Victoria Blachly, Author at Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP

Dementia and Light Therapy: Can Tailored Lighting Help With Care?

March 25, 2026 by Victoria Blachly

Senior woman turning her face to the sun

A recent, but small, clinical trial of dementia residents in a memory care facility used integrated ambient lighting that changed in intensity throughout the day to simulate natural light-dark cycles.

While the study published concluded that the lighting “may” help with depression, poor sleep quality, and agitation for those dealing with dementia, it ultimately concluded that further research was warranted.

However, the easier solution may be to try to make sure we get sufficient time in the natural light, rather than stuck inside with electric light all of the time – at any age and ability.

-Victoria Blachly

Oregon DOJ Warns of Fake Attorney Scam

September 2, 2025 by Victoria Blachly

Seal of the State of Oregon Department of Justice

Oregon’s Department of Justice Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section has a new scam alert warning of bad actors impersonating lawyers to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here’s a link to the full text of the “New scam alert”.

In one recent case a fraudulent website impersonated an Oregon attorney and scammed victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, while in another case the victim lost over $700,000 when scammers gained unauthorized access to both the attorney’s and the client’s email accounts, during the negotiations of a substantial settlement with false wiring instructions.

Be diligent. Pick up the phone and talk to trusted contacts. Meet face-to-face.

Oregon’s DOJ advises: “If you have been impacted by this scam:

File a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center » as quickly as possible
File a police report with your local police department
If money was delivered via wire, contact your bank and file a “Suspicious Activity Report”
File a report with the FDIC » regarding wire fraud
File a report with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency » (OCC) as they investigate banks for unsafe or unsound practices, compliance violations, or breaches of fiduciary duty
File a report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau » (CFPB)

If you are an attorney who has been impersonated:

Report the incident to the Oregon State Bar
File a police report with your local police office and provide the imposter website
File a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center » and provide the imposter website

Additional precautions for attorneys:

In transactions involving wiring funds, obtain and confirm wiring instructions in-person, whenever possible.
If wiring instructions are received via email or another indirect method, verify them using a known and trusted phone number before initiating any transfers.”

-Victoria Blachly

New Oregon Center for Behavioral Health and Aging Announced

November 4, 2024 by Victoria Blachly

Portland State University, together with Oregon Health & Science University, just launched OCEBHA: Oregon’s Center of Excellence in Behavior Health & Aging (oregonbhi.org/center-for-excellence). The focus of the center is “to address the behavioral health needs of Oregon’s aging population by improving access to services and supports.”

With involvement from the PSU Institute on Aging, PSU School of Social Work, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, OHSU School of Medicine, and OHSU School of Nursing, let’s hope for greater education, awareness, and a pipeline of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of our aging Oregonians.

Details are few, but you can sign up for their newsletter to stay informed.

Wendy Williams: Planning to Avoid a Guardianship

March 4, 2024 by Victoria Blachly

TV host and personality, Wendy Williams, has been in the news recently for her challenging health issues, marital drama, and legal woes, after a bank froze her bank accounts due to concerns about whether she needed a protective proceeding/guardianship due to her mental and physical ailments.

Her team recently revealed Ms. Williams has dementia, and rumors abound that it may be alcohol related. A new Lifetime four-part docuseries, Where is Wendy Williams, chronicles the sad tale.

Note that Ms. Williams is only 59-years old, so she likely never expected to face such cognitive challenges that require legal planning and preparation. While she did have a Power of Attorney that identified who should manage her finances, were she to be incapacitated, the court got involved and made a determination that the nominated fiduciary was not the best person suited for that job, and appointed someone else to be her guardian for financial decision making.

Other options that could have been taken to protect herself and her assets include setting up a Trust, where a successor trustee would take over, once she became incapacitated. Naming a professional third-party professional trustee, trust company or bank may have been a better option for Ms. Williams, and may have resulted in a different ruling with the court in New York.

Nobody wants to think of the worst case scenario when discussing their future, but an excellent estate planner will help you talk through your options to bring peace of mind: Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

Do NOT Sit on Your Estate Plan (especially if it’s in the couch) – Learning From Aretha Franklin

July 13, 2023 by Victoria Blachly

After five years and a family battle over two handwritten wills left by the singing legend Aretha Franklin, a jury ruled that the later executed will – found in the cushions of Ms. Franklin’s couch – was her validly executed will.

While we all Respect (1967) Aretha Franklin, you need to Jump to It (1982), Rock Steady (1972), and Think (1968) Who’s Zoomin’ Who (1985) to prepare an estate plan that doesn’t eat up five years of time and legal fees. The estate planners at SYK are saying, “Call Me” (1970) and “Break It To Me Gently” (1977) to put your affairs in order. In short, Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (1967) and you will soon be on the Freeway of Love (1985).

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