When a parent, grandparent, or loved one receives a diagnosis, it feels like a wake-up call to get every part of life in order – including estate planning documents. Luckily, it’s not too late to have this conversation. Whether or not they currently have an estate plan, if your loved one still has the mental capacity to make decisions, they can put together the right documents that will support and protect them.
You need to act quickly here, so let’s start with the basics. Compile any documents they already have, such as a trust, will, or powers of attorney. From there, meet with an attorney to see if anything needs to be updated or changed.
Here are a few essential documents for someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another disease:
- Financial Power of Attorney
- This allows someone to appoint another person to make decisions on their behalf, pay bills, and manage day-to-day activities. Without this, the court will get involved.
- Medical Power of Attorney
- Life might now include more doctor’s visits, and they will need someone to make healthcare decisions for them.
- Trust
- A trust lays out who takes care of their assets and designates who they would like to receive your money after their death.
After meeting with your attorney, reach out to Elder Care specialists who can help with finding and moving into long-term care. They can also help determine what level of care is currently needed. Speak to your financial advisor as well to see how you can plan successfully for whatever comes next.
Create a support system now to address your loved one’s immediate needs and plan for their long-term care. We’ll provide recommendations and get estate plan documents updated quickly so you can check one more thing off your list.
