Galit, a nurse who works full-time at a geriatric center. She remembers very well the time when she had to communicate for the first time with a dementia patient from the department where she worked. She was a young nurse at the time and had just finished her bachelor’s degree in nursing. The patient she had to communicate with for the first time was called Shoshana. A 70-year-old woman, who was diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, about two years ago. After working in the geriatric department for several months, one thing was very clear to her: there are many caregivers who are still not sufficiently aware of how to properly communicate with dementia patients.
A nurse makes eye contact with an elderly woman suffering from dementia – illustration picture.
Tips for effective communication with dementia patients-
Remove all the environmental factors that may hinder you from communicating with the person with dementia such as: an open television, a beeping cell phone, a radio, and more.
Speak slowly and clearly, use simple words.
Ask him closed questions and make sure that all the questions you ask can be answered yes or no. Instead of asking, what would you like to have for lunch? Ask, would you like to eat a sandwich with cheese?
Speak clearly and use the names of the people and things you are talking about. Instead of using body words such as: she, he, they – did you like it? Ask did you like the cake?
Try to have short conversations with him. People with dementia may lose the sequence of the conversation, if you have long conversations with them.
Give the dementia patient time to respond to your questions. Try to avoid frustration, if the time you have to wait for an answer is longer than expected.
More tips for effective communication with dementia patients –
Talk to the dementia patient at eye level. Address him by his first name, to make sure you have his full attention.
Try to have one-on-one conversations with him. If you cannot avoid talking in a group, try to make sure that you talk to one person at a time.
Try to avoid finishing the sentence for the dementia patient. If he insists on finding the right word, think about the topic of the conversation and ask a question that should help and stimulate what he wanted to say. If the dementia patient tells you – I want… I want… ask a question such as – do you want to go for a walk?
During the conversation, never say to the dementia patient, “I told you so before.” It is important to remember that if the person starts repeating the things he said before, and asks you repeated questions. It is possible that, he simply forgot that he asked the same question before.
Try not to argue with the dementia patient, as this will make them feel anxious. It is much more effective to accept what he says as the truth and continue the conversation.
If the dementia patient has behavioral disturbances, help them gain control. Think of tasks or activities he can do that can help him feel appreciated. For example, daily activities that he used to do and enjoy. Activities he can do at home such as: folding clothes, or cutting vegetables before dinner.
An elderly woman tries to remember – photo illustration.
Latest tips for proper communication with dementia patients-
Give the person with dementia clear and helpful instructions. When his cognitive (mental) state continues to deteriorate, control must be maintained with him through simple and effective communication. If you ask him directly – “Can you make me a cup of coffee please?” The request can cause him frustration. On the other hand, if you offer him to make coffee together with you and guide him through simple instructions. This way, you can give him back his sense of control. Instead: “Can you make me a cup of coffee please?” “Please fill the kettle with water”, “Boil the water”, “Take the coffee beans out of the cupboard” etc.
I will be flexible to their world! Many people who live with dementia lose track of time. If the dementia patient is not ready to talk to you at that moment, try to understand the reason for this. It’s possible that he just woke up, or he was up all night, or he’s just not in the mood to talk, or he wants to rest and watch TV. It is important to remember that, if you do not receive any response from the dementia patient, you must continue to talk with him patiently and respectfully. All this, in order to avoid frustration and a feeling of lack of appreciation.
It is very useful to find sources of mental support! When dementia worsens, it is important to have someone to talk to. You have to take breaks and gather strength for the rest of the way.
Know when to walk away! If the dementia patient becomes irritable or threatening, take a deep breath and walk away. Remember that living with a dementia patient is not easy – you can always come back and try to deal with it later.
In conclusion-
You must remember that the dementia patient is not always responsible for his actions. It is the terrible disease that causes his behavior and the gradual deterioration of his brain functions. I really hope that one day there will be a cure for this disease. But, now you must learn how to deal with its consequences. The best way is to focus on the positive things you achieve with the person dealing with dementia. Try to spend every day with him as much as possible.
