Care Conversations
April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
Wednesday, 17 April 2013 10:43
At Elder Law of East Tennessee, we see a good number of people who have Parkinson's Disease. Families tell us that early symptoms include increasing unsteadiness, falls, fine motor tremors, somewhat clouded cognition or judgment, and flat facial expressions. Parkinson's Disease is a progressive brain disorder in which dopamine-producing neurons are damaged over time, causing a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. In layman's terms, this means that the individual may know that they need to move their legs to walk, but the neurons which carry that message to the lower extremities are short-circuited. Sometimes they work; sometimes they don't.
In February of last year I wrote about the 
Since the CHOICES program underwent some major revisions in July of 2012, consumers and service providers have been questioning the logic of denying coverage to Group 3 beneficiaries for care received in assisted living. I am excited this month to share what looks like a ray of hope that the omission will be rectified.
Last year I did 
After a 15-week distance learning course, I am proud to announce that I now hold an Elder Care Coordinator certificate! In September 2012 I began an online course offered through the Stockton Center on Successful Aging in conjunction with the 