Resources
Chambliss Estate Planning Newsletter – May 2024
Limited Spots Remaining: April Showers Bring May Flowers…to Chambliss!
We’re excited to host this fun and engaging event for a second consecutive year! Your overwhelming enthusiasm last year inspired us to continue this tradition of helping happiness bloom.
Join Chambliss’ Estate Planning and Elder Law Team on May 16, 2024, in honor of National Elder Law Month to create spring bouquets for a loved one, your favorite elder, or yourself! Flowers have been proven to reduce feelings of depression, stimulate memory, and encourage social contact.
Those who do not wish to take their bouquets with them can leave them and the Chambliss team will donate their arrangements to a local senior living facility.
We are excited to partner with Flowers by Gil and Curt again for the blooms and floral guidance.
Navigating the Driving Dilemma: Strategies for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
By: Sally Brewer
While facilitating a monthly circle of support for caregivers, I’ve noticed one of the most distressing issues they face is the “driving dilemma,” meaning their loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia continues to drive a motor vehicle. Some individuals in the early stages of dementia can successfully operate a vehicle. In fact, a diagnosis alone does not automatically lead to losing the capability for long-standing pursuits such as driving. The area of the brain that affects long-term memory is typically the last to deteriorate, so it may be much later in the disease’s progression that rote skills noticeably begin to fade. However, even early on, there is an increased risk of accidents or getting lost for individuals with dementia who drive. Nevertheless, the notion of giving up driving and losing this badge of independence will likely generate a whirlwind of pushback and challenging behaviors from your loved one with dementia. It’s important to be aware of and proactively plan out this complex and sensitive matter.
The major deficits that impact a person with dementia while driving are typically not seen easily and outwardly with the naked eye. However, with some investigating, you may notice visual-spatial issues, poor peripheral vision, slower reaction times, and general confusion about standard road rules. Perhaps you’ve even noticed minor dents or scratches on the car. All of these sensory and executive function failures are indicators that you need to implement a strategy. As our elder law team often says, “Not having a plan is a bad plan.”
To read the full article, click “Read More” below.
Estate Planning Resources
Is a Personal Injury Settlement Taxed?
Approximately six percent of adult Americans experience an activity-limiting injury every three months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injuries can happen because of carelessness, such as distracted driving or a slippery floor at a restaurant or store. In fact, accidental injuries are also the fourth-leading cause of death…
States With the Highest and Lowest Assisted Living Costs
Today, 58 million adults in the United States are 65 and older. Seniors make up more than 17 percent of the American population. The U.S. Census Bureau expects this number to reach 83.7 million by 2050.
Meanwhile, one in every seven older adults will at some point need to rely on long-term care services in their later years. As a result, the growing number of aging Americans is creating an increased need for assisted living options…
Supplemental vs. Special Needs Trusts: Any Difference?
Have you heard the terms “special” needs trust and “supplemental” needs trust and wondered what the difference is? The simple answer is that there’s no difference.
Whether supplemental or special, these trusts serve the same purpose of helping meet the needs of individuals with disabilities while still permitting them to qualify for vital public benefits programs. However, there are different categories of special needs trusts and important differences between them that warrant a longer explanation…
Upcoming Events
Scenic City Adaptive Cycling
Where: Tennessee Riverpark | When: May 13, June 10, and June 24, 2024
This is an adaptive cycling program for individuals with disabilities. Hand cycles, tandem bikes, and three-wheeled bikes are available. Outdoor Chattanooga will bring their bike fleet for additional support and traditional bikes are also available to check out. For more information or to sign up, please contact Elaine at eadams@chattanooga.gov or call 423-643-6607.
Chillin’ Like Villains Lookouts Baseball Game
Where: AT&T Field | When: May 13, 2024
Chillin’ Like Villains is an adult social group for individuals who have various disabilities, ages 18 and up. They meet once a month at different locations around town and do a variety of activities such as attend sporting events, potluck dinners, themed evenings, and more. They have reserved a limited number of tickets for the group that will be free to one participant with a maximum of one parent or caregiver per participant. In the event people would like to attend, you will need to purchase a general admission ticket in order to sit with the group. Please RSVP by May 16 to Jessie at jmock@chattanooga.gov or 423-643-6606.
T-Recs
Where: Greenway Farms Conference Center| When: May 16, 2024
T-Recs is a teen social and recreation group that meets monthly to play games, socialize, explore the outdoors, go on outings into the community, and more! The goal of this program is to increase social skills while participating in leisure and recreation opportunities with peers. To sign up, please contact Jessie at jmock@chattanooga.gov or 423-643-6606.
Catalyst Climbing Clinics
Where: High Point Climbing Gym | When: May 21, 2024
Catalyst Sports is a nonprofit organization based out of Atlanta whose mission is to empower people by providing the highest quality of adaptive sports to the disabled community. This event is for individuals with disabilities, ages five and up. To sign up, please contact Jessie at jmock@chattanooga.gov or 423-643-6606.
Scenic City Adaptive Kayaking
Where: TBD | When: May 29, June 12, and June 26, 2024
This is an adaptive kayaking program for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. The program typically runs biweekly for the warmer months of May-October. Equipment is limited so registration is mandatory. For more information, please contact Elaine at eadams@chattanooga.gov or (423) 643-6607.
Summer Dream Night
Where: Chattanooga Zoo | When: June 4, 2024
Dreamnight is an event that welcomes all individuals with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or special needs and their families or caregivers. Dreamnight is a free VIP event featuring your favorite furry friends! To get your free tickets, click here.
Also Check Out
Mexican Drug Cartel Targets Retirees and Their Timeshares
One of Mexico’s most violent criminal groups, Jalisco New Generation, runs call centers that offer to buy retirees’ vacation properties. Then, it empties its victims’ bank accounts. Cartel employees posing as sales representatives call up timeshare owners, offering to buy their investments back for generous sums. They then demand upfront fees for anything from listing advertisements to paying government fines. The representatives persuade their victims to wire large amounts of money to Mexico — sometimes as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars — and then they disappear. Read the full article to protect vulnerable loved ones from becoming victim to this widespread scam.
