child that has special needs, this episode will be important. Elder law attorney Andrea Lee from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about special needs trusts and how people can protect their own resources.Andrea explains, "A first party special needs trust is a special needs trust that is created using an individual's own resources. They're the least popular... An individual might use a special needs trusts under the following circumstances. Let's say they were perfectly healthy, but they were in a car accident and they suffered a traumatic brain injury and now they need assistance for long term care benefits, like Medicaid or VA, or they're accessing Social Security. But they can't access those benefits because they have their own money. Maybe they've successfully were employed or maybe they had an inheritance... If it's an individual's own money, we then have to create what's called a first party special needs trust, where we use the assets of that individual to create that special needs trust. They do have a lot of limitations, so we don't use them as often as the other type of special needs trusts... The applicant has to be under the age of 65... and it must have a Medicaid payback."I practice in the state of Washington, and even though special needs trusts are created based on a federal law and special needs, trusts exist in all 50 states. And the way each state's interprets and treats those special needs trusts is different. So even though I can talk about special needs trusts in the broadest terms, if somebody is really interested in talking about how special trusts could serve them individually, they really need to meet with an elder law attorney in the state where they reside, because that elder law attorney can formulate a fantastic estate plan that will protect their assets, allow them to not lose their house, that will allow them to preserve some of their assets. And there's a lot of ways that we can preserve assets for a married couple, and allowing them to not become destitute, just because of a terrible diagnosis."Most of my clients are much better served with what we call a third party special needs trust... The third party special needs trust is a trust that's created with the assets of a non-applicant... They can choose the trustee. They cannot be their own trustee, but they could choose a trusted child. They could choose a professional organization. That money is protected, and it's used to provide good quality of life quality for the beneficiary."Learn more:Andrea LeeLegacy Estate PlanningLegacy Estate Planning podcastsCheck out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

We don't spend enough time finding out everything we need to know. Have you got your legal paperwork done? L.E. "Ellie" Brown from Chateau Retirement Communities joins Suzanne to talk about how to find resources for seniors that many people don't even know exist.Ellie says, "I think there's a cottage industry for everything we need in this. It is out there. But here are some of the ideas. There are companies that will literally come in as a real estate company, and help you move to senior living. It will box everything up, put some to sale for an estate, sell some they'll get rid of, all based on your wants and needs. There are companies that will come in and help you do financial review... Bridge loans. There's elder law, who can do the power of attorney executor, especially if there's cognitive issues. Think about this. If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer's and they're too far gone, they can no longer sign for a power of attorney. Then what are you going to do? Then it's a whole other thing to try to get them the support and love they need."Ellie adds, "There are some great programs out there that don't cost anything to the family. Senior Care Finder is one that I really enjoy a lot. They don't capture your information, but you go on there and you do a search, and it'll show you all the Google reviews, and the different sites in your area, and then it gives you that opportunity to contact those communities yourself... Google reviews are a little tough at times because you get angsty employees, and during COVID, It was rough, but that is still a way to go look, overall... It's got all that vibrant information. Or, there are some amazing smaller paid advisors that will really walk the walk with you."I always say tour, tour and tour and tour and tour. Have lunch, attend activities in the building. You get to know the building. I have people that didn't move in for four or five years, but they came to every event. They came to the big events. They came to dinner once in a while, or lunch. They get to know the community... So find that place that feels like your mom could see herself living there, and then and go tour, tour and tour."Tour first as the daughters, or the son, or whoever the caregiver is, and narrow it down. Don't exhaust [mom or dad] with five or seven tours, narrow it down to two or three."Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

L.E. "Ellie" Brown from Chateau Retirement Communities joins Suzanne to share how families can best support their senior loved ones. Ellie shares her top three tips for getting through the transition when a loved one starts struggling:1. Communication. I see that most families are not as open as they could be. If you have siblings, be on the same page. All noticing different things.2. Have that initial conversation with your loved one, as soon as possible. Hearing from them, learn their wishes. Hopefully you're discussing this early enough to be able to honor their wishes.3. Start doing your research. Find programs, learn what's out there, what are the options.Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

