The author’s parents recently were in a restaurant in the small town in north Georgia where they live. As dessert came, two men approached his parent’s table. The elder of the two, always the Southern gentleman and ever gracious, complimented his mother on the way she was dressed, then turned to his father and said, “Now I want you to be sure and come by the office tomorrow and sign those papers. We’ve got to get them to court. ”
Such an interchange could occur anywhere. What is important about this event is that the man in question was an attorney by training but had not practiced law for at least ten years and had no business dealings with the author, father for even longer.
The man was successful, being both diligent and smart in his dealings with the courts and clients. However, as he approached his retirement years he became neglectful of his personal appearance and some of his business dealings. He had struggled with alcohol abuse early in his life and had overcome this problem with the help of his law partners. When these new problems of attention to his personal care, business, and social relationships became evident, those who cared for him actively sought to resolve them. He was fortunate that he had business partners who would protect him from the consequences of neglect of important matters and a family who would intervene when needed. As his problems with memory progressed he gave up the practice of law, turned the care of his various business interests to others, and concentrated his efforts on the tasks of retirement. Because of his children’s knowledge and timely intervention, this was a success story for him and his family. However, without thoughtful care, planning, and a willingness to intervene by concerned family members the outcome could have been disastrous.
J. Ray Hays provides an overview of the legal issues that Alzheimer families need to be aware of to ensure that careful planning can be made well in advance of the need for legal intervention. Families facing the difficulties of dealing with a relative who has Alzheimer’s disease need to be aware of the protection and assistance they can obtain from the courts. Families with specific legal problems should consult an attorney who deals with such issues. Elder law, wills, estates, and trusts are an emerging specialty in the law, and a family who takes the time to find competent assistance will be rewarded.
Will patients have easy access to the places they will need to go restrooms, dining rooms, and activity rooms? Are there pictorial signs in easily observed places to facilitate the patient finding important places such as a restroom and perhaps his own room? For example, all restrooms might be painted orange with a picture of a toilet on the door. Perhaps the patient’s picture and name in large letters might be on the door to his or her room. When confronted with a corridor of many doors all of which look alike, the 
Dementia is not a diagnosis but a broad symptom complex and can result from a variety of causes. It mayor may not be reversible depending upon the underlying cause. The symptoms of dementia consist of disorientation, poor memory, reduced intellectual functioning, reduced judgment, and alterations in emotional background. Implicit in the definition of dementia is loss of everyday skills.
What would help you feel more in control? Perhaps getting off the subway, going to a quiet park, getting away from all the strange sights and sounds would help reduce the anxiety and the restlessness. It would be reassuring if someone would communicate with you by slowly providing gestures, simple words, and maybe even pictures to help you understand where you are and what is happening. 
During the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the patient’s family may be confronted with the decision to provide nutritional support therapy by nasogastric tube or total parenteral nutrition (TPN), administered through a tube into the esophagus or stomach. Such decisions, often difficult to make, usually reside with family members after consultation with the attending physician.
Families need to look for those homes that are flexible and open-minded in their approach to the patient. It is extremely important that the staff demonstrate understanding and affection toward Alzheimer patients. When visiting a nursing home, notice the interaction of the staff with the patients, Are patients introduced by name? Does the administration have someone on staff to show the facility, to point out special features and programs designed for Alzheimer patients, and to answer any questions that might arise? Are there specialized activity programs for Alzheimer patients?
giver’s home. Therapists may attempt to change levels of communication to more straightforward patterns by showing the family how to communicate well. Then again, therapists may engineer changes in one person’s behavior that will automatically change the whole family’s way of communicating.