Study Finds Antipsychotic Drugs For Dementia Patients Increase Risk of Death

An interesting article discussing a finding that antipsychotic drugs for dementia increase the risk of death. I find equally interesting the numbers of elderly who are receiving antipsychotic drugs.  Click on the following link for the article, Click Here.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco)

My other blog for directors, boards, audit committees, officers, CEO’s, CFO’s, risk management, governance and compliance: http://directorofficernews.com

Recent Presentations: Probate Court Litigation; Elder Abuse; Mandatory Reporters of Elder Abuse

My recent presentations:

1. Probate court litigation for attorneys, trustees and caregivers;

2. Elder abuse – identify, stop, report and remedy; and

3. Mandated reporter requirements for elder abuse.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco)

My other blog: D&O, audit committees, boards, CFO’s, CEO’s, risk management, accountants, governance and compliance, http://directorofficernews.com

Collaboration and Resources to Fight Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse – Protective Services Referrals to Private Attorney Services

Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures – Shocking – From the Alzheimer’s Association

The following is a link to the facts and figures about Alzheimer’s, from the Alzheimer’s Association – shocking – click on the following link for the discussion, Click Here.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco and California)

  • See also my audit committee, director, officer, board, risk management and compliance blog, click on the following link http://directorofficernews.com

Alzheimer’s Cause Might Be Tau Protein – But At Law The Issues Are Mental Capacity, Natural Wishes, Fraud and Undue Influence

The following is an article about a new Mayo Clinic study, that the primary cause of Alzheimer’s might not be what has generally been thought:

“Amyloid – a sticky, toxic protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients — has been the focus of research and diagnosis for decades. But a new Mayo Clinic study published in the journal Brain shows that another toxic protein, called tau, may be a bigger culprit in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s over the lifetime of the disease.”

Click on the following link for the article: Click Here.

Many of my cases involve cognitive impairment or decline, whether it be diagnosed or called Alzheimer’s, or dementia, or traumatic brain injury, or lack of mental capacity, or cognitive impairment, or otherwise.

In conservatorships the issue isn’t the diagnosis, but whether the prospective conservatee has the ability to take care of and understand financial and/or daily living tasks and to resist fraud and undue influence?

And in will and trust contests or disputes, the issue is whether the decedent understood his or her assets and the effect of the provisions in the will or trust, and whether the will or trust provisions are what the decedent would have naturally wanted if the decedent had the mental capacity to understand his or her actions and the will or trust provisions, and to resist fraud and undue influence?  One additional comment: there is case law that you might not need to wait until after someone dies to contest or seek to invalidate a will or trust – this is an area of law that is developing and that is a positive development.

Dave Tate (San Francisco and California), http://californiaestatetrust.com

Top 10 List of Trust and Estate Beneficiary Rights

Click on the below video for my Top 10 List of Trust and Estate Beneficiary Rights.  I have also posted below the video the text of the discussion.  And feel free to forward this blog post to anyone who would be interested, including beneficiaries, and trustee and executor fiduciaries.  Thank you.  Dave Tate (San Francisco and California)

Text:

Hello, I’m Dave Tate. I’m a San Francisco, California civil, trust, estate, conservatorship and elder abuse litigation attorney.

After years of practice, the following is my top 10 list of trust and estate beneficiary rights in most situations.

And correspondingly, if you are a trustee or executor with fiduciary duties, satisfying these responsibilities will help put you on a good path. The following list is not in any particular order.

Here are the top 10 trust and estate beneficiary rights.

1st. To have the trustee or executor follow the terms of the trust or will.

2nd. To have the trustee or executor act and interact in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

3rd. For the trustee or executor not to self-deal.

4th. To have the assets go to the people who the Decedent would have intended if the trust or will isn’t clear or doesn’t reflect the Decedent’s true wishes.

5th. For the trustee or executor to prudently invest, spend and maximize the trust or estate assets.

6th. For the trustee or executor to take possession of and safeguard the assets.

7th. For the trustee or executor to timely and prudently manage and administer the trust or estate.

8th. For the trustee or executor to make timely distributions in accord with the terms of the trust or will.

9th. For the trustee or executor to reasonably provide timely information about the trust or estate, the assets and its management, as required. Note, as a beneficiary your requests must be reasonable and appropriate.

And 10th. For the trustee or executor to provide timely and proper accountings, as required.

If you are a trust or estate beneficiary you need to know your rights. Similarly, if you are a trustee or executor, you need to know and satisfy your duties and responsibilities to complete your tasks and avoid problems and possible liability. That’s it for now. Thanks for listening.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco and California), http://californiaestatetrust.com

Upcoming Presentations – (1) Probate Court Litigation; (2) Elder Abuse and Protection

Upcoming presentations:

(1) Probate Court litigation, for a group of estate planning attorneys, caregivers and fiduciaries, March 26, 2015.

(2) Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse and Protection, for the Riverside estate planning bar, April 16, 2015.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco and California)

Dementia care divides many families – from NBC

Dementia and how to care for the person who has dementia divides many families. Click on the following link for a good discussion about family dynamics and disagreements.  Estate planning documents can help avoid some of the issues – such as power of attorney, health care directive, living will, trust, and other documents.  Still disagreements and contests over who will be the decision maker and what care will be provided will persist. I’m reminded of a sibling family dispute case that I was involved in over Mom’s care, her diagnosis and prognosis, whether or not Mom could communicate by blinking her eyes, Mom’s wishes for her quality of life and care, and whether Mom would want to be or should be disconnected from the hospital machine support. Click on the following link for the NBC article, CLICK HERE

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco and California)

Massachusetts legislation to help with in-home care services and costs

The following is a link to a short discussion about possible legislation in Massachusetts to assist with in-home care services and costs, CLICK HERE.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco / California)

Undue Influence – From Martin Blinder, M.D. Post

The following is a post by Martin Blinder, M.D., about forensic psychiatry, undue influence and some possible indicators. It’s a good read for thought. Click here for the link.

Enjoy. Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco/California), http://californiaestatetrust.com