Volume 8 Issue 2
Summer 2018
Karla B. Levinson, Esq.
Tanya S. Sellers, Esq.
Contact Us:
Address:
1326 King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone:
(302) 656-3393
Fax:
(302) 656-1993
Website:
www.levinsonfirm.com
Did You Know?
Popsicles were accidentally invented by an 11 year-old San Francisco boy in 1905.
Frank Epperson used a wooden stirrer to mix sugary soda powder with water and left it outside on a cold night. The mixture froze and Frank licked it right off the stick! Epsicles were born!
Eventually Mr. Epperson’s children suggested he change the name of the frozen treat to what they called it: a Pop’s ‘sicle, or Popsicle.
Heat Stress in Seniors
With recent soaring temperatures, it’s important to take a minute to consider safety inthe heat. People aged 65 and older often suffer more severe heat stress than younger people, in part because:
- Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
- Older folks are more likely to have chronic medical conditions that change normal body responses to heat.
- Those 65 and older are more likely to take medications that impair thebody’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.Heat Stress typically manifests in two ways. The first and most serious is Heat Stroke.This occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’stemperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat and is unable to cool down. Heat Exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that develops after several days of exposure to high temperature and inadequate replacement of fluids. Symptoms of these ailments include:
- Extremely high body temperature
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Red, hot and dry skin (heat stroke)
- Extreme paleness (heat exhaustion)Nausea or vomiting
- FaintingTo help prevent Heat Stress:Drink plenty of cool, nonalcoholic beverages
- Rest
- Take cool showers or baths
- Stay in air-conditioned environments
- If possible, remain indoors during the heat of the day
- Avoid strenuous activities in the heatIf you see someone suffering from Heat Stress, immediately call 911. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to help cool the person down:
- Get the person to a shady area
- Cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can – cool shower,spray from a garden hose, wrap the person in a wet sheet, etc.
- Monitor the person’s body temperature if possible
Stay cool and safe this summer!
Connecting with Grandchildren
“Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, the greatest storytellers, thekeepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family’s strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.”
-Author unknown
From the age of 6 on, I was one of those fortunate kids with a resident grandfather. That was agreat blessing, but I regret very much that I didn’t ask for more details of his early life. Born in1864, he could remember times not long after the Civil War. Imagine the memoir he could have written!
Unfortunately, my days of living in a multigenerational household are now gone. There was a sense of continuity, safety, and caring in that arrangement, when a grandparent could take time to be with a growing child, take walks, sing songs, tell stories—and provide a stash of old-fashioned candy drops.
Now that I’m a grandparent, I realize that grandparenting is one of life’s greatest pleasures—or frustrations at times! I treasure the fact that I can offer unconditional love and acceptance without the anxiety and self-doubt that accompanied raising my own children. But times certainly aredifferent now. Sometimes it’s hard to accept today’s behavior standards, so radically different fromwhen I grew up. And the music—I need earplugs!
But one thing that hasn’t changed is the special love, the special bond shared between grandparentand grandchild. With many families living far apart these days, how can you create that bond?
Kids are so “scheduled” today that even If you live near each other, it takes effort to get together. Try offering up shopping, lunch, the zoo, a sculpture garden, an art or nature center, children’stheater, or other attractions (not necessarily including rollercoasters).
If you only see your grandchildren on holidays or special occasions, get creative. They’re apt to betechnology-savvy, so learn how to use email or Skype and even the (old-fashioned) telephone to keep in touch. Everyone loves to receive mail, so send cards and notes. Send school-age grandkids some notepaper and a self-addressed envelope to encourage them to respond with notes and artwork.
If visiting is impossible, write short bits about your life. I like “what I was doing at your age.” Takeit from me–whatever it takes, get to know your grandchildren and help them discover what you and the world were like in the not-so-distant past! It’s a wonderful legacy to leave.
This article is courtesy of Myrle Bowe. Mrs. Bowe is a Freelance Writer, Memoir Coach, and Speaker. Please visit her website at www.writerbowe.com.
This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, consult a licensed attorney. The examples used are simplified for ease of understanding and illustration of general concepts.
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The Highest Compliment Is Your Trust!
We would like to thank YOU for continuing to refer our firm to others. It is because of you that we can assist so many with their elder law needs.
A warm thank you to:
Steve Altshuler – Patterson Schwartz
Kevin Baird, Esq. – Baird Mandalas Brockstedt, LLC
Joe Bakey – Right at Home
Jamie Barnhart – Forwood Manor
George Brancati, Esq.
Colleen Brilhart – Brandywine Nursing & Rehabilitation
Megan Broomall-Filliben – Ward & Taylor LLC
Gary Bryde, Esq. – Crossland Heinle & Bryde, LLC
Mary Cable – Gilpin Hall
Robert Campbell – Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Valerie Carr, Esq. – Carr Law LLC
John Conly, Esq.
Lisa Cresci McLaughlin, Esq. – Philips, Goldman, McLaughlin & HallNancy Curran – Sunrise
Maria Darpino, Esq. – Levandowski & Darpino
Matt D’Emilio, Esq. – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC
Adam Gerber, Esq. – Morris James
Sally Goodman – The Kutz Home
Peter Gordon, Esq. – Gordon Fournaris Mammarella
Brooke Groff – Evergreen
Michele Holdsworth – Rockland Place
Meaghan Hudson, Esq. – Ward & Taylor LLC
Peter Kirsh, Esq. – The Kirsh Law Firm
Dr. Jay Luft – Wilmington Otolaryngology Associates
Lisa MacLennan – Foulk Manor North
Christie Moretti – Griswold Home Care
Joan Schneikart, Esq. – Delaware Department of LaborChristopher Smith – Edward Jones
Quinna Staten – The Summit
Peachy Tabangin-Griffin – Christiana Care Geriatrics SpecialistsJen Thielemann – Cadia Silverside
Tanya Sellers Elected Vice Chair
Tanya Sellers was recently elected Vice Chair of the Delaware State Bar Association Elder Law Section. The Elder Law section is comprised of Delaware attorneys who are interested in the impact of the law on the elderly, including but not limited to, issues relating to elder abuse and financial exploitation, adult guardianships, durable powers of attorney, advance health-care directives, long-term care and health insurance, government assistance programs, the use of trusts for special needs and long-term care planning. Congratulations, Tanya!