Written by Irit Rabinowitz – attorney with a master’s degree in the field of health and rehabilitation – with extensive experience with mentally ill and nursing patients.
Alzheimer’s – one of the most common diseases in the world, and still incurable. Despite the emergence of new technologies in a wide range of medical fields; We are far from finding the solution that can detect Alzheimer’s in the pre-clinical stage or get rid of the disease. But, there is a wide variety of technological innovations in the treatment of Alzheimer’s;
Innovations that help patients and make their lives easier. This time we will talk about the most useful innovations that can help your loved ones live a better life.
1. Photo phone – one of the simplest, but most exciting innovations in Alzheimer’s treatment.
Alzheimer’s patients face memory loss that increases over time; Phone numbers are among the first things that become confusing for them. A photo phone, like the one in the Alzheimer’s store can be very helpful in these situations.
This useful technology is like the smartphone version of Alzheimer’s patients. Many of the models include the option to save a large number of dialing numbers for emergency services and the numbers of loved ones.
In the case of the phone the memory photos; The numbers have been replaced by large buttons where you can save small pictures of the nearest contacts. The patient can easily make a phone call to the desired number with one click on the picture of the person with whom they want to communicate.
2. Devices for detecting wandering
Alzheimer’s patients develop a tendency to wander in public places; There is a danger that they will get lost if they are not looked after properly.
Devices like Jiobit can be a real help when you need to locate your loved ones; To the extent that they forget their surroundings and get lost. Jiobit is a secure clip device with Bluetooth, GPS and WIFI connection that allows you to keep your loved one at home and outside the home.
This device also allows you to set a geographic limit (GEOFENCE) around a certain location so that you will receive an alert if the wearer of the device crosses this area. Jiobit also remembers the patient’s movement patterns and alerts when there is a change in them.
3. The Alzheimer Master – one of the social innovations for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Master is actually an application with the help of which you can record the voice of a familiar and loved person.
By recording your voice you can create a reminder to take medicine, drink water, eat, etc. You can also use these recordings as an alarm clock, so you will prevent your loved ones from a lot of anxiety that can be caused by a normal alarm sound. Hearing the voice of a familiar person can be much more soothing than the sound of an alarm.
Furthermore, the application can record the user’s responses so that you can understand how he is doing by examining the data. Alzheimer’s Master is available for all Android devices at a cost of $10 for full use. You can also download for a free trial period.
4. Amazon’s Alexa (voice activated assistant)
Alzheimer’s patients may reach a point where they feel like a burden on their caregiver or family. Sometimes even simple things like today’s date or time can be regularly forgotten. Dealing with this forgetfulness can create a stressful situation for both the patient and the caregiver.
A voice-activated assistant like Amazon’s Alexa can be very helpful in this regard. A voice-activated assistant can be used for alerts and reminders, playing music, telling jokes and just having an interactive conversation with the patient.
These devices can answer questions non-stop and the questions can be repeated as many times as the patient wants. These advanced technologies can help Alzheimer’s patients feel less alone, and experience more control over their condition.
They can also be used to control things like the temperature in the room and the intensity of the light according to the needs of the patient.
5. Silver Mother (The Silver Mother) – an innovative home sensor for treating Alzheimer’s.
when one of the family members is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease; These are the loved ones who find themselves on the standard of caregivers. They soon discover that caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is a full-time job.
You have to monitor the patient’s activity, keep them busy, take care of their safety, make sure they have taken their medication, help them with their daily chores and many other things besides these. The therapist can’t always keep track of everything; This is exactly the point where Silver Mother comes into action.
This device includes several sensors that can help monitor sleep patterns, medication alerts, activities, etc. of the Alzheimer’s patient. The sensors are small and simple and can be used to recognize the patient’s normal behavior patterns, and to receive an alert when there is abnormal activity.
All the sensors are connected to each other through a mother hub connected to the router.
6. Calendar apps
These apps are intended for caregivers; Apps like Google Calendar can be used to keep track of all the tasks the caregiver needs to complete.
