Alzheimer's devastates family & finances

Reported by: Jon Shainman
Email: jshainman@wptv.com
Last Update: 11/04 5:26 pm

(Associated Press)

JUPITER, FL -- Lena Mamone talks about her dad as a loving husband and father. But she says these days, there's a "void" around him.

82 year-old Karim Saadeh is a successful Jupiter businessman, but he hasn't seen his three kids or his grandkids in months.

"To just one day, go away from me I don't want you... is a total shock," says Karim's son Tony Saadeh.

Outside the elder Saadeh's home, there's a 'No Trespassing' sign. Saddeh and his children are engaged now in a legal tug-of-war. Earlier this year, a neurologist diagnosed Karim Saadeh with high stages of dementia... likely Alzheimer's.

The children are trying to make sure their father has money for the long term care he'll eventually need. But with mounting legal bills, one for more than 100-thousand dollars, and no power of attorney privileges, that could be a challenge.

"We're not taking him for his money...not wanting for him to die as they all say," added Lena Mamone.

But Karim Saadeh's attorney has told the children to cease and desist.

Unfortunately, the Saadeh case is not uncommon according to Mary Barnes with Alzheimer's Community Care. She says families need to act as soon as there's a diagnosis.

"Go to an elder law attorney and get picture of what could be barriers of living a good quality of life," Barnes said. She adds Alzheimer's has nothing to do with intelligence. "Judgment decision making is very easily and very quickly impaired."

The Saadeh children's message is to learn from their mistakes.

"I just want people to know to pay attention to the elderly," said Lena Mamone.

There are an estimated 500-thousand cases of Alzheimer's in Florida. 50-thousand of them are in Palm Beach County, another 15-thousand in Martin and St. Lucie counties.

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