DIRECTIONS IN AGING

A Partner in Caring

Serving Westchester County, New York and Southern Connecticut

To whom it may Concern:

I would  recommend Miriam Zucker very highly to anyone needing case management services for an elderly relative living too far from family members to benefit from their assistance.  I've searched widely before selecting Ms. Zucker to provide services for my mother and was extremely happy with the services she provided for us.

My mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, was declared incapacitated by the court in early 1996 and I was appointed as her guardian.  Due to unusual circumstances, the court also ordered that she remain in the New York area despite the fact that I live in Minnesota. Under these circumstances, it was extremely difficult for me to monitor her condition and manage her care.

Having no other family in the United States, it was clear that I needed to find someone to help me manage my mother's situation.  Luckily, I was able to find and hire Miriam Zucker.  Ms. Zucker provided effective and caring case management services to me and my mother for a period of about one year.  She was able to bring some peace into a very stressful situation.  Not daunted by a variety of difficult and unusual circumstances, such as the fact that my mother does not speak English, she was able to step in and act as my surrogate and my mother's advocate. Without her help, I do not know how I would have managed.

I would recommend the services of Miriam Zucker to anyone needing case management services for an elderly relative, especially when that person is afflicted by Alzheimer's Disease.

Sincerely,

B. T.

Dear Mickey,

Thank you again for your help during the past six months.  Without your guidance and presence, my sister and I would not have been able to move Mom to the assisted living facility so smoothly.  Since we lived in three different states, it was  quite a logistical feat!  Add to that Mom's reluctance to leave her house of 45 years, we are still amazed at how trouble free the whole experience turned out to be.

We especially appreciate your weekly visits in the months preceding her move.  You were able to connect with Mom right away, finding common interests and neighborhoods that got her comfortable with talking with you.  My sister and I could not have hired her cleaning lady and "the cleaning lady's best friend" to take over her driving and daily errands, without knowing you were supervising their activities.  You probably handled many more details than we realize- from getting estimates from four different moving companies- to arranging for an absentee ballot.  Best of all, your professional appraisals, from her emotional status to the contents of her refrigerator, gave my sister and me a clear picture of how she was doing when we were so worried about her.

After a long drive out -of-state, we took your advice and made sure she had a quiet day in the familiar surroundings of my sister's house, while I unpacked her things at her new apartment.  Once she saw it, she immediately remarked how attractive it was!  My sister visited almost too frequently at first- Mom started to think she lived there too.  But now she's settling in and starting to make friends.  When I called Mom the other night, and there was no answer, I realized that I didn't have to be terrified that she had fallen or was lost.  She was safe, surrounded by people who are prepared to take care of her.  Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.

Making such a big change was hard on everyone, so your help and support were truly invaluable.  To help other far-flung families find solutions for aging parents, we would definite recommend your services.

Sincerely,

N. S. M.

To Whom It May Concern:

Please consider this letter as the highest of recommendations for the professional services offered by Miriam Zucker, A.C.S.W.

I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Zucker for the past five years as a conservator for a client of mine who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease.  As a lawyer, I specialize in the area of trusts and estates and my clients are frequently elderly individuals who suffer from such disease.

Ms. Zucker has assisted me in obtaining full time caregivers for my client and for these five years has worked and continues to work as a liaison between my client's staff and myself as co-conservator.  She renders weekly reports in connection with her continuing visits to my client to review the status of my client's condition. Frequently she has to escort my client and the aide on duty to a doctor's visit, and has had to appear at hospital emergency rooms, etc. at most inconvenient times.  She handles all of her responsibilities in a calm, congenial and  professional manner.

Accordingly, I recommend the services of Miriam Zucker to anyone in need of a responsible, compassionate and professional social worker, particularly when such services are needed by a person conflicted with Alzheimer's Disease.

Sincerely yours,

P.B.