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 power of attorney for her, so could sign the paperwork.

However, her accountant did her tax returns and her attorney, who was knowledgeable about taxes, also advised us.  I probably had to include a copy of the power of attorney with the tax returns so the IRS knew it was legal for me to sign.  I usually had to do this with banks, doctors, pharmacy, nursing home, hospital, etc.

The requirements may vary from state to state, as well.  So consult someone knowledgeable about taxes.

Does anyone else have their experience to relate?

Post from: Blisstree

Tax Questions & Alzheimer’s Patients

“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 should not vote?  Who decides this?

We often don’t think about it until we’re confronted with an Alzheimer’s or memory loss family member.  Then what should we do?

Mother and Voting

When Mother was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, she wanted to vote as she and my dad always did.  I suggested an absentee ballot so she wouldn’t have go to the polls. 

Mother agreed.  She was still able to understand the ballot and indicate her choice.  By the following year, she didn’t realize it was election time nor ask to vote.  So I didn’t remind her because it seemed logical that she wouldn’t know what she was doing.

What is your opinion about dementia patients and voting?  When should they be refused?  Who is to determine?  Is there any way to determine if ballot fraud is going on with Alzheimer’s patients and voting?

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Post from: Blisstree

Should Dementia/Alzheimer’s Patients Vote?

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.

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(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Are You Considering a Home Business to Afford Caregiving? Here are tax tips.

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 latch in place but not deter normal movement.

*The use of a half rail on the bed so the patient doesn’t roll out.  I was informed, that in some cases, a full rail was considered a danger because the patient might try to climb over, whereas with a half rail they would be stopped from rolling but not restrained.

Restrain for safety, yet allowing enough freedom has become an issue in many situations.  Perhaps when you see that someone in a care facility or a private home appears to be restrained more than you consider appropriate, inquire first about the reasoning before  jumping to conclusions.  What is safety and what is not?  

What are your thoughts on this issue?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Do You Believe in Restraints for Alzheimer’s Patients?

 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 miles away and couldn’t be with her all the time.  After the roof was repaired, she told us a man stopped by and said those weren’t the right shingles for the roof.  He had better ones.  She wondered if she should have him do the roof.  (She would never have considered this in former years.)

I explained that Jim had taken care of it and this stranger wasn’t telling her the truth.  I was concerned we’d arrive one day and find someone reroofing it. However, I apparently circumvented that.  Mother’s roof remained in tact.

Solicitation from Individuals

Another time, a young woman in the neighborhood convinced Mother to give her money for college.  (Mother, a former teacher, encouraged young people to get a college education.)  I made inquiries and discovered the girl had dropped out of college, but was telling Mother she wanted to go back and needed money. 

(Perhaps she did, but Mother didn’t have the money at that time to finance a college education.  The first money Mother gave her, before I learned of it, obviously wasn’t used for college, unless to repay a loan.)

I was reminded of these concerns and others when I read Carol Bradley Bursack’s, Protecting Seniors from Contractor Fraud and Rip Offs.  (Carol writes Minding Our Elders.)

Here’s an excerpt:

 Most of you readers know that I hold Barbara Mascio, of Senior Approved Services, in the highest regard. Her company strives to make sure that seniors are treated well by every company that serves them.

What challenges have you encountered along these lines and how have you handled them?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Protecting Alzheimer’s Patients from Contractor Fraud

• 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 offer expert advice and information on end-of-life issues for caregivers. This new addition to the AGIS eldercare portal showcases HFA’s unique expertise in caregiving issues involving terminal illness, grief, emotional pain and other complex issues associated with the last months or weeks of a loved one’s life.

Check out these links for AGIS and Hospice information:

HFA’s Ask the Expert section

AGIS End of Life section

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Hospice Help in Times of Need

 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 on many occasions in order for me to manage her affairs while I was caring for her.

A cousin has become court appointed conservator for her mom and has power of attorney, too.  This isn’t so inclusive as guardianship, but is sufficient in this case.  The judge decided the mother didn’t need a guardian at this point, but will review the situation at a later date if guardianship is deemed necessary.

Carol Bradley Bursack, at Minding Our Elders, discusses the situation, Elder Guardianship – Some Tips.  She also points us to Petitioning for Guardianship at OurAlzheimer’s.com.

These articles will give you an introduction to the issue.  Each state generally will have its variations.

Have you had to acquire guardianship or something similar?  How has it worked out?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen 

Post from: Blisstree

Guardianship, Conservatorship & Power of Attorney for Alzheimer’s Patients

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

Post from: Blisstree

Caregiving for Alzheimer’s patient from a distance.

  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 Agingcare.com, has written an informative article, Tax Tips for Caregivers and Seniors.  She covers topics such as:

• Claim them as a dependent
• Medical expense deduction
• Dependent care credit
• Reinbursement accounts

She also mentions situations where you shouldn’t simply assume you know the answers.

You’ll find information about taxes at Kelly Erb’s Taxgirl in the Business Channel, too.

Do have responsibility for your Alzheimer’s family member’s taxes?  Don’t let it overwhelm you.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Tax Time Approaches for Caregivers & Alzheimer’s Patients

                                           

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.

Post from: Blisstree

Tax Time is Coming for Alzheimer’s Patients & Caregivers