An elder law attorney at Frank & Kraft can provide you with invaluable advice if you are diagnosed with a serious condition such as Alzheimer’s or if you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, any type of dementia, or any progressive condition. 
Being a caregiver and being a patient can both be stressful, but it is imperative that you have the right plans in place and make effective use of legal tools to enrich quality of life, protect your finances, and ensure that the very best possible care is provided. You should give us a call to find out about the ways in which an elder law attorney at our firm can provide personalized help and support in connection with Alzheimer’s and other progressive conditions.
You can also make use of many different resources that are available that will help you to cope with your condition or care for a loved one with a serious ailment. For example, CBS 4 Indy just recently reported on a new Facebook app that is specifically designed for caregivers of patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s.
New Facebook App Aims to Support Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients
According to CBS 4 Indy, the new Facebook app aimed at helping caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s was developed by researchers at IUPUI. The app is specifically intended for use by unpaid caregivers, such as spouses and other family members. The goal is to provide these caregivers with the support that they need as they do a difficult job.
There are around 15 million unpaid caregivers who are currently providing support to Alzheimer’s patients across the United States, according to the IUPUI researchers. Previous studies have shown that among caregivers, there are higher rates of cardiovascular disease, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
IUPUI researchers developed the app as a part of a study of peer support group intervention. In this group intervention, some of the issues that the group members experienced ended up being put on the Facebook page’s of caregivers to ask for input from friends. Facebook friends were then provided with an opportunity to enlist as a support network member and to answer questions posed by individuals within the support group.
The researchers discovered that when the questions which had been asked were answered, the caregivers reported they felt an increased level of support. This was called “friendsourcing” because close friends that were part of the caregiver’s network were able to provide information and assistance. The study that assessed the benefits of this “friendsourcing” was the first one of its kind.
An assistant professor at IUPUI commented that this was a positive development and showed how social media could be used for good. According to CBS 4 Indy, the assistant professor at the IU School of Social Work who was a member of the research team looking at the benefits of the Facebook app commented: “Given the recent problems of social media, our study provides evidence of the social good that can be obtained with social media.”
Getting Help from an Elder Law Attorney After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
After a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or any other serious medical condition, it is important to talk with an elder law attorney. Both a patient who has been diagnosed with an ailment and a caregiver can benefit from the advice that an attorney can provide.
For example, Frank & Kraft can offer insight into creating advanced directives for healthcare, using a power of attorney to give the caregiver the necessary tools, making a Medicaid plan to afford home healthcare or nursing home care services and more.
To find out all of the different ways that an elder law attorney at Frank & Kraft can help you, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 317-684-1100 or contact us online at any time to learn more.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
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