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VanDyckLawGroup
QUARTER 2, 2023
VANDYCKFIRM.COM
And It Led to My Dream Team I Took Some Chances in Hiring
It feels like you’re taking a chance whenever you hire someone new to your team. This is a feeling every business owner has felt at some point in their lives, including myself. A candidate can have an exceptional interview, a wide variety of referrals, and plenty of experience, but they still might not mesh well with the rest of the team. However, there are times when you hire people with virtually no experience who quickly become your hardest workers and add a lot to the overall foundation of your business. Our team at Van Dyck Law Group is the best I’ve ever seen. Everyone on the staff does their best to assist our clients and is always willing to lead with kindness. Every team member brings something to the table, and when combined, their skills and talents are unmatched. They provide grace to each other and our clients. Everyone gets along, which makes the work experience much more enjoyable for our clients and us. Let me introduce some of our fantastic team members and share their stories about how they came to work with us. Many of you have already met Ryan Krocker, our associate attorney. I’ve known Ryan’s father for years, and I received a call from him a few years back informing me that his son was graduating from law school. He asked if I could talk to him about his future and what it’s like to be a lawyer. Now, I get these calls all the time. When I talk to these individuals, I set a strict time limit of 20 minutes. When
Ryan came in, 20 minutes passed in a blink of an eye. I enjoyed our conversation so much that we spoke for over an hour. When a position opened up, Ryan was the first person I called. He’s been with us for three years, and neither of us has looked back. John Odalen is our lead paralegal, and his growth has been incredible. John applied for an open paralegal position but had no relevant experience. I was amazed at his organizational skills when I met him. I knew he could get the job done and do it well. Here we are six years later, and he’s still impressing me daily. We took a chance on him that paid off! One of our more experienced team members is Linda Mundie, who joined our team a little over a year ago as our Director of Life Care Resources. Linda spent over 20 years in the long-term care industry, and I wanted to work with her for over two years before I convinced her to come on board. Through her voice of compassion and reason, she is able to help families when they don’t know which way to turn. Linda is the sounding board for me and many other team members, as she always provides excellent advice and ideas. Melanie Basil is our Director of Long-term Care Planning and is excellent at helping clients with Medicaid applications. I had known her for nearly a decade before she joined our team. She has a profound level of wisdom from past work experience and has
an eye for detail that helps us reach better solutions for our clients.
If you’ve ever called our office, you’ve probably talked to our receptionist, Gabrielle. She’s been with us for about a year and had no prior receptionist experience. I consistently hear compliments about her work ethic and compassion. She takes care of our clients from the very first minute they call. I would be remiss if I failed to mention our former Director of Life Care Resources, Sheli Monacchio. Sheli had an opportunity to go into business for herself but agreed to stay on board and run our Education Center. She runs the certified dementia practitioner course and puts together tremendous programs for family members going through a hard time. Sheli is a pleasure to work with and does her job so well that I refuse to accept her resignation! We also have Allen Porter on our team, who wrote one of these cover articles a few months ago, so I won’t speak much about him other than to say how amazing he and his stalwart assistant, Renee Dunn, are. We also have two new hires we are excited to welcome to the team. You never really know what you’ll get when hiring someone new, but it’s all worked out for the best for us! -Fiona Van Dyck
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Thought Back on Track
5 Documentaries to Watch on Earth Day Share the Facts With Your Whole Family!
“Plastic Island” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.)
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family. Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic’ — This short five-minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick
‘ Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix. ‘ Extinction: The Facts’ — This hard- hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids ages 16 and up. It tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS. org or Prime Video.
at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are
doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family- friendly and rated G. None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to find time to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
‘Kiss the Ground’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look
CHECK OUT THESE INFORMATIVE EVENTS
At the Education Center at Van Dyck Law Group
We designed the Education Center at Van Dyck Law Group to provide community members with resources and information on services and support regarding dementia, estate planning, and healthy aging. We have some insightful events coming up that you and your family won’t want to miss! All programs take place at the Education Center at Van Dyck Law Group, located at 707 State Road, Suite 107, in Princeton, and are open to all members of the community, clients, and professionals unless otherwise noted. Please call 609-580-1044 to register. When the Diagnosis is Dementia: 3 Action Steps That You Should Take Right Now When: Wednesday, April 12, from 10–11 a.m. Don’t allow an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis to devastate your life savings — this seminar shares how to prevent that scenario.
learn more about dementia. Attendance will count as CE hours for social workers, certified case managers, nurses, CALA, and LNHA. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Please call us at 609-580-1044 or email admin@vandyckfirm.com to register. The cost to attend this seminar is $200. Using Creativity in Dementia Care When: Wednesday, May 10, from 10–11 a.m. An overlooked aspect of wellness is creativity. You can enjoy art or creativity at any age, even if you are living with dementia or caregiving!
CALA, and LNHA. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Please call us at 609-580-1044 or email admin@vandyckfirm.com to register. The cost to attend this seminar is $200. The Dementia Journey When: Tuesday, June 13, from 10-11 a.m. Are you or a loved one dealing with a dementia diagnosis? Join us and learn how to turn roadblocks into detours.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar
When: Tuesday, June 20, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Where: Above and Beyond Training Center, 1152 St. Georges Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001 This seminar is required for caregivers and health care professionals who want to obtain their Certified Dementia Practitioner designation, or for anyone who wants to learn more about dementia. Attendance will count as CE hours for social workers, certified case managers, nurses, CALA,
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar
When: Wednesday, May 17, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Where: The Education Center at Van Dyck Law Group This seminar is required for caregivers and health care professionals who want to obtain
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar
their Certified Dementia Practitioner designation, or for anyone who wants to learn more about dementia. Attendance will count as CE hours for social workers, certified case managers, nurses,
and LNHA. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Please call us at 609-580-1044 or email admin@ vandyckfirm.com to register. The cost to attend this seminar is $200.
