It’s National Healthcare Decisions Day… And You MUST Know About POLST!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Alice Reiter Feld

According to the UCLA Health System Ethics Center, fewer than four of every 100 people over 85 who receive CPR ever return home - partially because EMT’s, in trying to save them, (using methods not intended for the frail elderly) often apply pressure that can break an older patient’s ribs, or shock them with electric paddles, or insert tubes. In fact, many seniors who survive end up with serious neurological issues.

Health Care Powers of Attorneys, Do Not Resuscitate Orders and other advance directives do not seem to translate well from the legal world to the medical world. I explain to my clients that, even if they’ve written a living will, a hospital could still refuse to honor it. It’s a Venus and Mars thing; lawyers and hospitals speak two different languages.

That’s why I’m teaming up with Dr. Karen Kennedy, Medical Director of Hospice of Broward County, on a special – free – seminar on the not so distant future of healthcare decision-making for seniors.

The event takes place on Tuesday, April 16…National Healthcare Decisions Day. And anyone in the fields of Patient Advocacy, Geriatric Care Management, Nursing, Social Work, and related professions – as well as seniors and family caregivers – should attend.

The answer may be POLST – Physician Order of Life Sustaining Treatment. This requires doctors to have a thorough conversation with their patients about end-of-life care, and to prepare a POLST form with specific notes on the patient’s wishes. That way, both parties are on the same page.

While I’ll be speaking on POLST, Dr. Kennedy will discuss the very current topic of Pain Management and palliative care for all people who need this service

Please join us for hors d’oeuvres and vital information, free of charge, on April 16 at 4 p.m., at the Nova Southeastern Lifelong Learning Institute, 3424 S. University Drive, Davie. Please call (954) 861-2681 for more information.

Many of you know that The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates have been practicing Elder Law for 34 years. We’ve helped thousands of South Florida families with answers to their questions. And we’ve helped them, too, with financial security…comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.

This seminar will provide you with valuable information. And we look forward to seeing you there!




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Too Old to Exercise? Who Are You Kidding?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Alice Reiter Feld

George Burns lived to be 100…and never gave up the omnipresent stogie in his mouth. 

“If I knew I was going to live this long,” he used to say, “I would have taken better care of myself!” Needless to say, that line always drew a big laugh. Yet, there’s a lot of truth in it. Because, if we do take care of ourselves, we can expect to live a longer – and healthier – life. 

Some folks are blessed with good genes. They can smoke, drink , and eat to excess – without ever lifting a finger to exercise – and still live to 90 or 100. But, for most of us, if we want to stay healthier longer, we’re going to have to lift a finger (or, even better, a weight!)!

When one of my clients tells me he’s too old to start exercising, I tell him he needs a serious attitude-adjustment. Research proves it’s never too late to start. 

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, by the year 2030, there will be 70,000,000 Americans over the age of 65. And the fastest-growing segment of the population will be those over 85! But whenever you turn 65 – or 85 – exercise can help you live longer, and feel better. 

Beginning in our thirties, we lose 3%-5% of muscle mass per decade, and, after the age of 50, we lose 1%-2% a year. But muscle mass is what keeps us strong, keeps us balanced, and burns up calories. So it pays to preserve it. 

In at study in which seniors in a Boston nursing home lifted leg weights, walking speed increased 12%, and leg strength increased a whopping 113%! In another study, subjects who lifted weights three times a week for three months increased their walking endurance by 38%. 

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we have extensive materials on the benefits of exercise…and about the Elder Journey. 

Over the past 34 years, we’ve helped thousands of South Florida families. And we can help you, too, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA. 

If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. And we’re just a phone call away. 

In the meantime…get off that couch!




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Want to Age-Proof Your Brain? Here’s How – Part 2

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Alice Reiter Feld

Here are more ideas for how you can prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia. And if you follow them, you can prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia! 

The Spice of Life 

Good news for spice-a-holics! Spices are as good for your brain as they are for your taste buds. Herbs and spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, oregano, basil, parsley, ginger and vanilla are high in antioxidants, which may help build brainpower. And curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may be the most powerful of all. Scientists believe it eliminates plaque in the brain. 

Find Your Purpose In Life 

Discovering your “mission” in life can help you stay sharp, according to a study of older adults. Over a seven-year period, participants with clear goals and passions were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. 

Get A Life! 

Having friends and social networks lowers the risk of dementia, by providing emotional and mental stimulation. In fact, subjects in a recent study scored higher on memory tests after just ten minutes of conversation with another person. 

