It can be very empowering and important to create a plan for your future when you have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The sooner you can discuss and document your legal plans, the more prepared you and your family can be for moving forward. There are many different details associated with the legal planning connected to a recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
More than 16 million people in the U.S. care for someone with dementia, which means that you might have landed here while looking for services to support a loved one who has this diagnosis.
This legal planning can be easier to understand when you retain the services of a Massachusetts Alzheimer’s planning lawyer as soon as possible. Legal planning can include steps like naming another person to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so, enacting documents to protect your long term care and health care preferences, creating an inventory of your existing legal documents and making necessary updates to beneficiary forms, and making plans for your property and finances.
It is important to consider creating this documentation while you still have the legal capacity to do so. This refers to the ability to both understand and recognize the consequences of your actions and to make rational decisions on your own behalf. As the Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it can become more challenging to prove mental capacity and this is why it is a good reason to consult with a Massachusetts Alzheimer’s planning attorney in advance.
While this diagnosis and transition can be challenging for your family, knowing that you have the support of the right people behind you can make things easier and allow you to create a plan that works for you.
