Brenda, that lawyer is a crook!   Our elder law attorney charged us only
$750 for EVERYTHING, including all documents, consultations, all of it.
And he is a JUDGE!

You should look for another lawyer.  Better yet call the office for the
aging in your town, or the alzheimers association, and ask them to recommend
one.

Brenda, listening to people vent is one of the things we do best!  So any
time you need to get something off your chest, come right on.
I know what you mean about getting a heavy man up when he falls.  My husband
had weighed 200 lbs. once but had lost  a little weight after the AD
started.  He fell  in the yard once with me and two neighbor ladies helped
me get him up.  He fell in his walk-in closet one night and I had to call
one of the men in our development to come get him up.  One of the saddest
things to me was one morning when Grayson went to dress.  I always laid his
clothes out for him but he could handle putting them on.  This morning
however, he walked into the kitchen where I was holding up his pants and
said, "What do I do with this"?  I could hardly keep from crying. We do know
something of what you're going through.
Gwen

Hi again, its Brenda from TX.  I talked to a attorney.   He wanted a
$5000 retainer before he would even  give me any advice about my
situation.  I thanked him and left.  Had to take hubby to the dentist
this week.  He had a fall in the locked unit and broke a tooth.   I
bought him a hamburger before we got there.  He didnt even know how to
pick it up.   I  put it up to his mouth and he tried to suck it!    I
have never seen him do that before.  Tried to get him to drink his coke
with a straw next.   He wouldnt even try.  I eventually (after much
coaxing) got him to open his mouth and he ate half of his burger.  Its
so sad and frustrating.  He was such a dynamic man before the AD,  Now,
he is on a toddlers mental level.   Unfortnately, the nursing home where
he is doesnt have transportation.   I will have to hire someone the next
time I take him out.  He fell with me 2 times.   He weighs around 170
and I had hell getting him up.   Well, sorry to ramble on but I just had
to vent.   Brenda

Could you check to see if he is certified in "Elder Care?"  Here in
Florida, where we have all kinds of vultures hovering around the elderly
and infirm, the code of ethics of those who are so certified seems to
exclude blood-sucking.  Check with your local Bar to see if, just
perhaps, they may know of someone who will help you without trying to
make extortionate profit off your circumstances and the natural
desperation that accompanies them.

The Dowager's elder-care attorney cost her $250.00 for consultations,
and another $250.00 to craw up *both* the documents I needed in order to
care for her (Durable Power of Attorney and the Florida equivalent of
the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care).

I doubt I would have been that restrained.  Except, of course, for the
realization that I can't help the Dowager if I'm in jail on a charge of
assault and battery....

Venting is good.  Back when the 'Net was new, we used to call it a "core
dump" from the habit UNIX machines had of printing out their complete
logs whenever they crashed, so that the programmer(s) might be able to
locate the problem that caused the crash.  And even if we're not as
capable, under these circumstances, as those early masters of code in
the diagnosis of the precise problem, the human element seems always to
feel much better after a core dump.  I've found it helps.

Baird

Ask your local Alzheimer's Association for a referral to an
attorney who is not like this bloodsucker.  Given the corruption
of the Texas courts, you really do need a competent attorney to
review your situation.

On May 8, 6:51 am, mak...@webtv.net wrote:

Brenda:

I absolutely agree with the others here - stay away from that
attorney.  He should be ashamed of himself.  We got a great lady who
took care of everything and even settled my late Mother's estate.  I
think the TOTAL cost for everything was somewhere in the vicinity of
$2,000.  You were wise to walk away.  The eldercare attorney we used
was recommended by the social worker who gave us a lot of other great
information.

My Aunt, who was diagnosed with alzheimers, finally got to the point
where she wouldn't eat right.  It's sad.  I can't even begin to
imagine how this must be for you.

Perhaps the nursing home has a folding wheel chair you could borrow
the next time.  It probably wouldn't hurt to bring another person with
you, either.

Take care, and don't worry about venting.  You're going through a lot
and you deserve to be able to vent.

Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

On May 8, 5:51 am, mak...@webtv.net wrote:

Brenda,
  My heart breaks for you.My mom was at the stage where she could not
pick up a sandwich either.Sometimes she would suck on the side of a
water bottle trying to drink it.It breaks your heart.My mom passed in
january  and i am so glad she is finally whole again  in heaven.Take
care,Barb