When: Thursday, April 27, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Where: Care One Hamilton, 1660 Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd, Hamilton, NJ 08690 This seminar is required for caregivers and health care professionals who want to obtain their Certified Dementia Practitioner designation, or for anyone who wants to
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LIFE WITH DEMENTIA BRINGS CHALLENGES
Overcoming the 3 Biggest Obstacles
You will experience many changes in your life after you or a loved one receives a dementia diagnosis. It can significantly change your plans for the future. Where you were once experiencing excitement and anticipation about retirement, you may now be filled with anxiety, stress, and even depression. A dementia diagnosis does not need to conjure up feelings of dread, however. Proper planning can change how you and your loved ones live for the better going forward. There are three common obstacles that make this situation difficult for people to navigate. They are your finances, home environment, and support system. Your financial situation can cause stress after a dementia diagnosis, as you will need to plan for long-term care. The average cost of long-term care in New Jersey is $14,000 a month, which most can’t afford. There are three options to pay for long-term care. You either pay this monthly fee yourself, use long-term care insurance — if you planned
ahead and bought long-term care insurance before your diagnosis — or you can apply for Medicaid. The Medicaid application process can be confusing, so contact us if you need any help. The next obstacle patients recently diagnosed with dementia must navigate is adapting their home
environment. Most people want to remain at home during these years instead of going to an assisted living facility. It’s possible, but you must prepare appropriately. From keeping doors closed to labeling hot and cold water faucets, you need to do a lot to keep yourself or your loved one safe. The final obstacle is establishing a strong support system. This is a must for those planning to stay at home. You may need someone to bathe, groom, or feed you consistently. Sometimes, communication can
break down, but you’ll still need someone to stand by your side and support you.
Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be difficult, but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the coming years. By planning, adapting, and overcoming these obstacles, you’ll put yourself in the best position. At Van Dyck Law Group, our team is specially trained in helping you adapt your plans after a dementia diagnosis. If you want more information, you can check out our blog or attend one of the upcoming classes at our Education Center.
Cod and Asparagus Bake
Van Dyck Law Group Education Center’s Upcoming Events Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminars These events are open to health care professionals only and cost $200 to attend. Please call 609-580-1044 or email admin@vandyckfirm.com to register. All seminars take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. • April 27 at Care One Hamilton, 1660 Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd, Hamilton, NJ 08690 • May 10 at the Education Center at Van Dyck Law Group • June 20 at Above and Beyond Training Center, 1152 St. Georges Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001 Community Education Topics (Open to the Public) • April 12, 10 a.m.: When the Diagnosis is Dementia — 3 Action Steps That You Should Take Right Now • May 10, 10 a.m.: Using Creativity in Dementia Care • June 13, 10 a.m.: The Dementia Journey For more information about these events, please see Page 2 of the newsletter!
INGREDIENTS • Oil for baking pan • 4 4-oz cod fillets • 1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 15x10x1-inch baking pan brushed with oil, place cod, asparagus, and tomatoes. 2. Brush cod with lemon juice, then sprinkle with lemon zest. Sprinkle cod and vegetables with Romano cheese. Bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes. 3. Remove pan from oven; preheat broiler. Broil cod mixture 3-4 inches from the heat source until vegetables are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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Inside 1 2
How the Van Dyck Team Came Together
Earth Day Documentaries to Watch Education Center Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Avoid Dementia’s Pitfalls Cod and Asparagus Bake Upcoming Events
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How to Nourish Your Relationships for a Good Life
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It ’s Never Too Late for a Good Life! 3 Ways to Deepen Your Relationships
Robert Waldinger, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, may have cracked the code on what constitutes a “good life.” Yes, he says eating healthy and avoiding cigarettes matter, but what is more important is actually nurturing your relationships with others, especially when aging. And if you think it’s too late for a good life, Waldinger disagrees. According to him, you are never too old to have a good life, and there are many things everyone can do to deepen their relationships and bring joy into their lives. So, if the relationships we have in our life hold the key to happiness, how do we even go about boosting them? Keep in contact. You can’t become closer to someone you never see, so the easiest way to deepen your relationships is to see people more often. If you have a friend you don’t talk to as much
as you’d like, ask them to set a standing coffee date every Saturday or even just once a month. By seeing someone more, you’re more likely to form a deeper connection and become closer over time. But what Waldinger emphasizes is this won’t always happen on its own, so don’t be afraid to ask your friends to meet up more often! Open up. Another way to nourish your relationships is to open yourself up to the other person. You don’t have to share your deepest secrets right off the bat, but try to be vulnerable a little more with the ones you care about. Next time someone asks, “How are you?” when you meet up, don’t lie and say “good” when you’re not. It’s okay to lean on a friend if you’re going through a tough time! This will result in you and your friend wanting to spend more time together because of the support and relief you feel from the relationship.
Be present when with your friends. We’ve all been there: A friend is talking to us about something, but we’re miles away, lost in thought. While this happens to everyone and is normal, try not to make it a habit. Waldinger says that by really making an effort to be present with your loved ones, you can make a deeper connection and have a more fulfilling relationship.
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