Your loved one received a Parkinson’s Diagnosis – Now what?
It's true! Many people also do not understand the differences between an estate attorney and an elder law attorney.
Jennifer (“Jenny”) Rozelle is an Attorney and Partner at Indiana Estate & Elder Law. When not at their residence (a farmhouse built in the 1940s) in northern Hamilton County, Jenny and her husband, Justin Schuhmacher, love traveling and cheering on the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
As an Elder Law Attorney and a proud member of the Board for the Indiana Parkinson Foundation, I work with many individuals and families that are navigating an unfamiliar world following a diagnosis like Parkinson’s, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to create a list of things to consider after a diagnosis hits close to home.
Home Safety
Parkinson’s symptoms come in many shapes and sizes. Some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s include tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination. If you imagine trying to maneuver your house with these symptoms, it could expose you to many safety issues. It is advisable to do an analysis of your home to ensure that it is set up to promote safety as symptoms surface. The Parkinson’s Foundation has a helpful checklist to support you.
Therapy
There are many types of rehabilitation therapy that could help someone with Parkinson’s such as Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. The Parkinson’s Foundation has a plethora of resources that include “why” someone should consider therapy and even various at-home practices that someone could implement. Furthermore, there is a Hotline with the Foundation that you could call, and they can help find a local therapist who is trained in working with people with Parkinson’s.
Support Organizations
As I have noted, there are national organizations, i.e. Parkinson’s Foundation, as well as local organizations, i.e. Indiana Parkinson Foundation, that help individuals and families navigate a Parkinson’s journey. Through these organizations, you will find countless tools and resources and I encourage you to, at the very least, check out their websites.
Legal and Financial
You should also confirm legal affairs and financial affairs are in good order. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see if you may need to seek legal and/or financial assistance:
- Do you have a Living Will and/or Appointment of Health Care Representative?
- Do you have a Financial Power of Attorney?
- Do you have a Last Will and Testament and/or Trust?
- Do you have a list of assets, designated beneficiaries on the assets, debts, and bills?
It may be beneficial to work with an Elder Law Attorney, which is an attorney that is experienced at working with individuals seniors and their related issues. A significant component of an Elder Law Attorney’s role is to help individuals and families navigate benefits such as Medicaid. Medicaid is commonly utilized to assist in the cost of home health care and long-term care, even for those that have accumulated significant assets.
Ask for help!
A Parkinson’s diagnosis impacts the individual as well as their immediate circle (i.e. spouse, kids, etc.) too. There are tools and resources for everyone impacted. Like anything, it simply requires devoting some time and energy to discovering what they are and where they are. Though, if you find yourself strapped for time or limited on energy, an excellent one-stop-shop for many, many local tools and resources is the Indiana Parkinson Foundation.