Finding quality dementia care is an important concern for countless families —and something we handle a lot with our clients at Rothkoff Law Group.
The news recently reported Bruce Willis—an actor needing no further introduction—is stepping back from acting because he suffers from aphasia. Speculation furthered that he is suffering from cognitive impairment or dementia. This news felt oddly personal. I grew up watching Bruce in Die Hard, Die Hard II, as well as the other installments, along with countless other films of his. Beyond the personal effect, it also illustrates the hard truth that age-related illness, like dementia, knows no limits. With an estimated net worth of $250,000,000, it would seem Bruce has the funds for the best physicians, medications, and treatments.
This news reminded me of a family our office is currently helping. While our elder care law firm serves families across a spectrum of health and wealth, the typical family we help is solidly middle class. Less typically is a family with great wealth. However, in this case, Mom and Dad owned a successful business, saved well during their earning years, and were active in the community. Now Dad suffers from advancing dementia. The family was lost and struggling to navigate the health and long-term care system to find what he needed and secure quality dementia care. While their financial and personal connections were far from that of Bruce, they still had more money and better access than most of their peers.
Unfortunately, money and access simply cannot stop dementia. In their current state, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is largely untreatable. Sure, some medications may slow the progression, and research continues. But the reality is that a focus on care, and revolutionary approaches to that care, are equally important as clinical research. Innovative care models, such as the dementia village of the Netherlands, better pay and training for caregivers, technological advances, and coordinated care planning are as likely, if not more likely, to yield better outcomes for patients.
On the recommendation of friends, the family met with our office. Their goal was simple: Get the best care for Dad and, in a sense, for Mom, too. The family realized that Mom was suffering in her own way, burning out from caring for Dad, sick with worry, and no longer sleeping. Our team developed a care plan for Dad and coordinated its implementation. Our care coordinators advocated for Dad as his dementia care needs changed, and they helped navigate the fractured healthcare system. Our elder law attorneys coordinated with the family’s financial advisors and tax professionals to identify resources for paying increasing care costs. The family, and Mom, found peace of mind.
“Get the best care and figure out how to pay for it without going broke.” The elder care law team at Rothkoff Law Group, including our care coordinators, public benefits specialists, and elder law attorneys, advocate for precisely this. We research, educate ourselves, and seek innovative strategies for the families we help. I hope that the resources he’s so fortunate to have allow Bruce to find similar resources of their own.