What signs of aging are of concern as we're supporting our senior loved ones? L.E. "Ellie" Brown from Chateau Retirement Communities joins Suzanne to talk about the warning signs and facing up to the various dynamics of denials, not just from ourselves, but also our loved ones.Ellie shared her personal, family experiences with warning signs. She says, "For my mom, her health was clearly in decline. She wasn't recovering as quickly from colds. She was seemingly depressed at times. So that was a sign to me. Not as vibrant anymore. Then I started hearing about falls, which — she was minimizing the falls. For a long time I found that she was hiding quite a bit of her decline. "And I'm doing this now with my father, and he would hate to hear this, but I show up early when I tell him I'm going to come visit. When your family member is prepared to see you, they've gotten cleaned up, buttoned up, and they put their package on, because that's your mom or your dad. Their job, in their mind, is to protect you. Also their pride: 'I don't want what's about to happen, to happen to me, where they find out that I actually am declining, and probably looking at the next step.' And then there's the family dynamic: 'That's my child. I don't want to be a burden or a bother.'"I also don't think we pay enough attention to the appetite and the depression as well, so that these are some significant signs. More doctor visits, more of that kind of thing."Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

L.E. "Ellie" Brown from Chateau Retirement Communities joins Suzanne to talk about how to best support our senior loved ones, particularly as they get older and might need to consider senior living. Ellie works with families every day, and shares common situations that she encounters as families try to help their loved ones. Ellie is Vice President Sales - Strategic Market Analysis, Branding & Sales Leadership for Chateau Retirement.Ellie finds that a lot of families are facing similar challenges, obstacles, stereotypes about senior living, and misinformation. "It could be as simple as the daughter says, 'I visit with my mom every day, so she's got socialization.' I coach my sales teams to say, hold up now, that's not the same as peer-to-peer socialization. Visiting my dad is definitely visiting, but when he's with his compadres of the same age group, that's different... At the end of the day, how do we best support our parents at that point, our loved ones who still have every right to make all their decisions as independent, honorable people that have made it this far in life? With the exception if it's a dementia-type thing or a cognitive thing. Because we are starting to shift that, we're having to start making some decisions for them. What does that look like? And those conversations are hard, and there's no there's no perfect roadmap, right? Every family has their own dynamics, but how do we know when to say what we need to say, and how to say it? When does tough love come in? Because we're worried most of the time, [when] something's changed."Families experience different aspects of denial. Ellie says, "There's multiple things going on there. As the adult daughter, there's my own denial going on. I don't want my mom or my dad, I don't want to accept this [situation]. Also, I have a busy life. I probably have stuff going on myself, job, grandkids, kids, my own stressors. There's a little bit of that disconnect. But also, parents are parents. They're great at faking it, great at confrontations. They're great at mom's pretending dad's better than dad's [really] doing. That's why the inquiries, and the leads, spike in January and February, because everybody sees each other during the holidays and we've got eyes on them."Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944.Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

People sometimes put their estate documents in a file and forget about it. Elder law attorney Steve Waltar joins Suzanne to talk how to keep your estate plan documents current.Steve explains, “If you buy a car, would it be wise to never, ever maintain it? Of course not. Would it be okay to never fuel it? So that's my analogy, a good car. You would take a look at it, you'd keep it maintained, you keep it fueled. It's going to run most efficiently. "So as a rule, we say people ought to come in every five years, or if there's a change, they come to us. But I've had enough clients say, Steve, I want to make sure it's current. And I thought about the idea of life insurance. And I thought, 'Hey, we insure things to make sure they're going to work.' And so we developed something called a VIP plan. And for $600 a year, they get one hour with an attorney, that's already worth over $600. And they get updates, like if you have changed the name of your agent and your powers of attorney, your health care, your will, you get those all routinely updated... Also for the trust clients, they get to update their assets. It's a way to like make sure you're meeting with an attorney routinely. Family get a discount then, because you're a part of this membership. I'm an estate planner, so my kids, when they turned 18, they got powers of attorney, they got health care, they got HIPPA, all that stuff. But I think a lot of my clients, their