Page 8 - Palm City Spotlight - October '20

Page 8, Palm City Spotlight DOUBLE SPACE

FinanCial FoCus

Caregivers Must Also Care caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers to work with a legal professional to establish a financial
power of attorney – a document that names someone to
are daughters.
(Financially) For Themselves But whatever your gender or relationship to the individuals make financial decisions and pay bills when the person with
for whom you’re providing care, you can take some steps to Alzheimer’s no longer can. And whether you or someone
By Bryce Buchanan, protect your own financial future. Here are a few suggestions: else has financial power of attorney, the very existence of
Edward Jones • Evaluate your employment options. If you have to take this document may help you avoid getting your personal
If you’re a caregiver, time away from work – or even leave employment altogether finances entangled with those of the individual for whom
possibly for a loved one – to be a caregiver, you will lose not only income but also you’re caring.
dealing with an illness such the opportunity to contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) or other • Keep making the right financial moves. As long as you’re
as Alzheimer’s disease, employer-sponsored retirement plan. But you may have some successful at keeping your own finances separate from those
you’re probably already options, such as working remotely, or at least working part of your loved one, you may be able to continue making the
facing some significant time. Either arrangement can give you flexibility in juggling financial moves that can help you make progress toward your
emotional and physical your employment with your caregiving responsibilities. own goals. For example, avoid taking on more debts than
challenges – so you don’t • Explore payment possibilities for caregiving. Depending you can handle. Also, try to maintain an emergency fund
need any financial ones as on your circumstances, and those of the loved ones for whom containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses,
well. Yet, they are difficult you’re providing care, you might be able to work out an with the money kept in a liquid account. Of course, these
to avoid. What steps can you take to deal with them? arrangement in which you can get paid something for your tasks will be much easier if you can maintain some type of
First of all, you may be interested in knowing the scale of services. And as long as you are earning income, you can employment or get paid for your caregiving services.
the problem. Consider these numbers from the Alzheimer’s contribute to an IRA to keep building resources for your own There’s nothing easy about being a caregiver. But by
Association: About 5.8 million Americans ages 65 and older retirement. making the right moves, you may be able, at the least, to
are living with Alzheimer’s disease and in 2019, caregivers of • Protect your financial interests – and those of your loved reduce your potential financial burden and brighten your
individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias contributed ones. You may well want to discuss legal matters with the outlook.
more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care – worth about individual for whom you are a caregiver before Alzheimer’s This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your
$244 billion in services. Furthermore, about two-thirds of robs them of the ability to think clearly. It may be beneficial local Edward Jones financial advisor.
tip oF tHe tail

Prostatic Disease In Dogs Enlargement of the prostate gland is common with usually includes neutering your male dog to remove the
source of testosterone and estrogen. If infection is present,
most prostatic diseases. This enlargement puts pressure
on the urethra and urination becomes difficult and antibiotic therapy may be needed for weeks to months
uncomfortable and you may begin to see blood in the because it is difficult for antibiotics to penetrate into the
urine. An affected dog will spend a long time trying to prostate. Some cysts and abscesses may require major
urinate and the urine may only come out in a thin stream abdominal surgery. The prognosis for prostatic cancer is
or multiple spurts. If prostatic disease becomes more usually poor, but your veterinarian will discuss treatments
advanced and the prostate becomes larger, the colon will to keep your dog comfortable for as long as possible.
also be compressed, causing difficulty in passing feces. If your dog is showing signs of prostatic disease, bring
If your male dog strains to urinate or defecate, have him him to your veterinarian for a complete physical exam,
examined by your veterinarian. including palpation of his prostate, and to discuss further
There are many diseases that affect the prostate and diagnostics and potential treatment options.
range from benign enlargement, called hyperplasia, Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
caused by excess testosterone to potentially life Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
threatening prostate cancer. The prostate can also form for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
cysts or abscesses and can become infected by bacteria surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
traveling up the urethra. All of these diseases can present medicine, extensive diagnostics and emergency service,
The prostate is a small gland located near the urinary exactly the same and we may need an array of tests to Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
bladder of male dogs and produces some of the fluids determine the cause. The first step is to determine if the medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
found in semen necessary during breeding. It surrounds the gland is enlarged by palpating the prostate through the owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
urethra which carries urine from the bladder to the outside abdominal wall or through the rectal wall. Additional www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
world and lays beneath the colon. This is why prostatic tests may include radiographs, ultrasound, urinalysis, Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
disease will often result in problems with urination and/ urine culture, cytology and/or biopsy of the prostate.
or defecation. Most dogs that are neutered when young Once we have a diagnosis, we can aim the treatment at
rarely have prostate problems as they get older. the specific cause of the prostatic enlargement. Treatment
L
L AVARGNA AW PLLC

.
. Wills and Trusts
. Probate
Real Estate Closings
. Business Matters

ANTHONY LAVARGNA
ANTHONY LAVARGNA
Member of the Florida Bar
Licensed in the United States
District Court, Southern and
Middle Districts of Florida

CARRIE LAVARGNA
CARRIE LAVARGNA
Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)
Board Certified
Real Estate Attorney
REAL ESTATE
We provide quality, personal legal services to individuals and
businesses in Martin and St. Lucie Counties and
throughout the Treasure Coast.
1805 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart Financial Center, Stuart, FL 34994
.
.
772 286 7521
- REAL ESTATE PRACTICE TIP -

If you rent commercial o ce, retail, or warehouse space, Florida sales tax rate to use
commercial real property decreases to 5.7% on January 1, 2019. The local discretionary

sale surtax still applies. This decrease does not apply to parking or storage of motor
vehicles, docking or storage of boats or tie-down or storage of aircraft.