Even as you take steps to improve your life with Alzheimer’s in the present, it’s important to plan ahead for a future in which your needs will change. That means making legal, financial, and caregiving arrangements to help protect yourself and your family.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the main purpose of legal planning is to let you make choices about your future now, before symptoms advance.
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Those decisions may include:
- Addressing healthcare and caregiving needs
- Designating what happens to your finances and property
- Choosing who can make decisions on your behalf
There are a few legal documents you may choose for these decisions.
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- Power of Attorney for Healthcare You can name someone to make decisions about your care once you’re no longer able to do so, including care settings and end-of-life decisions.
- Durable Power of Attorney for Finances and Property You can name someone to manage your bank account, investments, and other assets when you’re unable to yourself.
- Living Will Also called an advance directive, in this document you’ll state what medical treatments you do or do not want, such as treatments to prolong your life.
- Living Trust You can transfer all of your assets and property into a pooled trust and give instructions on handling it when you can’t manage the trust yourself. To carry out your instructions, you’ll name a trustee.
- Standard Will This document states how your estate will be distributed after you die.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a legal and financial worksheet that can help you keep track of your assets, benefits, documents, and more.
These can be stressful and emotional topics to discuss, but the earlier the better, so you can meaningfully participate in these conversations, says Dr. Frolov. “But even if it wasn’t done early, having these discussions and leaning on your doctor and your other support system for help is important.”
As Alzheimer’s progresses, you’ll rely more on other people to make sure your needs are met. Talk about your potential future needs with people you trust, such as:
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- Family, friends, and neighbors
- Your primary care doctor, neurologist, and other specialists
- Community support groups and services
As time goes on, you may need caregiving assistance and may someday need to receive care outside your home. To help with both finding and paying for the care you need, the following resources may help.
- BenefitsCheckUp This resource from the National Council on Aging lets you search for federal, state, and local programs that can help you pay for food, healthcare, utilities, and more.
- Eldercare Locator This tool from the federal government lets you search in your area for services covering caregiving, housing, transportation, and more.
- CaringInfo This program from the National Alliance for Care at Home can help you navigate different types of caregiving and healthcare options.
- Medicare.gov Medicare beneficiaries can search for doctors, home health services, nursing homes, and more on the site.
- Social Security You can check your eligibility for benefits, including nutrition assistance and monthly payments for certain older adults with low levels of income and resources.