kids go off to college, something happens, and the parents can't even be notified about the medical status of their daughter or their son, because they don't have a HIPPA authorization. So our VIP means you get free free healthcare powers and HIPPA authorizations and all that for your kids up to age 25. It's totally a huge benefit."Steve adds, "I had a client. We did a living trust. They had a good size estate, the assets from growing. The wife had cancer, things got bad. We did some reviewing of, you know, what was needed for health care powers and stuff like that, and figured everything was ... Anyway, the wife died, and we learned later that the financial advisor moved $3 million out of the trust and made it joint with a survivor, probably thinking they were doing a favor. But what that did is, it gutted the estate tax planning and ultimately it's costing the family about $240,000 because of the assets that were moved out of the trust. "The annual review with the attorney is priceless, really. You catch those sort of things when you look at who is the owner, who are the beneficiaries... It's good to review that stuff."Visit the Legacy Estate Planning website at waltar.com for beneficial articles, resources, and webinars.* Steve Waltar: https://www.waltar.com/our-firm/about-our-firm/* Books: https://www.waltar.com/resources/books-published-by/* Webinars and seminars: https://www.waltar.com/seminars/* Find an attorney in your state at https://www.aaepa.com/Hear more podcasts with Steve Waltar at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/stephen-waltar/Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

How do you make updates to your estate plan? Elder law attorney Steve Waltar joins Suzanne to talk about dos and don'ts.Steve says, "Let me first start by saying what you should not do. You should not take out your original will and start crossing off, oh, this person's dead now, this is the new name. You start scratching things up — and there's been cases on this, fights on this, because sometimes you make changes to who gets what, and they will sometimes throw out the will and say, Oh, you obviously intended to throw it out. So, a much better strategy, of course, it's meet with an attorney. But I would say, review your documents, but make copies of the things you want to change. Then on the copy, you say what happened, or mark this out, something that helps process this with your attorney. "But ideally, you will not only send the attorney a copy of that, but you'll actually meet with an attorney. And what I want to make sure is that I have an update of their assets and people. Because if someone comes in and says, Steve, I want you to change this paragraph, that's tunnel vision. That's not that helpful. Of course I can change that paragraph... But the whole point is, people don't know what they don't know. So what they should do is make sure, without messing up documents, to write down their worries, their concerns. Do a review questionnaire so that when they come in and meet with an attorney, we see the whole picture. Because I may tell them, Oh, you want to change this, but a will is not the way to do that, or Oh, you had everything on one document, but you need them separate... They don't know what they don't know."People can be penny wise and pound foolish. "Even this week, I had a 99-year-old gentleman come in. He served in World War II. He had all these great stories. And I asked a lot of questions about the son... Like I said before, I want to know [about] the beneficiary... And after I did some analysis, I finally said, okay, I think we can just do a simple will and we could do a transfer on death deed. We don't need a trust. We don't need to get fancy... But then the the child was shocked that it was going to cost a little north of two grand to do a will and probate avoidance... Many of my clients, there's a little sticker shock, right? I mean, I did $800 trust plans, you know, 30 years ago. This was a will plan. It avoids court. You could do a will form, but it's not going to avoid court. I think someone was looking at like a dollar amount and he wasn't realizing the value. People sometimes get what they pay for."I like Costco, and I like the value I get. But if you buy a Michelin tire with an 80,000 mile guarantee, you could go to a discount store, go to Costco, whatever. That's the tire, right? That's a commodity. A power of attorney is not a commodity. They're all radically different. Is it immediate? Is it springing, is it a hybrid? Is it a health care one? Is it finances? Is it durable? Is it not durable? It's not like a tire. What about a will? And a will might not be the most important document. You might want it to avoid court with a transfer on death. Let alone a trust. So it's really hard to shop prices. What you should do is just do your homework when you want to do your plan, get to know some of that, ask good questions, and see if they treat you well, and hire someone you're comfortable with. Wills and estate planning is not a commodity. Thinking 'I got the lowest [price],' that's not always best. That's pretty foolish."Visit the Legacy Estate Planning website at waltar.com for beneficial articles, resources, and webinars.* Steve Waltar: https://www.waltar.com/our-firm/about-our-firm/* Books: https://www.waltar.com/resources/books-published-by/* Webinars and seminars: https://www.waltar.com/seminars/* Find an attorney in your state at https://www.aaepa.com/Hear more podcasts with Steve Waltar at Answers for Elders:...