The calendar can create automatic reminders for monitoring one’s medication intake; important visits and doctor appointments; And many things besides. Caregivers can also collaborate using the calendar and share tasks with each other; This way, several people can keep track of the appointments and reminders.
7. Improving the quality of life – Spark Memories Radio
– Music has been proven to calm and relieve anxiety and to help improve the mood of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Spark Memory Radio is actually an application that includes a collection of thousands of old songs. Tunes that take us back to the thirties and allow caregivers to schedule a playlist for their loved ones at the push of a button. The app is available for Android and Apple devices and costs $9.99 per month.
We probably have a long time to wait until the day when we wake up to hear about the first cured Alzheimer’s patient. But despite this, with the help of the appropriate technological innovations, we have the ability to make patients’ lives happier, less stressful and as comfortable as possible.
Sarah Aharoni, 65, knew something was wrong since the incident.
When the day started everything was great: blue and clear skies, the sun was shining, and for the first time all the cousins would come together for the annual spring celebration at her house. She planned everything perfectly and was in the middle of preparing the meal. The roast was already in the oven, the potatoes were already boiled, the vegetables were cooked…
Sarah was a healthy woman. She worked once a week, took care of her diet, slept as usual; But despite everything, the fact could not be avoided – Alzheimer’s disease began to develop and its symptoms increased every day.
While visiting the doctor together with her husband Alex, the medical diagnosis was confirmed. Sarah has Alzheimer’s in a pre-clinical stage that gradually develops into the first stage of the disease.
The diagnosis – Alzheimer’s
The doctor began to explain the options available today for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. The existing drugs try to reduce the effect of Alzheimer’s symptoms and help improve memory, or think clearly.
The drugs work by helping patients maintain the ability to perform daily activities (for example, showering by themselves, preparing food, engaging in activities outside the home), for a slightly longer period than would be possible without the drugs.
But, among the abundance of experiments in treating the disease with drugs and chemical methods (many of which have failed), hope has also arisen among the Alzheimer’s community; Is it possible that a change in lifestyle will lead to a decrease in the effect of Alzheimer’s?
The connection between the heart and the head
Scientists are extensively researching a theory according to which there is a connection between the health of the heart and blood vessels and the health of the brain.
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease and its onset can be prevented if the brain remains healthy. The connection between the heart and the head indicates that preventing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, etc., which damage the heart, can also prevent Alzheimer’s. Research in this area includes:
Improving lifestyle through: Using a strict schedule of eating, sleeping and exercise routines according to the symptoms we are dealing with, there is a chance to reduce the progression of the disease and help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle that includes sufficient sleep and a balanced diet can also prevent blood pressure problems, cholesterol and heart disease (all of which are risk factors for Alzheimer’s) and thus keep the heart, blood vessels (and brain) healthy.
Experiments on existing drugs to prevent risk factors in the heart for Alzheimer’s disease: for example, blood pressure drugs are tested on Alzheimer’s patients to see if they reduce the symptoms.
According to the latest studies, theories are emerging that indicate that Alzheimer’s is not limited solely to a genetic factor; It also depends on the person’s life habits, social interaction, sleep cycle, diet, mental happiness, etc.
Therefore, if a person can change their habits and follow a routine that is perfectly adapted for the purpose of fighting Alzheimer’s symptoms – this may produce a change in their health.
Sarah chooses Alzheimer’s treatment
Sara decided to choose this course of action for the treatment. The doctor performed a comprehensive scan of her body and combined the data with the information about her symptoms and genetic information.
All the information was entered into an algorithm which adjusted the routine for her. This included 8 hours of sleep, 14 hours of fasting (starting in the evening), physical training such as running, swimming, walking and more.
After a few months of following this routine, she began to feel changes. The extreme change in lifestyle significantly reduced the symptoms. This may not be a long-term solution, but at least the effect of the disease has been delayed.
