Estate Planning

Dementia: Public and Private Responses

By Hull and Hull LLP

Dementia and its devastating effects on its victims and their families has been a popular topic in the news recently:

...         On January 17, 2011, we learned of the tragic death of a woman in Toronto who succumbed to the frigid temperatures as she wandered a few blocks from her home in the middle of the night. The Toronto Star followed with this opinion piece shining light on the nature and scope of this disease and its impact on us all: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/924181--alzheimer-s-disease-heeding-the-cries-in-the-night. 

...         In Southern California's Press Enterprise, it was reported that the husband and children of soul icon, Etta James are in a court battle over the decision-making in respect of both her personal care and property since she has lost her capacity to make decisions in these areas of her life. http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/01/13/etta-james-ill/.

...         Ron Reagan, son of Former President, Ronald Reagan, has written in his recent book that his father suffered the early stages of Alzheimer's during the last few years of his presidency.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/15/reagan-had-alzheimers-as-_n_809473.html.

...         On January 22, 2011, the Toronto Star ran a full page story on the sadness the family of singer, Pauline Trudel, are enduring as her memory and capacity have been taken by disease. http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/article/926432--how-alzheimer-s-made-the-music-die. 

We know that the elderly population is increasing in our society and that we are experiencing a significant incidence of dementia among our citizens. Alzheimer's Advance: 115 Million by 2050 : Toronto Estate Law Blog. Developing more effective medication http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/20/fda-on-new-alzheimers-test-no-or-at-least-not-yet/, continuing scientific research on dementia and enhancing public awareness of dementia and its effects on its victims, their families and society are all part of our societal, public defence against this significant threat to so many of us and our loved ones. Individuals, however, can take simple, immediate steps now to help protect themselves or their loved ones from experiencing at least some of the painful effects that dementia could otherwise have on their lives should they find themselves within its grasp and tomorrow, I will discuss what those steps might include.

Thank you for reading.

Julia Evans 

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on January 24, 2011 (boomark / email).