Receiving a dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, leaving families with more questions than answers. In this episode of Advice from Your Advocates, host Bob Mannor sits down with Alejandro DeJesus, Chief of Mentor Services at Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC).

Discover how PAC is radically transforming the dementia experience by shifting the focus away from what a person has lost and toward what they can still do. Alejandro breaks down Teepa Snow’s innovative Gem States model, explaining how understanding these unique brain states (from Sapphire and Diamond to Emerald and beyond) can completely change your approach to caregiving. Tune in to learn practical, person-centered communication strategies, explore the benefits of professional mentorship and coaching, and find out how to bring more positive, meaningful moments into everyday life.

Key Takeaways:

• Beyond the Diagnosis: Why standard medical stages often fall short and how the Gem States model offers a more practical, human-centered way to understand brain change.
• The Power of "What’s Left": Actionable strategies for focusing on remaining abilities rather than deficits.
• Practical Care Partner Tips: Simple ways to adjust your approach, reduce daily friction, and build empathy when communicating with a loved one.
• Resources for Families: How to tap into complimentary 30-minute consultations, online Champion courses, and Teepa Snow’s vast library of educational tools.

🎧 Subscribe & Listen: Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to Advice from Your Advocates on your favorite podcast platform, visit us online at mannorlawgroup.com, or watch the full video interview on the Mannor Law Group YouTube channel.

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...

Healthcare can feel like a maze built out of short appointments, confusing insurance rules, and medical records that never seem to follow you to the next office. Elder Law Attorney Bob Mannor sits down with Dr. Terry Adirim, a board certified pediatric emergency physician, author, and former senior health official, to talk about what actually helps older adults and caregivers get safer, faster, more effective care in a system that often feels fragmented by design.

We get practical about patient advocacy and health literacy: what information to keep in one place, how to prepare for a doctor visit so you leave with real answers, and why a concise medical snapshot can be more useful than a thick binder or a 3,000 page chart export.

We also talk through Medicare and health insurance basics that matter in real life, especially the moment a plan denies a medication, changes its formulary, or demands prior authorization.

The big point: most people never appeal, but appeals can be simpler than you think, and involving your physician can make a major difference.

Then we dig into AI in healthcare without hype. You’ll hear where AI is already showing up, including ambient scribes, imaging support, and administrative tools, plus how patients are using large language models to interpret test results and translate jargon into plain English. We also cover the risks that hit older adults hardest, including privacy concerns, bias, access gaps, and what gets lost when technology misses human context.

Subscribe to Advice From Your Advocates, share this with a caregiver or professional who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find these tools for navigating aging, Medicare, and modern healthcare.

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...

In this episode of Advice From Your Advocates, Certified Elder Law Attorney Bob Mannor and Certified Dementia Practitioner Savannah Meksto shine a light on an issue many families overlook: caregiver burnout. Caregiving for a spouse, aging parent, or child with special needs is physically, financially, and emotionally exhausting. When a caregiver’s health fails, the entire family care plan unravels.

Bob and Savannah break down alarming statistics on caregiver mortality and depression, highlight three major red flags indicating it is time to seek outside help, and explain how legal and financial planning, including Extraordinary Power of Attorney, spousal protection planning, and special needs trusts, can safeguard both the caregiver and the care recipient.

To learn more about how Mannor Law Group can support caregivers, their loved ones, and families, visit our website: mannorlawgroup.com

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...

Why is talking to aging parents about money, estate plans, and long-term care so uncomfortable? For many adult children, asking about finances feels like reaching into a parent's private purse—or like being overly concerned with an inheritance. But avoiding these conversations doesn’t make the future go away; it just leaves families facing sudden crises when options are limited and emotions are high.

In this episode of Advice From Your Advocates, host Board Certified Attorney Bob Mannor and co-host Savannah Meksto, CDP, break down how to approach these multi-generational talks without guilt, shame, or fear. They share practical icebreakers, expose common myths about outdated legal documents, and explain why failing to plan ahead can lead to costly court battles or unintended consequences for blended families.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Overcoming Guilt: Why caring about your parents' finances isn't about greed—it’s about protecting their future.
• Simple Conversation Starters: How to bring up powers of attorney, wills, and care preferences without starting a fight.
• The "Doctor Visit" Rule: Why a legal plan from 20 years ago is like claiming you're healthy based on a doctor's checkup from 2001.
• Common Estate Planning Pitfalls: The dangers of online fillable forms and why adding an adult child to a property deed often backfires.
• Planning for Life, Not Just Death: Protecting assets and navigating long-term care during your lifetime.

Need help starting the conversation or creating a plan for your family? Visit us at mannorlawgroup.com or call 1-800-990-6030 to schedule a consultation.

We'd love to hear from you!

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...

In this special solo episode of Advice From Your Advocates, host Bob Mannor, a nationally board-certified elder law attorney in Michigan, takes a deep dive into a revolutionary concept in long-term care: Caregiver Trusts.

Most people have an estate plan that dictates what happens after they pass away. But what happens during the years prior, when you need regular assistance with daily living? Simply saying "I want to stay in my home" isn't a strategy; it often leaves adult children overwhelmed, underpaid, or facing family conflict.

In this episode, Bob covers:

• The difference between traditional estate planning and true "life planning".
• How a Caregiver Trust works for both high-net-worth individuals and families utilizing government benefits.
• How to fairly compensate family caregivers without causing sibling rivalry.
• Smart financial strategies to leverage your assets, IRAs, and home equity for long-term care.
• How to relieve the emotional and financial burden on your loved ones before a crisis hits.

Whether you have saved a substantial nest egg or are navigating limited resources, learn how a Caregiver Trust helps you maintain your quality of life on your own terms.

Subscribe to Advice From Your Advocates wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode!

Host: Attorney Bob Mannor, CELA, CDP

Executive Producer: Savannah Meksto, CDP

Producer: Shalene Gaul

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...

Are you running your life or just reacting to it?

In this episode of Advice From Your Advocates, host and board-certified elder law attorney Bob Mannor sits down with wealth management expert Joe Mackey of MKD Wealth. Together, they pull back the curtain on the critical, often ignored intersections of family caregiving, estate planning, and business succession.

Whether you are a family caregiver trying to keep the peace among siblings, a business owner neglecting your personal legacy, or a professional advisor striving to give your clients the best guidance, this conversation is a must-listen. Bob and Joe break down how "ambiguity breeds conflict" and share actionable ways to transition from daily firefighting to proactive, strategic planning.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Caregiver Trust & Family Harmony: Why relying on "volunteer" family caregivers without clear, legally documented compensation plans is a recipe for sibling conflict (and how to fix it.)
• The Danger of "Dusty" Estate Plans: Why that 10-year-old estate planning binder in your closet won’t protect your family from massive modern tax shifts like the Secure Act.
• The Founder’s Blind Spot: How successful entrepreneurs flawlessly run their businesses but completely neglect their personal wealth and parent-care strategies.
• Avoiding the "TikTok" Trap: How to filter out the overwhelming noise of generic online financial advice and focus on curated, personalized strategies for your family's specific needs.

Don't wait for a medical or financial emergency to force your hand. Tune in to learn how to step out of the daily whirlwind, protect your family legacy, and gain true peace of mind.

Learn more about guest Joe Mackey & MKD Wealth: https://mkdwealth.com

Host: Attorney Bob Mannor, CELA, CDP

Executive Producer: Savannah Meksto, CDP

Assistant Producers: Samantha Noah, Shalene Gaul

We'd love to hear from you!

Support the show

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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.

We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...