My Valentines Day tribute to the Elderly

Few people really know my wife.  She is an awesome person and most people would agree.  What most people don’t know is that she has a great sense of humor and keeps the whole family laughing.  She has this saying between us “we don’t celebrate love”.  She says it being sarcastic but it’s her way of saying we shouldn’t spend much money on the romantic gifts around days like Valentine’s day or Christmas.  We do celebrate love every day.

For my clients, the elderly, they do have a hard time celebrating love.  The elderly are typically dealing with a spouse that is losing capacity and life is not very fun for them.  Many of the elderly have lost the love of their life due to death or due to the mental decline that plagues so many.  Days like Valentines Day bring up the memories of good days in the past and remind them of what they don’t have now.  It is many times a very sad day for them.

I want to take this opportunity to say Happy Valentines day to those whom I love and those who love me; my wife, my mom, my kids and many other people in my life that have influenced me throughout my life.  If you know of an elderly person that may have a bad day today due to the loss of a spouse due to death or incapacity, give them a call and let them know how much they mean to you and that you love them and thank them for loving you.

About the Author, Todd Whatley:

Todd Whatley is the founding partner of the Elder Law Practice of Whatley and Elrod, and the Managing Attorney of the Springdale, Arkansas office, serving the legal needs of the elderly in Northwest Arkansas, including Springdale and Fayetteville.  Todd Whatley has been working in elder law field since 2000, and became Arkansas’ second certified Elder Law Attorney in 2006.  The Elder Law Practice of Whatley and Elrod is focused on the legal needs of the elderly and their families.  Todd Whatley is a regular speaker for Continuing Legal Education seminars teaching other attorneys about elder law.

About the Elder Law Practice of Whatley and Elrod:

The Elder Law Practice of Whatley and Elrod is Arkansas’ largest Elder Law practice, with four locations through the state of Arkansas, in Bryant, Fort Smith, Springdale, and Bella Vista.  Todd Whatley and Justin Elrod, the managing partners at the Elder Law Practice, are committed to serving the legal needs of the elderly in Arkansas.  Their services include estate planning, creating wills, trusts, avoiding probate, special needs trusts, Medicare, Medicaid, and more.  The Elder Law Practice of Whatley and Elrod also specializes in VA benefits, assisting Arkansas veterans in getting the benefits and assistance that they have earned during their time spent serving our country.