- April 15, 2024
After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis, Make Plans Now to Secure Your Future
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After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis, Make Plans Now to Secure Your Future
When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, cognitive impairment and memory loss develop gradually. While there is sadly not yet a cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s, there are steps you can take in the early days of a diagnosis—or when you suspect you might have the disease—to make sure you are taken care of as the disease progresses. When you sit down with an Elder Law attorney who specializes in Memory Care Planning, you can make sure your wishes will be honored even when you are no longer able to express them.
Memory Care Strategies for Dementia Patients and Their Families
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness. Unlike a physical illness such as cancer, your prognosis with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is pretty certain. You will gradually lose your memory and your ability to make decisions and care for yourself. As frightening as this is, there are some legal steps you can take as soon as you are diagnosed to protect yourself, your assets, and your family over the months and years your cognitive abilities decline. When you meet with our Memory Care Planning team, we will discuss your options for:
Asset protection
The kind of assisted living facility a patient with dementia needs will cost thousands of dollars a month and will quickly drain their life savings. However, when you make wise investments and set up an asset protection trust long before you need this kind of care, you might be able to qualify for Medicaid to pay for the nursing home while using your assets to enhance your quality of life and protecting your property for your loved ones.
Financial Power of Attorney
When you are no longer cognitively able to make financial decisions, the person you have named as your financial power of attorney will have the authority to pay your bills and make other financial decisions on your behalf. It is important to name someone you trust to look out for your best interests.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
While you can write a Living Will or Advance Directive to make your end-of-life wishes known, we suggest also appointing a power of attorney for healthcare. This person will have the authority to consult with your doctors and use that information to make informed healthcare decisions on your behalf. It is important to have a person advocating for your care, rather than just a document expressing your wishes with no context.
Caregiver Agreement
With careful planning, you could remain in your own home, even as your disease progresses. Altering the home to make it safe and accessible and arranging for a family member or home healthcare service to provide care when it becomes necessary could help you avoid a nursing home altogether. With a Caregiver Agreement, you can even arrange for a family member to be paid to care for you without upsetting other family members or jeopardizing Medicaid benefits.
At Jarvis Law Office, each of our Memory Care clients receives a custom plan tailored to their unique needs and family situation. There are no cookie-cutter solutions here!
What a Memory Care Plan Can Do for You and Your Family
It is not easy to confront a devastating diagnosis like Alzheimer’s or dementia. When you work with the Memory Care Planning team at Jarvis Law Office, you can be sure our plan will protect your safety and dignity, maximize your input into important decisions, and safeguard your hard-earned life savings. Making decisions while you are still able and putting them in writing will also prevent the stress and conflict that often arises among well-intentioned family members who are forced to make difficult decisions on your behalf.
Whether you are calling for yourself after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia or on behalf of a family member who is in the advanced stages, Jarvis Law Office can help. Fill out our contact form or call one of our convenient office locations to find out what we can do for you.
Why Choose Jarvis Law Office?
- Free Consultation – Discuss your needs during a complimentary consultation with Jarvis Law Office. We can consult virtually, so you don’t have to visit the office.
- High Satisfaction Rate – Our clients have left reviews praising our knowledge, experience, and helpfulness. We have a track record for high-level service and customized solutions.
- Focused Practice Areas – We focus exclusively on the area of elder law.
- Three Convenient Locations – We have offices in Lancaster, St. Clairsville, and Dublin, making it easy to reach clients throughout Central and Southeast Ohio.
- Free Events – Our firm offers free events for Ohio residents. These events cover essential estate planning issues, such as how to pay for long-term care while protecting your assets.
- Family First – We’re focused on family. Our family (yes, we employ several family members in the firm) is protecting yours.
Testimonials
I have worked with Emily at Jarvis Lancaster location and she is very personable, friendly and has “Great” customer service. I would recommend Jarvis Lancaster location to anyone who needs assistance with elder care planning!
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