With a new year arriving, it's time to consider reviewing and updating legal documents. Elder law attorney Steve Waltar joins Suzanne to talk about when to update estate plans.Steve says, "The $64,000 question: Hey, when should I update my estate plan, or how do I know? It always depends, right? That's what an attorney says, it depends. I think it's wonderful to to to check in with the attorney annually. As a rule, we tell clients every five years, you should come in to kick the tires. Because by then your goals may have changed. Your assets have certainly changed. It might even be your wishes and goals have changed for your beneficiaries. On an annual basis, laws tend to change. "People usually come to us because there's changes in people, right? ... Obviously, divorce is huge, right? Who do you want to get your assets? Who do you want to be in charge? That's a big deal. But it can be the children as well, right? If the daughter got married and her last name changed, that's not going to mean we couldn't find her in the event of a death to be a beneficiary. But if one of the kids went through a divorce, or got married, and you wanted to treat the step-grandchild as if it was a grandchild, that takes planning, it doesn't happen automatically.""There's nothing more unequal than the unequal treatment of unequals. I have two daughters. They're wonderful, They're different. My clients have multiple kids. They're not all the same. They don't all know they're not. And so, if you're able to communicate what's going on. You maybe have a makeup provision, maybe someone did get kind of an advancement, someone's living in the house and you want them to be able to get the house. But it probably shouldn't be in addition to their share. Maybe it should be part of their share. When people are getting health care, do you honor that? Do you not? If you don't communicate at all, the likelihood for disharmony or family fighting goes up dramatically."Visit the Legacy Estate Planning website at waltar.com for beneficial articles, resources, and webinars.* Steve Waltar: https://www.waltar.com/our-firm/about-our-firm/* Books: https://www.waltar.com/resources/books-published-by/* Webinars and seminars: https://www.waltar.com/seminars/* Find an attorney in your state at https://www.aaepa.com/Hear more podcasts with Steve Waltar at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/stephen-waltar/Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

Elder law attorney Steve Waltar joins Suzanne to talk about the Corporate Transparency Act, a new federal law made to thwart money laundering, but has overreaching implications for owners of new and existing small businesses and their legal agents across America.Steve explains, "This law is for anyone that created a business in 2024, and there are some exclusions. Nonprofits, the really large corporations are out of it, but it's LLC, it's corporations, things like that. And basically you have to report the entity. So if you're the agent — like a law firm, we help people incorporate — within the first 90 days, you have to report your Social Security number, your driver's license, a bunch of stuff. And then for everyone in the business, you have to say who owns more than 25%. So it's really hard now for anyone that is creating an entity to hide behind their lawyer. It affects most small businesses. You've got to report the full legal name, the trade names, the addresses, the taxpayer identification number."Civil penalties are up to 500 a day, criminal penalties are two years of imprisonment and $110,000. But if it's knowing, then civil penalties are 500 day and criminal penalties are five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Unauthorized use or disclosure, under federal law, is ten years of imprisonment and a half-million dollar fine. "I wanted to make sure that any entity that we are the registered agent of, I said I want out. I don't care. It's not worth it. Because, you know, if you're late and you're filing these things, [fines are] just going to start to accrue."The law has been challenged already. On December 3, a federal judge in Texas filed a preliminary injunction. "So all of the reporting requirements are halted. If you formed an entity, talk with the attorney or the accountant that did that talk with your registered agent. But for the short term, we're off the hook. There's no reporting required right now."Visit the Legacy Estate Planning website at waltar.com for beneficial articles, resources, and webinars.* Steve Waltar: https://www.waltar.com/our-firm/about-our-firm/* Books: https://www.waltar.com/resources/books-published-by/* Webinars and seminars: https://www.waltar.com/seminars/* Find an attorney in your state at https://www.aaepa.com/Hear more podcasts with Steve Waltar at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/stephen-waltar/Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/

Kitty Norton, director of the film Wine, Women, & Dementia, joins Suzanne to talk about reactions to her documentary.Wine, Women, and Dementia premieres November 2 on PBS. Watch at PBS Online or download the PBS App to stream from your favorite devices. Check your local PBS Member Station for air dates and times in your area. See a list of upcoming local broadcasts here.* Hear more podcasts with Kitty Norton* Hear more podcasts about caregiving and caregivers* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Kitty Norton, director of the documentary Wine, Women, & Dementia, joins Suzanne to offer her best advice for caregivers.Wine, Women, and Dementia premieres November 2 on PBS. Watch at PBS Online or download the PBS App to stream from your favorite devices. Check your local PBS Member Station for air dates and times in your area. See a list of upcoming local broadcasts here.