Besides the scenario described above, there are also other ways that are being tested as a way to treat Alzheimer’s. Here are some of them:
Focusing on amyloids for the treatment of Alzheimer’s:
Amyloids are amyloid beta protein deposits that are considered a characteristic symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment methods offered below are designed to prevent the development of amyloids (ie to stop the disease):
The drug Saracatinib (Saracatinib) to prevent the destruction of nerve cells:
Amyloid beta proteins in the body may stimulate another protein called Fyn and activate it aggressively. When the FYN protein is overactivated it causes brain degeneration. If there is a way to prevent the activation of FYN, it will be an important milestone on the way to treating Alzheimer’s; This is where sarcatinib – a drug designed to prevent cancer – enters the picture.
When the drug was tested on mice, the drug turned off the action of the FYN protein and stopped brain degeneration and helped the mice reverse some of their memory loss. The researchers are working to conduct experiments on humans and test the drug’s capabilities in preventing Alzheimer’s as soon as possible.
Monoclonal antibodies:
Monoclonal antibodies are a drug used to prevent amyloid formation. It also helps in removing amyloids and removing amyloid beta proteins from the brain. The drug solanezumab (solanezumab) works this way and is in trial stages among patients in the pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer’s.
Beta-amyloid blockers:
One way to prevent amyloids is by stopping the production of amyloid beta protein. Various production blockers are used in experiments to block the activity of the protein.
Prevention of inflammation:
Alzheimer’s causes mild inflammation (swelling, redness and irritation) in the brain tissue. The drug Leukine is currently being studied as a means of preventing the inflammation that should prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s.
What is the best Alzheimer’s treatment?
Unfortunately, we are just beginning to explore the possibilities and still do not have an answer…
Although drug therapy for the purpose of reducing symptoms is widely used, lifestyle changes – such as those of Sarah Aharoni – can certainly be the most effective treatment for Alzheimer’s that we will use in the future.
However, no two brains are the same, this is why each treatment affects each Alzheimer’s patient differently. We all hope that one day in the future, we will reach the day when the cure for Alzheimer’s is not a dream but a reality.
Looking for information on how technology can impact Alzheimer’s care? Enter the article – technological innovations for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
One of the most disturbing symptoms of dementia is: the person suffering from dementia repeats the same questions over and over. I will present you 6 ways that will help you maintain your peace in your communication with the patient. In addition, dementia patients will be helped to regulate stress and anxiety.
Why do dementia patients ask repetitive questions?
Most often, the dementia patient repeats the same questions, for two main reasons: a. He just forgot what he asked before. B. He feels anxiety, insecurity and tension which make him ask the same questions to calm the anxiety he is in.
For example: the day before Mom’s doctor’s appointment, Mom asked several times – whose appointment is and when is the appointment? On the day of the appointment itself, she asked the same repeated questions every 20 minutes. Also, a few hours before the actual appointment, she asked every 5 minutes, the same questions over and over again. This is because she became more nervous as the doctor’s appointment approached.
6 tips on how to deal with a dementia patient who repeats the same questions?
1. Live their current reality-
A very common and completely natural mistake is to correct the dementia patient. Also, to remind him that the reality that he forms as correct, is actually not correct.
Below is an example case: Shoshana (pseudonym), lived with her family in Haifa, in 2012, when her room was in the attic. Today, in 2019, her family moved to Nahariya, in an apartment without an attic. Shoshana, now with advanced dementia and asks repeated questions every day about the time when she still lived with her family in an apartment with an attic in Haifa, in 2012.
For example, questions like: “When will Bugs the dog come downstairs to my room?” or “When will you fix the banister on the stairs to my room?”
In the above case, Shoshana got stuck on certain significant events from her past, which causes her to remember them over and over again and therefore she repeats and asks about the same events over and over again.
The response that can be more helpful is to participate in her experience, for example: when she asks questions of the above type, you should respond as if we were still living in 2012 in an apartment with an attic in Haifa.
For example: “The dog is currently on a walk outside with one of the children.” Or one of the children will bring the dog to the attic, to keep you company.”
