Do Alzheimer’s Drugs Work?

Unfortunately, the answer is very little. There are three basic drugs that are prescribed for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s: Aricept, Razadyne, and Exelon. Follow-up studies have indicated that these medications at best slow the progression of symptoms. And that may be for only a 6-month period or so.

Sage advice?

Some evidence suggests that the herb sage may improve cognitive performance in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and boost memory in young adults, too!

Do You Have a Living Will?

Almost three-quarters of American don’t. A living will is a legal document that lists your preferences for life-prolonging care (for example, whether you would want a ventilator or tube feeding) in the event you are too ill to decide for yourself. It’s often combined with a health care proxy, in which you name a person to make health decisions for you. (The two documents are also known as advance directives.) For more information, contact us.

Are You a Veteran? When the time comes, do you wish to be buried in a Veteran’s cemetery?

A Veteran who was honorably or generally discharged is entitled to a free burial in a national cemetery which includes a grave marker. You will need to provide a copy of your DD 214/Separation Documents (discharge papers) to qualify. For further details, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at www.cem.va.gov.

What Do Funerals Cost?

In this area, a traditional burial including a casket and a vault will cost in the neighborhood of $7,000 -$10,000. That does not include such items as flowers, notices and transportation.

One convenient way of making sure such funds are readily available and not tied up in your estate is to open a joint account with a loved one with the express understanding that the money will be used for funeral and related expenses only. Another option is to make arrangements with a local funeral home and prepay as many expenses as possible. You would then make sure that your family is aware of these arrangements so the funeral home can be contacted immediately after your death.

Another possibility in lieu of a burial would be to consider using a cremation service. The cost of cremation in this area, including delivery of the boxed remains to the family, is approximately $1,000. Again, pre-death arrangements can be made so the cremation service can be contacted immediately to make all necessary arrangements.

Enjoy Our National Parks and Get Paid, too!

Retirees looking for part-time or seasonal employment may find work through the National Park Service. More than one-third of National Park employees are over age 50. In this area, jobs working in gift shops, at entrance gates, or providing informational talks to visitors, are available from the springtime through the fall.

For further information, visit the National Parks website at www.NPS.gov. There is also a private website that lists National Parks jobs at www.CoolWorks.com.