In This Issue

	Multigenerational Vacations
	If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help
	Life Care Planning Goals
	The Nuts and Bolts Guide to VA Benefits

Multigenerational Vacations

	It is summertime and thousands of families are planning their family vacation, but this year they may well be planning a new kind of vacation. Multigenerational travel has recently become one of the fastest growing areas of the travel industry, as many families are now including grandparents, aunts and uncles in the family getaway. According to the Travel Industry Association, each year more than 5 million family vacations include three generations and as a result, many families now face the challenge of finding a vacation that is suitable for everyone from toddlers to aging grandparents. The most important part of orchestrating a three-generation vacation is being able to accommodate everyone's needs. The trick to this type of travel is simple: planning, preparation and flexibility.
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To attend our monthly Professionals’ Luncheon please call Louise Morris at 404-843-0121 or email her at lmorris@HurleyECLaw.com

If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help.

		Has the elder been diagnosed with a mentally or physically debilitating disorder such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, stroke or a decline in functional capacity?
		Is the elder isolated due to the recent death of a spouse, or have family that either lives too far away or is too busy to provide adequate care?
		Is the elder soon to be discharged into a care facility or currently receiving in-home care?
		Does the elder have a variety of healthcare providers and need coordination and advocacy for quality care?
		Does the elder seem unusually concerned about costs of medication and services, indicating he or she may be having financial troubles?
		Does the elder have assets that fall between $50,000 and $400,000 – enough to finance a short stay in a care facility but not enough for an extended stay?
		Does the elder have a spouse whose financial needs must be considered in light of the elder’s medical condition?

Life Care Planning Goals

1. Meeting the elders’ immediate health care and long-term care needs.
2. Making sure the elder/family is making good health care and long-term care decisions.
3. Helping the elder/family sort through the maze of their long-term care options including residential options.
4. Identifying and accessing public benefits and resources to pay for care should the elder meet the qualifying criteria.
5. Help with asset management, including the burden of home ownership and personal property.
6. Providing the entire family the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved one is monitored by a team that combines legal and financial expertise with specialized knowledge of the elder’s physical, mental and emotional health.
7. Ensuring the highest level of independence the elder can achieve, while ensuring safety.

Multigenerational Vacations

General Tips for vacationing with multiple generations. TIP #1: Let everyone in the family help choose vacation activities. TIP #2: Choose the right accommodations. For much less than the cost of multiple hotel rooms needed for a group traveling together, vacation rentals provide exactly what multigenerational families need – a sense of togetherness and privacy. Look for vacation rentals that include two, three and four-bedroom single-family homes, condominiums and town homes with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, private pools, Jacuzzi tubs, washers and dryers. TIP #3: Schedule activities with your family’s normal routine in mind. Toddlers are generally most active in the morning, a time when grandparents are often early to rise. TIP #4: Don’t sell grandparents short. Today’s grandparents are often energetic and adventurous, so consider active multigenerational vacations. Possibilities include bike tours, rafting trips, theme parks, hiking, whale watching, foreign destinations and covered wagon adventures. Make sure, however, that you know any limitations that the grandparents may have–do not overextend them. TIP #5: Take advantage of kitchens. It’s all about flexibility. Grandparents and grandchildren often have different meal schedules. Young children frequently find it difficult to sit through three meals a day in a restaurant. Stay in, save money and make simple meals. Tips for traveling with the Elderly who have Dementia If you plan to visit a new place, do some homework in advance. Find out about the accommodation, where the nearest healthcare facilities are and what the big differences from home, e.g. levels of traffic. Keep in mind that relatives may not understand the changes that have occurred in the person you are caring for. You may need to speak to them in advance and point out what these changes are. Warn people about unsafe gifts and unsafe situations in general. If wandering might be a problem ask the person you are caring for to wear an identity bracelet. It is a good idea to establish this as a routine regardless of whether traveling or not. If staying in a hotel consider whether it is useful to notify the reception staff. This is really a matter of choice and might not be necessary unless you are very concerned about a wandering or the frailness of the person in your care. Tips for having house guests when you have a family member with dementia. Preparing for friends and relatives staying over requires some thought as well. The tips mentioned previously still apply. Additionally, when you have visitors, it is wise to: Stick to routine as much as possible. Last minute preparations lead to tension, anxiety and confusion. Introduce and help remind the person of friends and relatives by getting out photographs or videos and gently going over the old memories. When relatives and friends arrive things can get quite noisy and busy. If you have some regular support in the form of a trusted friend, relative or neighbor this would be a good time to ask them to be around so you can meet and greet without worrying what is happening elsewhere. If the event involves gift giving, involve the person from the start. They can help in the choice of a present, the wrapping of it and/or simply passing the gifts around to watch the faces light up. Try to keep the person involved at some social level but be wary of things that might challenge, embarrass or frustrate them. Crossword puzzles, difficult or lengthy board games, and using electric gadgets are some of the things that may need to be avoided. If just one or two people can back away from the activity and do something else, that will help to relieve the tension and will not put a damper on the other proceedings. Keep an eye out for small changes that may cause confusion, such as dimming the lights over dinner. They may just need to be turned up as the person leaves the table. Resources: From Roadandtravel.com About.com by Christine Kennard