* Hear more podcasts with Kitty Norton* Hear more podcasts about caregiving and caregivers* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Kitty Norton, director of the documentary Wine, Women, & Dementia, joins Suzanne to talk about her movie's premiere on many PBS markets at various times beginning November 2. New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles PBS stations will air it this month. Check local listings to see if it will air on your local PBS station.Wine, Women, and Dementia premieres November 2 on PBS. Watch at PBS Online or download the PBS App to stream from your favorite devices. Check your local PBS Member Station for air dates and times in your area. See a list of upcoming local broadcasts here.* Hear more podcasts with Kitty Norton* Hear more podcasts about caregiving and caregivers* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Kitty Norton, director of the documentary Wine, Women, & Dementia, joins Suzanne to talk about her movie's premiere on PBS. Kitty talks about caregiving for her mom, blogging about everything that she and her sister were going through, using humor to cope and surrender to the moment. She became friends with people across the world who enjoyed the blog.Wine, Women, and Dementia premieres November 2 on PBS. Watch at PBS Online or download the PBS App to stream from your favorite devices. Check your local PBS Member Station for air dates and times in your area. See a list of upcoming local broadcasts here.* Hear more podcasts with Kitty Norton* Hear more podcasts about caregiving and caregivers* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Learn about various ways people can volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association. Alexis Bonoff, Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association in Washington state, joins Suzanne to talk about volunteering and also the organization's clinical trial match tool.Check out the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch, which connects individuals living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's research. It's free and allows you to see which studies are a good fit for you or your loved ones. Visit https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to find clinical trials.Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900.Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you find resources and information to help care for families dealing with a senior loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia? Alexis Bonoff, Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association in Washington state, joins Suzanne to talk about how to find information, their 24/7 hotline, and more.Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900.Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/* Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take advantage of the resources of the Alzheimer's Association to help care for families dealing with a senior loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia. Alexis Bonoff, Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association in Washington state, joins Suzanne to talk about the resources and programs. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexis Bonoff, Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association in Washington state, joins Suzanne to talk about the Walk to End Alzheimer's and various programs and resources of the Alzheimer's Association. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cory Townsend, Director of Development for the Alzheimers Association, Washington branch, joins Suzanne to talk about fundraising for the Walk to End Alzheimer's. In this segment, Cory provides advice for people who feel uncomfortable asking people to donate. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cory Townsend, Director of Development for the Alzheimers Association, Washington branch, joins Suzanne to talk about fundraising for the Walk to End Alzheimer's. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cory Townsend, Director of Development for the Alzheimers Association, Washington branch, joins Suzanne to talk about the Walk to End Alzheimer's. This segment focuses on employers beginning to adapt to the needs of family members caregiving for a senior loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cory Townsend, Director of Development for the Alzheimers Association, Washington branch, joins Suzanne to talk about the Walk to End Alzheimer's. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ * Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Therapy animals make a difference in the lives of people with Alzheimer's and dementia. Washington Therapy Dogs' manager Marlina Velasco-Barker joins Suzanne to talk about the science and successes of therapy dogs. Episodes this month support the Walk to End Alzheimer's. She mentions the article "Pet Power" on the Alzheimer's Association's website https://www.alz.org/news/2023/pet-power. The article says, "Animal therapy is an accessible and inexpensive practice that has been shown to provide a wide variety of behavioral and emotional benefits for people living with dementia. The Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations — guidelines that set the standard for person-centered quality care — cite several studies that assess the effects of regular engagement with both living and robotic animals. The therapy has been shown to improve mood and facilitate social interaction. It can also have a calming effect that helps with dementia-related behavioral problems, and increase physical activity in people living with dementia." To collaborate or learn more about dog training in the U.S., visit watherapydogs.com. