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August 2024
PLANNING AHEAD Estate Planning | Probate | Guardianships for Your Life Chapters
Watching a parent, spouse, or other loved one with dementia can be incredibly difficult, especially if you are the caregiver. As the disease progresses, the increasing challenges can conjure feelings of fear and worry. I recently read an article in The New York Times called “Racing to Retake a Beloved Trip, Before Dementia Takes Everything.” In this article, the author describes an overseas trip she took with her father after he started showing symptoms of dementia. In the days leading up to their trip to Italy, the father had difficulty finding things his daughter had provided for him, including his passport, packing his clothes, and more. While the daughter had noticed some symptoms previously, she found other reasons to account for his behavior. After realizing the full extent of her father’s condition, she grew worried that the trip would be too difficult for the both of them and felt it would be a disaster. She imagined that traveling with her dad would be like bringing a toddler along with her. Instead, reminiscing about experiences from his past reignited his memory. While listening to The Beatles, her father was able to recall memories of his youth. Conversations with his daughter allowed him to reflect on her childhood and how he managed after his wife passed away. Walking through Italy helped remind him of his father and mother. Here is what she discovered, “Simplify, slow down. People with Alzheimer’s often experience sensory overload. If it’s too loud, find a quieter table or go outside. Change your expectations. Don’t treat your dad like a child…honoring his role [as a father] means less friction when relieving him of responsibilities. It turns out this was good advice for me, too. What I grieved most with his diagnosis was the sense that I was losing my existential protector, the only person who witnessed the worst parts of me and somehow saw the best. But that was intact. I was lucky. In the most fundamental sense, he is still my dad.” The Power of Reminiscence A Journey of Rediscovery in Dementia Care
Diana with her Mom in Germany
This experience helped the daughter have much- needed positive moments with her father and gave her a new perspective. Her father isn’t the only one to rejuvenate memories after revisiting locations that house those valuable memories. This is the idea of reminiscence therapy. While reminiscence therapy worked for this father and daughter, there is no standardized approach. Taking a trip to your parent’s hometown or a place they remember fondly won’t always conjure up memories or allow them to reclaim some independence. Diana from our office is caring for her mom, who has Alzheimer’s. They spent the month of July in Germany, where they grew up. It has been a challenge, but it is bringing them all so much joy. Caregivers undertake an incredible responsibility that comes with various challenges that can shake their worldview. At times, it might feel as if your actions go
unappreciated, but you should know somewhere deep down, love and respect are still shared between you two, no matter how difficult the situation may become.
- Kim Boyer
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TAKE A LITERARY ADVENTURE
The Keys to a Thriving Book Club
like PBS Books Readers Club or the Seattle Public Library’s “Staff Picks for Adults 50+.” Others focus on a specific author, such as Jane Austen, and some clubs focus on a genre, such as mysteries or memoirs. If starting your own isn’t realistic, many public libraries host book clubs for seniors, and you can join at little to no cost (outside of finding a copy of the book, obviously). Check with your community library for groups in your area. Also, the AARP retiree organization sponsors a virtual book club called Senior Planet. The potential rewards are worth the effort. Reading opens the mind to new ideas and improves memory. Staying connected and socially active can enrich your life
in numerous ways, from improving your cognitive health to easing the negative effects of loneliness. Many book clubs take on a character all their own, such as a monthly wine-and-cheese party with a little casual reading on the side. Social media influencer Katie Iwanski illustrated this option in a hilarious TikTok video. Among the 11 guidelines she posted for her book club, she included the following: Everybody brings a bottle of wine; guests choose a food theme, such as “crostini night”; and discussion devolves from discussing the book and making cast picks for the movie version to opening more wine and letting the night end in chaos. And a good time was had by all!
Kim’s Mom loved these books
People of all ages crave human connection, and book clubs are an increasingly popular path to that common ground. Book clubs bring together people with common interests and offer opportunities to build friendships through discussion. If you want to be in a book club, one of the best ways is to start one yourself. Setting guidelines for how your club will work can take time and discussion with prospective members. Some groups focus on the month’s bestseller, while others select from lists published by groups,
GIFTS OF LOVE
How Complete Planning Can Secure Your Family’s Future
• Nurture the relationships and engage in communication that will support your plan and goals. • Create a letter of values so your beneficiaries understand your goals and principles. • Establish an organization system for all your documents, accounts, and everything else the trustee needs to move forward when the time comes. The first step in complete planning is essential and will put you ahead of most who have no plan at all. Creating a letter of values can turn your trust into a genuine gift of love. Doing so is as simple as writing a love letter, sharing how much you love and care about the
Complete planning can be the biggest blessing in your heirs’ lives when done properly. We recently did a trust for a father of two adult children. They came to us for guidance on administering the estate, and one of the sons told us, “This trust is a gift of love.” It made me think about what you can do to leave behind a gift of love through your planning. If you want to leave a gift of love of your own to the people who matter to you most, you should follow these five steps: • Create an up-to-date estate plan with your trust(s) fully funded. • Put together a financial plan that helps you meet your goals.
