Special Needs

It is a new strategy for Georgia, one of several states responding to mounting pressure from the Justice Department, which in recent years has threatened legal action against states accused of violating the civil rights of thousands of developmentally disabled people by needlessly segregating them in public hospitals, nursing homes and day programs.

For a family with a loved one who is mentally disabled, one of the hardest decisions they will have to face is determining the proper care for their loved one. Until recently, many mentally disabled persons have been placed in hospitals to live for the rest of their lie. While they are under constant care, there are social elements that are missing when living in a hospital. These social elements, such as sense of community, friendships, and activities like dancing, are essential for personal growth.

It is that time of season again! While we fret over  getting gifts for our children or doing more cleaning than we have done all year because the in-laws are coming, we are forgetting one important thing this holiday: our health. I am sure you have seen the advertisements Pharmacies and Drug Stores put out about getting the flu vaccine, but how important is it?

The CDC says that, 'Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death.'  Even I have to admit, I did not think that the Flu was serious enough to cause death, but in reality it does. In fact, over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. That is not a small number.

Just like with most things in life, salt is best in moderation. Salt has been around for thousands of years and has served multiple purposes from being a means to preserve meats to adding flavor to a dish. But did you know that too much salt can create health problems including high blood pressure and heart disease? It is not just the french fries or the potato chips that we have to watch out for, but items that are packadged and heavy card-based.  On National Eating Healthy Day, the American Heart Association developed a list of six items that we should be mindful of consuming because of their above average levels of sodium. Please click the link to find out what are the 'Salty Six'.

Each year, I make a list of goals that I want to accomplish for the year.  Some years, the goals have a theme – unfortunately, the theme is almost always the same:  lose weight, exercise more…

This year, I’m challenging you to make one of your New Year’s goals to get your estate planning affairs in order.  This is one goal that is easy to accomplish – I promise!

Here are 5 easy steps you can take to accomplish this goal.

1. Get educated about estate planning.  Attend an estate planning workshop or two.