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 100 therapy dogs and their handlers have joined Answers for Elder's Washington Therapy Dogs group to visit senior living communities and bring joy to those with Alzheimer's and dementia. Manager Marlina Velasco-Barker joins Suzanne to talk about the process of going about training your pet to become a therapy dog. Episodes this month support the Walk to End Alzheimer's. The group started during the pandemic. Marlina says, "There are no required prerequisites to go in for an evaluation with any organizations listed on the American Kennel Club's website, but many recommend basic obedience. They have a program called CGC, or Canine Good Citizen. There are extensions to that, one called Urban and the other is Community, and that gives more skills to learn, an essential foundation." To collaborate or learn more about dog training in the U.S., visit watherapydogs.com. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supporting the Walk to End Alzheimer's, this episode is about animal-assisted intervention for those with Alzheimer's and dementia, specifically therapy animals. Washington Therapy Dogs' manager Marlina Velasco-Barker joins Suzanne to talk about a therapy dog team formed as an extension of Answers for Elders. In this segment, Marlina talks about seniors with Alzheimer's who have their own pets. To collaborate or learn more about dog training in the U.S., visit watherapydogs.com. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are pet therapies, and why are they important in the world of Alzheimer's? Washington Therapy Dogs' manager Marlina Velasco-Barker joins Suzanne for September's conversations about the Walk to End Alzheimer's. Marlina says, "I saw some photos of Suzanne and her dog Whidbey going to a senior community on a Facebook group, and I was so touched by that. I started to volunteer in Seattle at a local community. It all came together, I got a dog, she's a puppy. I saw those photos, and saw the positive impact they had on the residents, and bam, I'm doing that!" When she visits a memory care facility, they do one-on-ones with her dog, but mostly does groups. Marlina says, "We go in and bring our cadre, other volunteers, another two or three and their dogs, and there are maybe 30 residents, all in one room, maybe an atrium. So we approach them. And the looks on their faces! I cry a lot, tears of joy. Their transformation, facial expressions, their energy level – and they're talking!" To collaborate or learn more about dog training in the U.S., visit watherapydogs.com. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Sign up as a Team Captain, join a team or walk as an individual. This month, Answers for Elders supports the Walks and fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. This episode, we feature an interview conducted in September 2019 with Scott Houghton, regional director of operations at Fieldstone Communities, a major sponsor of the Alzheimer’s Walks in Washington. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at the 24/7 Alzheimer's help line at 800-272-3900. Visit Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to connect those living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Sign up as a Team Captain, join a team or walk as an individual. This month, Answers for Elders supports the Walks and fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. This episode, we feature an interview conducted in September 2019 with Josh Pan, a volunteer for the Alzheimer's Walk. He is also director of business development for Althira Pharma, a local Seattle-based business. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at the 24/7 Alzheimer's help line at 800-272-3900. Visit Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to connect those living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Sign up as a Team Captain, join a team or walk as an individual. This month, Answers for Elders supports the Walks and fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. This episode, we feature an interview conducted in September 2019 with Annie Jacobsen, host of the Snohomish County's Alzheimer's Walk. The walk is along Boxcar Park in Everett, Washington. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at the 24/7 Alzheimer's help line at 800-272-3900. Visit Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to connect those living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Sign up as a Team Captain, join a team or walk as an individual. This month, Answers for Elders supports the Walks and fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. This episode, we feature an interview conducted in September 2019 with Carrie McBride, director of marketing and communications for the Alzheimer's Association, Washington Chapter. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at the 24/7 Alzheimer's help line at 800-272-3900. Visit Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to connect those living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's. Hear more podcasts about the Walks: https://answersforelders.com/tag/alzheimers-walks/ Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Kay Lehmann, Board Chair of the Alzheimer's Association in the state of Washington, joins Suzanne Newman to talk about optimism on the horizon for treating and curing Alzheimer's. Check out the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch, which connects individuals living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's research. It's free and allows you to see which studies are a good fit for you or your loved ones. Visit https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch to find clinical trials. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deaths from Alzheimer's have increased 141% since 2020, with the global pandemic adversely affecting those with Alzheimer's and their families. Dr. Kay Lehmann, Board Chair of the Alzheimer's Association in the state of Washington, joins Suzanne Newman to talk about all that the Alzheimer's Association does to help those with the disease. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, 350,000 people will join 600 Walk to End Alzheimer's events across America. Dr. Kay Lehmann, Board Chair of the Alzheimer's Association in the state of Washington, joins Suzanne Newman to talk about what goes on at the Alzheimer's Walks. Suzanne encourages everyone to sign up to make a difference, or donate to the cause or one of the walking teams. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's in September and October is the largest non-profit fundraising event in the U.S. This month, Answers for Elders supports the Walks and fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. One out of nine Americans over 65 has Alzheimer's. As Alzheimer's touches families deeply, we'll cover everything from the Walks themselves to clinical research advancements. Today, Suzanne Newman introduces listeners to Dr. Kay Lehmann, Board Chair of the Alzheimer's Association in the state of Washington, which kicks off the Walks. Visit alz.org/walk and enter your zip code to find the Walk nearest you to register or donate. Check out alz.org to learn more. Reach master level clinicians at their 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900. Hear more podcasts about the Walks Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communication is key. Are we communicating our wishes properly to family members when preparing estate documents, to ensure our wishes are carried out in case something happens? Attorney Steve Waltar from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about this aspect of financial and legal wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. Legacy Estate Planning at Answers for Elders Legacy Estate Planning website or call 425-455-6788 More podcasts with Steve Waltar Find an attorney near you at the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys website Vitality Revolution podcast series More podcasts on Financial Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the criteria to use when choosing people to represent you financially? Attorney Steve Waltar from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about this aspect of financial and legal wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. Legacy Estate Planning at Answers for Elders Legacy Estate Planning website or call 425-455-6788 More podcasts with Steve Waltar Find an attorney near you at the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys website Vitality Revolution podcast series More podcasts on Financial Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you preparing for the future financially? Attorney Steve Waltar from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about investing rules, part of financial wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. Steve cites four simple rules: 1) be invested, in stocks and bonds; 2) be diversified; 3) rebalance at least quarterly – and most people don't rebalance often enough; and 4) review your fees – not the only thing that matters, but some are paying a lot more than needed. Legacy Estate Planning at Answers for Elders Legacy Estate Planning website or call 425-455-6788 More podcasts with Steve Waltar Find an attorney near you at the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys website Vitality Revolution podcast series More podcasts on Financial Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorney Steve Waltar from Legacy Estate Planning joins Suzanne to talk about financial and legal wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. Are you preparing for the future? Topics include investing in long term care as well as critical documents to have in place as you age. Legacy Estate Planning at Answers for Elders Legacy Estate Planning website or call 425-455-6788 More podcasts with Steve Waltar Find an attorney near you at the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys website Vitality Revolution podcast series More podcasts on Financial Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the most important things to keep in mind in order to make sure your home supports your well-being? Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about environmental wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. In this segment, Dr. Shawn shares five critical areas to concentrate on: Lighting throughout the home Declutter pathways throughout the home from cords, lamps, charger cords Address safety areas at entrances to the home Keep emergency preparedness items, like first aid kits and items needed if you lose power such as portable phone chargers, purified water in an accessible location, some non-perishable food items, have life alert system in place, place emergency contacts list on the fridge in case you or others need them Declutter to remove general hazards throughout the rest of the house More about Dr. Shawn Weiss Book a free consultation with Dr. Shawn Book an appointment with Dr. Shawn Thrive over Sixty: Dr. Shawn's 60 days to optimal health program Senior Health and Wellness website Rockstar Wellness with Dr. Shawn Hear more podcasts with Dr. Shawn Vitality Revolution More podcasts on Environmental Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When considering home safety, we tend to think about physical areas like bathrooms. How old is your house, when was the last time you had your air ducts cleaned? Poor air quality contributes to illness. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about healthy indoor air quality, toxins, and allergens — environmental wellness, one of the eight foundational principles of senior wellness featured this summer in the Vitality Revolution podcast series. More about Dr. Shawn Weiss Book a free consultation with Dr. Shawn Book an appointment with Dr. Shawn Thrive over Sixty: Dr. Shawn's 60 days to optimal health program Senior Health and Wellness website Rockstar Wellness with Dr. Shawn Hear more podcasts with Dr. Shawn Vitality Revolution More podcasts on Environmental Wellness Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.