There can be situations in which the person with dementia will recognize where he is and what year he is living in, and there will be situations where he will not.
Below are interesting books on the subject of dementia:
2. Use white “lies”-
It is recommended to use them, especially in cases where the dementia patients wish to perform tasks that may endanger their lives. For example – let’s take the same lady Shoshana, if she insists on driving a car, because she is sure that she drives well. It is absolutely permissible, in order not to hurt her feelings, to tell her that the vehicle is now in the garage and cannot be used. It is better to give space to their feelings, than to try to explain things to them that they will not understand or remember anyway.
Another reason why you should use a white lie is to prevent them from pain or grief. For example: explaining to Shoshana that her sister has passed away may cause her pain and sadness, which the family members taking care of her will have to deal with. Instead, it’s better to tell her that her sister is out shopping now. Which will cause Shoshana, most likely about 20 minutes later, to forget that this fact has already been told to her and she will ask the same question again.
Using white lies, for the demented person, is a better way than telling him the truth that could hurt him and make him in a bad mood. Especially, when there is a reasonable chance that that person will forget the truth that was told to them about 20 minutes later.
You are invited to join our WhatsApp group – on old age diseases:
3. Distract them-
Dementia patients sometimes have a question stuck in their head and they can’t find ways to get rid of it. The way of action that helps them in these situations is to distract them with an action or a task that needs to be done. For example, let’s take Shoshana’s family, if Shoshana asks the same question over and over again, it is very useful to distract her with a sentence like: “Let’s make the sandwich together”. Or “come fold the clothes with me now” etc.
4. Prepare a white memory board for them –
It is very advisable to prepare a small white board for them, on which they will have a list of what tasks they need to perform during the day. When the tasks are written on the board, the demented person does not need to ask the same questions over and over again, because everything is written in front of his eyes. Even if he asks the same question again, just show him the white board with his tasks for the day and it can calm him down for the next few minutes.
The onset of dementia is not the same in all patients, nevertheless, doctors have managed to divide the typical course of the disease into seven main stages. The duration of the disease ranges from 3-20 years, with the average period of time being 4-6 years from the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s (dementia)Alzheimer’s (dementia) until the patient’s death.
In the first stages, it is very difficult to notice the existence of dementia. After that, the patient begins to forget small things, such as people’s names, the location of objects that have always been placed in a fixed place. After that, he forgets what he wants to say. Reads a story chapter and forgets that he read the chapter at all. Later, he forgets what he ate for breakfast. Begins to lose interest in hobbies that he used to engage in enthusiastically. Also, also loses interest in the environment in general. Does not recognize people in his immediate vicinity and from here the situation only gets worse.
In this article, the 7 stages of dementia will be detailed for you, so that you can identify which stage of the disease your family member/patient is in. This is in order to make a diagnosis and start treatment on time and also to know how to prepare for each stage.
Sad dementia patient.
Stage 1 of dementia – before the disease –
At this stage, there are no noticeable symptoms of the disease. The patient looks and sounds perfectly healthy. The disease cannot yet be diagnosed at this stage. After that, small symptoms, begin to give their signals. However, these symptoms still seem relatively normal and cannot be associated with dementia.
Also, some symptoms may develop gradually and go undetected for a long time.
Stage 2 – mild forgetfulness that is still associated with age and not dementia.
A slight forgetfulness begins, which does not yet cause the environment to suspect that it is dementia. The patient forgets things such as: forgetting where objects are, locking the door. At this point, it is still difficult for a geriatrician to diagnose dementia.
Stage 3 – mild cognitive impairment that begins to hint at dementia.
The environment begins to notice that a mild cognitive disorder begins, the cases of forgetfulness become more frequent. For example: forgetting where the keys are, finding them and after a few minutes forgetting where they are again. Placing objects in inappropriate places. For example, putting a garment in the kitchen cupboard. The patient tends to forget names, fails to learn new names, has difficulty functioning in society or at work, has difficulty reading and generally has difficulty organizing and planning in advance. This stage lasts between two and seven years.
