Staten Island Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Alzheimer’s disease may spread it’s roots slowly, while other threats to the mind, like a tumor, can act fast. If you have a parent or a loved one who is at risk for a health concern that affects the brain, estate planning should be your number one priority.

Navigating an estate planning process can be very difficult when the testator is not of a sound mind. Here’s how to overcome this hurdle.

New York workers in all types of jobs may suffer from back issues. In some cases, the damage results from a fall injury and in other situations it may be an occupational injury. Angiuli & Gentile, LLP is an experienced litigation law firm that often assists clients with workers’ compensation claims.

If you or a loved one needs back surgery, the pain can be debilitating. Depending on the injury, the procedure can last five hours or more. Next Avenue offers tips to help you recover successfully from back surgery.

• Respect the fatigue - After several hours of surgery, the body experiences shock equivalent to a car crash. Plus, the effects of anesthesia does not wear off in a few hours. Some people feel the side effects for weeks after surgery. Not only is there fatigue, but there is often cognitive dysfunction. Lay down when you tire, take a nap or just rest. Fighting through it may make your recovery longer and more difficult.
• Stay ahead of the pain - Pain can prevent the healing process. It affects all aspects of life, sometimes without you realizing it. You become cranky and short-tempered, with no interest in food. Take medications before the pain becomes an ever-present part of your recovery. They allow your body to rest and heal.
• Take advantage of adaptive equipment - After surgery, patients have many restrictions regarding lifting, bending and twisting. There are devices available that can help complete tasks on your own, providing independence as possible without risking damage. Typical items include elevated toilet seats, shower benches, walkers and canes.
• Be patient with the recovery process - Back surgery is complex and so is recovery. It takes more time than you hope and comes with milestones that you believe should occur closer together.

In New York, flu season begins around October and ends in May. Simply put, for half a year or more, New Yorkers are sniffling at home and at work. It does not help that the flu is highly contagious. According to Forbes, infected persons can spread the virus to other people a whole six feet away.

Thankfully, there are some steps employers and employees can take together to cut down on workers calling out sick, or worse, bringing the flu to work. One of the best ways to stop the flu from spreading is to wipe down common areas. Employers can make this easy by leaving disinfecting wipes at front desk, by the printers and even in the lunch room.

Many people do not realize that they have choices about what happens after they die. A last will and testament is a legally binding document that gives you the opportunity to express how you want your possessions to be distributed, who you want to care for your minor children and who will manage your final affairs for you.

Because life is uncertain, it can be advantageous to embrace this opportunity for choice while you can. Unfortunately, unexpected deaths happen every day, and when someone dies without a will, there is no longer a way for them to make their wishes known.