Pacing us thru the ebb and flo of the progression
I am my husband's caregiver. We are entering the 2nd phase of this challenging disease. Being in charge I often get overwhelmed
with all the decisions. Work is starting to tax him, I think we will need for him to file for disability.
I don't know much about that actually and a couple of the disability attorneys I called said weird stuff like don't call us b4 you've been out of work for at least 6 months. So I'll maybe call for a referral from the bar maybe. I know there are things we need to fill out regarding his care and what he wants, etc He is still driving to work but at some point I will have to get my license again. It expired when I was going through breast cancer and I couldn't drive anyway. Then I had to retire my business to go help my sister with my mom who was in Hospice the last month of her life. He doesn't ask questions about his condition. He just trusts me to keep all the balls spinning. He is 61 and I just turned 71 12/31.
You definitely have a lot going on; I can understand why you would feel overwhelmed! Many decisions need to be made while caring for your loved one, and having to shoulder it all by yourself can put a lot of pressure on you. It is great that you have started to reach out for legal help, but the responses that you are receiving sound incredibly frustrating. Have you considered speaking with an elder care attorney rather than someone specializing in disability? I'm sharing an article about the "Paperwork Power Team" that can be helpful when trying to put your affairs in order: https://alzheimersdisease.net/living/navigating-paperwork. We also have a Caregivers Resource Center that might be helpful to you: https://alzheimersdisease.net/resources/caregivers-resource-center. Let us know if you have questions - we're here to support you however we can! All the best, Patty (AlzhimersDisease.net Team Member) 
Hi , it can be daunting, so many things to do, and feeling like you are going in blind. Please know you're not in this alone. There is always support here, and a friendly ear for those times you just need to vent.
You can find a list of articles dealing with disability benefits here: https://alzheimersdisease.net/search?s=disability%20benefits. You may also consider contacting alz.org for some advice specific to your situation, and a referral in your area.
I hope that helps. Sending lots of (((hugs))) - Donna (team member)
I really appreciate how your family has pulled together to support and help one another. There are a lot of balls to spin and it does get taxing. I hope that you can find the legal relief that you need. Happy birthday, by the way. Scott AlzheimersDisease.net Team Member I went through this with my husband who was 54 at the time. He's 58 now. All I did was went to the disability office and filed for him. After one time being turned down they set up a psychological test for alzheimers. I had that sent in. The social security office then had me write a letter the second time. I put, the alzheimers is not going to go away. They accepted our request for social security benefits. I know it seems complicated but I can tell you are smart and had your own business. Just follow the instructions of the social security system. You definitely don't need a lawyer. God bless you in this new chapter of your life! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with ! It's great to have different options to try, especially ones that have worked for others! We appreciate you being here being a part of this community. 💜 Patty, AlzheimersDisease.net Team Member