Stage 4 of the dementia disease – stage of moderate dementia –
A stage where the patient begins to lose orientation in time and space. This is the stage where the geriatrician must give a diagnosis, because the symptoms start to become clear to the environment. Examples of this stage: forgetting what the patient saw and heard on the news. Forgetting what he ate for breakfast that day. Inability to concentrate on one thing for a long time. Losing interest in activities that the patient previously liked to do.
Damage to the ability to think abstractly in complex tasks, damage to the ability to plan activities or perform complex cognitive operations (such as managing a bank account). Also, difficulty remembering personal events from the past, and physical weakness.
Stage 5 of dementia – noticeable cognitive decline that requires getting help.
At this stage the patient suffers from a noticeable cognitive decline, which requires getting help. For example: forget what the address is. Forgetting exactly where the patient is and whether it is morning, noon or evening.
The patient is confused, his ability to perform complex actions deteriorates. In addition, his ability to decide and adapt his behaviour to social norms and rules is impaired.
Nearly 50 million people were diagnosed with dementia in 2017, worldwide. Most of them live in developing countries. The number is expected to double in 20 years.
Stage 6 of dementia – severe cognitive decline.
This is a stage where it is already very difficult for the patient’s family to take care of the sick person alone and in need of help. The signs are: forgetting the identity of his relatives and the people closest to him. Completely forget how to perform daily activities.
At this stage, the patient has difficulty sleeping, begins to lose control over the sphincters, becomes more suspicious, suffers from false thoughts, hallucinations and compulsive behaviors. Also, at this stage, many of the patients tend to go wandering, when they very quickly forget the purpose of going out and may get lost and endanger themselves.
Stage 7 of dementia – most severe cognitive decline –
The patient at this stage loses his ability to communicate and speak. He needs daily help with very simple tasks. He needs help with everything because his muscles and reflexes become inflexible – he cannot get to the bathroom in time, has difficulty walking, sitting and even holding his head and swallowing. This condition usually lasts a few months, but sometimes also long years of inability to function and the need for constant nursing.
In conclusion-
There is an estimate that 75 million people may suffer from dementia by 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050. In any case, only 20-50% of cases in developed countries are identified in statistics. In developing countries the situation is much worse, with the majority of the population remaining undiagnosed during their lifetime. Spreading awareness of the disease and its various stages can significantly reduce the pain and costs required to treat the disease. It’s all up to you, share the important information in the article and spread awareness of the disease today!
Let’s start with an example from the field: on the subject of a guardian and his duties –
A client, who is not sure if it is worth starting a guardianship process for a mother suffering from moderate dementia, came to consult a social worker. The client told her that her mother is still able to recognize people but sometimes forgets what day it is. Also, her mother began to suffer from delusions as well. The client was sure that her mother was still sane and able to make decisions for herself. Despite the fact that it was explained to her that the disease is progressing quickly and may later impair her mother’s judgment. The daughter nevertheless refused to start the guardianship process.
One day, the mother fell and needed surgery on her broken leg, at the same time, the daughter discovered that her mother was in a much worse cognitive state than she thought. The doctors were not ready to perform an operation without the consent of the mother, since the doctors noticed that the elderly woman was not capable of this, it was decided to perform a mental test for her. The mother got a low score on the test. As a result, the hospital’s attorney-in-fact made temporary guardianship of the mother’s body only.
The process took several days until a guardianship order was received by the attorney general and during this time until the surgery, the mother suffered severe pain in her leg. The mother had to take painkillers to deal with the pain. Such a case could have been avoided if the daughter had started the guardianship process before the fall.
Why even start a guardianship process?
As people age, many of them suffer from dementia. As the dementia process worsens, the person suffering from the disease needs more help during the day. Elderly people with dementia are at physical and financial risk as a result of their vulnerability to physical, emotional, financial abuse and decisions without judgment.