Improve Your Health 

Chronic health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension will increase your chances of getting Alzheimer’s. Diabetes, for example, roughly doubles the risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia…but controlling your diabetes can delay the onset by several years. That means diet, exercise…and following doctor’s orders! 

Are You Deficient In Certain Vitamins? 

Older adults don’t always get all the nutrients they need from foods, because of declines in digestive acids or because their medications interfere with absorption. Vitamin deficit – particularly B12 – can also affect cognitive ability. In cognitive tests, seniors with B12 deficiencies had smaller brains and lower scores. Conclusion: If you can’t get it from food, get it from a vitamin pill! 

If you’ve got questions about Alzheimer’s or dementia, we have answers – because we have one of the largest Alzheimer’s/Dementia Resource Centers in South Florida. 

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’ve been helping South Florida families answer these questions for 34 years. And we’ve helped them, as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA. 

We can help you, too. And we’re just a phone call away.




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Want to Age-Proof Your Brain? Here’s How – Part 1

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Alice Reiter Feld

If someone told you there are things you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia, would you do them?

Well, I’m telling you! What we eat and how we live and how we think are big factors. In fact, according to a recent study, reducing risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking by just 25 percent could prevent up to half a million cases of Alzheimer’s in the U.S.!

Here are five things you can do to lower your chances of getting it…

1) Move That Butt!

Exercise can reduce dementia risk by 30 to 40 percent. As you age, your hippocampus shrinks, leading to memory loss. But studies suggest that exercise can not only slow this process, but actually reverse it. That’s why physically-active people generally have better cognition and memory.

2) Move That Butt, Part II: Get Pumped!

In a study at the University of British Columbia, older women in a weight-training program did 13% better on cognitive tests than women who did balance and toning exercises only.

3) Never Stop Learning!

Learning spurs the growth of new brain cells. But maintaining the same learning routines – crossword puzzles, etc. – is not enough. We’re talking about learning new things, and new skills.

4) Let It Go…

Chronic stress floods your brain with cortisol, which leads to impaired memory. Recent Harvard studies showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) – which involves focusing your attention on sensations, feelings and state of mind – reduces cortisol.

5) Go Greek

We’ve known for years that the Mediterranean Diet – emphasizing fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and beans – reduces Alzheimer’s risk. In fact, according to Columbia University, it reduces risk by a staggering 34 to 48 percent!

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we can show you a hundred ways to avoid Alzheimer’s or dementia – because we’ve got one of the largest Alzheimer’s/Dementia Resource Centers in South Florida!

Over the past 34 years, we’ve answered questions about these diseases for thousands of South Florida families. And we’ve answered their questions, as well, about comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care plans, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA.

We can answer your questions, too. And we’re just a phone call away.




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The Medicare Merry-Go-Round

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Alice Reiter Feld

Too Many of Us Are Ending Up Back in the Hospital After Being Discharged 

A recent report by Dartmouth University researchers revealed that one in eight Medicare surgery patients ended up back to the hospital within 30 days of being released. And, surprisingly, the numbers were even worse for non-surgical patients – one in six!

Based on data from 2010, the results were no better than they were in 2004.

Hospital readmissions are costly – they cost Medicare $26 billion a year. And, according to the study, nearly $17 billion of that cost is avoidable!

Re-admission rates vary widely among counties here in South Florida. For 2010, Miami-Dade County had the state’s highest re-admittance rate – 15.1% of surgical patients within thirty days. Broward County was at 14.4%. And Palm Beach County stood at 11.8…the only one of the region’s three counties lower than the national average of 12.4%.

Last year, the Centers for Medicare began imposing financial penalties on hospitals with the worst rates. But there doesn’t seem to have been much improvement since then.

The solutions, according to one of the authors of the study, may lie mostly with doctors. They should be taking more time to communicate effectively with their patients…and to make sure their patients understand these communications. Dr. Chiang-Hua Chang says that doctors need to be clear about when patients should take their medications. About when they should call their doctors. And that they should have follow-up appointments with their own physicians.

Kind of discouraging, isn’t it? We go into hospitals with the reasonable expectation of coming out healthier…not ending up back there in a few weeks.

Medicare can be a nightmare of bureaucracy, inefficiency, and frustration. And every interaction you have with Medicare is likely to lead to even more frustration. But we can help.

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld and Associates, we practice Elder Law. Over the past 34 years, we’ve helped thousands of South Florida families navigate the Medicare Maze. And we’ve helped them as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.

We can help you, too. And we’re only a phone call away.




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