beneficiaries. While this document is not legally binding, your
loved ones will surely hold it in their hearts after you are gone. For the final step, I wrote a new book that is being published by Zeitgeist, an imprint of Penguin Random House, called “My Last Gift.” It will be released on Oct. 1, 2024. It helps you organize all your needed information in one place. If you have any questions about complete planning or creating an estate plan, call us today!
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Furry Friends, Happy Homes Create a Comfortable Haven for Your Canine Companion
We consistently adjust and add things to our homes to make them more comfortable, but we should remember our furry friends, too! Our dogs also deserve a comfy spot to rest, and doing so is as easy as picking up a few items from your local home improvement store. Since dogs spend most of their time on the ground, especially if you don’t allow your pups on furniture, you should make extra efforts to ensure the floor fits their needs. As dogs grow older, they will need more traction to move around. Soft rugs can provide them with a snug spot to rest. You might think that installing carpet is a better option, but dogs can have accidents and get sick more frequently as they age, putting your carpet at risk. Many stores also sell comfy, machine- washable dog beds at reasonable prices. Another area of your home you should pay attention to is your baseboards, as your furry friend may mistake them for chew toys. This is much more common in puppies, but dogs of all ages are susceptible to this behavior. The next time you’re out, pick up a bitter apple spray and use it on your baseboards, furniture legs, and anything else your dog may chew on to prevent them from tearing up your home. You might not think you need to buy new appliances when you get a dog, but it can help you maintain your home better. Certain vacuum cleaners pick up pet hair better than others. Additionally, you will need to run their beds and toys through the washer and dryer at some point, so ensure your appliances are up for the task. Finally, make sure you have a doormat or something for the dogs to walk over near your doors. This will prevent them from tracking mud, dirt, and other debris into your home. Bringing home a dog can be fun but requires preparation. Take these steps to ensure your dog is comfortable and your house is fully puppy-proofed for their arrival.
Take a Break
Quinoa Veggie Bowl
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced • 1 cup diced zucchini
• 1 cup diced mushrooms • 1 tsp dried oregano • Salt and pepper, to taste • 2 cups cooked quinoa
Directions 1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 2. Add bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 3. Add oregano, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. 4. Add the cooked quinoa and mix thoroughly. 5. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, then serve.
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10785 W. Twain Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89135 | 702-255-2000 | BoyerLawGroup.com BOYER LAW GROUP
Inside 1 A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia 2 Launch a Successful Book Club The 5 Steps to Crafting a Lasting Legacy 3 Create a Dog-Friendly Home With Simple Upgrades Quinoa Veggie Bowl 4 A Dog’s Thoughts on Back-to-School Season
CODY’S CORNER MY FAMILY’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL JOURNEY
Hello everyone, my name is Coco. I just moved into my wonderful forever home. Since Cody is no longer with us, I’m taking over writing this every month. There are two other dogs in the house, Tabby and Sofie, and we have fun together. And best of all, three kids who love to play with me — Alex, Ella and Jordan. Wow, how lucky am I.
But today, I feel left behind. The twins and their older brother are back to school. I asked, “What is this school you speak of and can I go too?” The twins start first grade and their brother starts second grade. They said that school is a place they go to where they learn new things, like math and writing in cursive. They said they love math, but their favorite part of the day is recess. I think I would love recess too. Unfortunately, this school is not for dogs. Do you have anyone going back to school? If so, you should encourage them and remind them that school is a wonderful thing and they will have so many adventures.
I will be lonely without them home all the time. I bet if you have a furry friend at home, they will be lonely as we all get busier when the summer heat is over. Maybe, as the days get cooler (or not so scorching hot) spend a little more time with your furry friends, take an extra walk or give a treat just because. To all those who are lucky enough to be going back to school, have an amazing school year! I look forward to talking with you all year long. And maybe sneaking into recess!
Coco
First Day of School Last Year
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