Tax time is here, so there often are questions about preparing taxes returns for Alzheimer’s patients.  Some have very simple reports while other may be involved in a business.
Kathy has a question about signatures and wonders if her elderly brother, who has Alzheimer’s, can use his signature from last year on his tax returns.  “He does NOT like to sign his name anymore, because he gets confused,” Kathy said.
I’m not a tax expert and only have the knowledge about what I did when filing personal and business returns for my mom when she could no longer sign her name.  I had …read more

THE RIGHT TO VOTE
“Should Dementia/Alzheimer’s Patients Vote?” This concern continually crops up at election time, whether national, state or local.  In Presidential Election years, it’s more prominent than in others.  Should someone with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or some form of memory and reasoning loss have the right to vote?
More importantly…Do they know how to vote and whom they’re voting for?  Are they easily led by someone who wants to control their vote?  If they use an absentee ballot, do they really vote or does someone else do it, perhaps even against the party lines the dementia patient would?
When do you decide someone …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
Have you considered a home business so you can afford to stay home to care for your Alzheimer’s family member?  Perhaps you already have one.  Are you knowledgeable about home business taxes?
Jean Murray, at Small Business Boomers, has a great post with information and resources concerning what the IRS (Internal Revenue Service in the US) considers a true business. You might like to check out her, Boomers Retiring to “Fun” Businesses: Is birdwatching a business?
She mentions some of the criteria the IRS uses to determine whether you’re entitled to deduct your losses from the business you’re operating or starting up.
(Amazon image) 
(c)2008 …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
The use of restraints, to keep Alzheimer’s patients from wandering, getting into unsafe areas, escaping out-of-doors, raises much controversy, especially when connected with nursing home residents.  There’s a balance with a fine line that separates safety from abuse in most people’s eyes.
More nursing homes and elder care agencies continually research ways to keep patients safe without severe restraints.
*The use of alarms that go off when a patient tries to get out of a wheel chair.
*Alarms that signal the opening of a door into an area where the patient may be unsafe.
*The use of a tray across a chair that might …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
 One of my fears, as my mom became less capable of making decisions and more susceptible to suggestions of strangers, was the possibility of her getting caught in contractor or other type of fraud.  For some reason, at a certain age or stage of Alzheimer’s, parents often resent taking suggestions from their children, especially advice concerning financial and health matters.
My husband Jim, who was a contractor, began making needed repairs to Mother’s house and put new shingles on the roof.  She didn’t understand why she needed a new roof even though the old was leaking into the attic space. 
We lived 275 …read more

I’d heard about “Hospice help” but never knew much about it until my mother-in-law was in a coma before her death.  The nurse in charge of Mum’s care at the hospital introduced us to the Hospice representative.  From there we learned how much help they could be in a family member’s final days. 

They helped us make arrangements.
They cared for Mum so she could return to the nursing home for her last few days.
They were there to comfort the family and answer questions.
They also were available to offer help after Mum’s death.

Recently I learned that:
AGIS.com has partnered with the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) to …read more

 AlzheimersNotes.com
 At some point as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the victim no longer can take care of finances, personal, and medical needs.  Even if family members can care for them, a caregiver often needs to have this made official.
Depending on individual circumstances, family and patient cooperation, as well as legal requirements in specific states, the degree to which you’ll need to go to manage patient care will vary.  For instance, my mom gave me power of attorney for her affairs.  That was all I needed, in our situation, while I was responsible for her care.  However, the power of attorney was requested …read more

A recent CNN article Caring for Mom and Dad from afar offers some useful advice for families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
1. Appoint a sibling, appoint a doctor
2. Fly in for a visit with the appointed doctor
3. Find an e-mail-friendly doctor
4. Get a network going
5. Don’t expect your parents to welcome your assistance

 AlzheimersNotes.com
  With the approach of tax time (most of us have received the paperwork from employers, investments, and other tax pertinent sources by January 31), we may wonder what we can and cannot claim.  Also, many caregivers are in charge of filing tax returns for the Alzheimer’s patient.  I was responsible for my mom’s affairs although I had an accountant to help me because Mother had business investments.
If the Alzheimer’s patient doesn’t have to file independently, perhaps you can claim some of the expenses you’re encountering to care for them.  Maybe they even qualify as a dependent.
June A. Schroeder, at …read more

                                            The end of 2007 is approaching faster than most of us would like to think about…and that means we must consider wrapping things up taxwise.  As an Alzheimer’s caregiver, you may have the responsibility of your parent(s) affairs and must file taxes for them.  I had to to this for my mom, with the aid of her accountant. 
So…instead of waiting until tax time is here, you may want to start organizing and planning now.
Kelly, at Taxgirl, will be answering year end tax questions about charitable donations, individual tax planning or reporting.  For submitting your question, Ask the Taxgirl.