These patients need more protection. For example, an elderly person who refuses to let a foreign caregiver enter his home, or refuses to enter a nursing home, may endanger himself and his surroundings, if the same elderly person has had a stroke, can no longer communicate and needs help 24 hours a day, he can no longer satisfy his opinion on the matter The help he gets. These are the reasons why he needs guardianship.
What exactly is guardianship?
A guardian is a person chosen to make personal decisions for another person. The other person is unable to make important decisions for himself such as: where will he live and what treatment will he receive? An elderly person can have more than one person as a guardian for him. It may be that he will receive a guardian for his body and property separately. There may also be a situation where there will be more than one guardian who is responsible for body and property together and each one separately. It means that if one is not available to come and sign consent for the surgery, the other will come in his place and vice versa.
Are you suitable to be a guardian?
If you take on the role of guardian, you must once every six months, update the general guardian on behalf of the court about the material condition of the elderly. You need to make sure with yourself if you really understand the role you want to take on before you become a legal guardian for the elderly.
If becoming a guardian for an elderly person is too heavy a responsibility for you, there are other alternatives that you can think of such as:
power of attorney in the bank.
Preliminary instructions.
decision supporter.
Lasting medical power of attorney.
*Details of which will be written later, it should be noted that the above options can be done as long as the elderly person still has sound judgment, that is, there can be a cognitive decline, but the judgment is still considered sound. In order to check the mental state, you must consult a geriatrician or psychogeriatrician.
In the case of an emergency, for example, of an urgent operation, if the elderly is unable to make a decision, his judgment is not correct, there is a possibility to make a temporary guardian for him for the required medical operation. The validity of the aforementioned temporary guardianship expires, when the aforementioned medical procedure ends.
The decision whether to perform guardianship over the elderly dear to you?
The family court needs proof that the elderly is indeed not legally competent to make decisions. It is necessary to prove that that elderly person is unable to make basic decisions for himself such as: where to live, unable to provide himself with food, clothing, take care of himself physically or make financial decisions for himself.
In what cases will it not be possible to be appointed as a guardian for the elderly?
Lack of experience in financial matters mainly.
Conflicts and interests.
low education.
minor.
Lack of legal capacity of the person who wants to be a guardian.
Advanced age (over 75).
The guardian has a number of obligations including:
Body guardianship versus property guardianship – are you interested in performing a body or property guardianship or perhaps even both?
When you ask to be appointed as a guardian for body and property, you are actually asking to be responsible in all respects for the elderly. Being a guardian of property means that you have to take care of that person’s property and assets in a way that best serves their interests.
“The court decides who to appoint as a guardian, while maximally protecting the interests of the person to whom a guardian is appointed, when several guardians can be appointed for the same person.” Taken from Reut – a caring family.
Evaluate confidential records and present them when necessary.
agree or disagree with certain medical treatments.
Agree or disagree with travel plans that the confidential, is interested in taking.
Choose a suitable place of residence for the confidential.
To provide personal needs and clothing needs.
Ensure that a doctor sees the insured once a year and provides a letter describing the insured’s health status.
to make sure that the confidential receives a response to his personal needs.
To take care of the rights of the confidential.
9. Forms that must be filled out for the purpose of follow-up by the general guardian-
Within 60 days from the date of appointment, a report must be submitted to the general guardian detailing the person’s assets and liabilities, known as a “statement”. The statement will detail all of the person’s assets, rights, and obligations. The information included in the statement must be updated and correct as of the day of appointment. The statement will be prepared on the attached form and must be Be verified by an affidavit. The affidavit can be verified before any lawyer. In any court this service is provided with a symbolic title.
A “living basket” form is also attached to these instructions. This form is intended for determining the person’s monthly spending budget and must be submitted for the supervisor’s approval. Determining a living basket will help you in budget planning and may make dealing with the bank easier. In the “living basket” form, you must fill in current monthly income and expenses that characterize one normal month, and submit it, as much as possible, within 90 days of the appointment.
For information on the execution of the guardianship process, see an article explaining the guardianship process in Israel.
Written by: Irit Rabinowitz, attorney M.A in social work, in the field of health and rehabilitation.
