In the middle of a conversation, I sometimes can’t immediately recall the title of a movie I just saw or the name of a friend’s child, whom I’ve known for many years. Although I try to laugh off this type of lapse as a “senior moment,” it actually feels disconcerting, and I can’t shake that uneasy feeling until the title or name eventually pops into my head. These lapses in memory may increase in frequency as we age, and for certain individuals who suffer from dementia, they’re the norm. Unfortunately, these individuals may become vulnerable to financial and psychological abuse.
In “Financial Elder Abuse/Exploitation: An Epidemic?” p. 50, Barry A. Nelson and Cassandra S. Nelson take on this complex topic and address an attorney’s obligation to get involved, as well as the risks in doing so. Attorneys counseling elderly clients also face other fraught issues, for example, when is it time for a client to move out of her own home and into some kind of assisted living facility? In “Time to Go?” p. 63, Eloise Stiglitz explains what’s involved in that decision and the different options available. Rounding out our Elder Care Committee Report this month are updates on legislative and case law developments in elder law (“Recent Developments and Trends in Elder Law” by Letha Sgritta McDowell, p. 45) and a round-up of initiatives in the Trump administration that may affect the elderly and disabled (“Trump Initiatives Affecting Vulnerable Populations,” by Michael Gilfix, Vincent J. Russo and Harry S. Margolis, p. 57).
Finally, I’d like to announce a new member of our editorial advisory board. Miguel Ferreyra de Bone is now on our Investments Committee. Miguel is the head of operations at Acrux Partners in New York City. He focuses on environmental, social and governance investing. We welcome Miguel and look forward to working with him.