Alzheimer’s & Dementia Legal Planning
While it is important for every in Michigan to plan for the future, it is especially important for the person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia to seek counsel from an Alzheimer’s Michigan elder law lawyer.
I am reminded of a quote. “If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn’t” – Lyall Watson
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, family, friends and loved ones should help the person take the necessary steps to contact an elder law Alzheimer’s lawyer to help the family begin developing a long-term care legal plan. The sooner the planning begins the more likely it will be that the person with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be able to participate in the legal planning. This legal planning may include making plans for health care and long-term care coverage, making plans for finances and property, and placing legal authority in others to make decisions on behalf of the person with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
The first step is to contact an Alzheimer’s elder law lawyer.
“The Alzheimer’s Association strongly recommends starting legal plans now.”
FILL OUT THE FORM TO THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE OUR ALZHEIMER’S LEGAL GUIDE NOW! —->
When your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, you are faced with many different issues: How do you handle your loved ones’ affairs when they can no longer do so? How can you provide care for your loved one without neglecting other family members or your job? Can you get help caring for your loved one if you are physically unable to provide that care yourself? Is financial assistance available to offset the expenses of caring your loved one?
Legal pre-crisis planning allows you to arrange and organize financial and health care matters before the need for long-term care arises. Decisions can be made thoughtfully and carefully based on accurate and up-to-date information.
Contact us at (248) 481-4000 for a free consultation. Help is just a phone call away.
Diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Changes in memory is normal as you age, but memory loss that interferes with daily life may not be normal. In fact, this may be a case of early, mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to visit a doctor to get a proper diagnoses.
It can be confusing not knowing what to look for when your loved one is showing possible signs or symptoms of mild dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, especially because it can effect everyone differently. Knowing the stages can help give you a general idea of what to expect as a caregiver. It’s important that once you receive a diagnoses of Alzheimer’s, that you begin taking the legal steps necessary to speak with an Alzheimer’s lawyer as soon as possible to place the necessary legal tools in place so that the person suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia can have their legal affairs in order.
Mild Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
There are some common symptoms of mild Alzheimer’s disease and dementia along with some steps that a caregiver should take.
- Having trouble following multi-step processes, such as a cooking recipe.
- Getting lost, even in places that are familiar.
- Having troubles performing household chores, such as cleaning, laundry, etc.
- Avoiding going out into social situations or having troubles remembering peoples names, appointments or things that happened recently.
Now there are somethings that a caregiver can do or steps they can take. For example, a caregiver could ask a trusted friend or family member to help manage the loved one’s money to take some stress off the caregiver. Our law firm provides trusteed services for Michigan clients.
Next as a caregiver, you can write reminders to your loved one in the same place, such as a calendar or notepad for the person with Alzheimer’s or dementia can look at often. Along the same lines, keeping a list near the telephone of the names and numbers of family and friends with photos. Keeping with the theme of photos, you should put labels and pictures on cabinets, drawers and closets so that things can be found easily.
A caregiver should also encourage the person with Alzheimer’s or dementia to talk about his or her feelings with friends, family, clergy, or other professionals. Also, you may want to consider enrolling the person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia in adult education, recreation, or fitness classes to stay physically and mentally alive if they have early or mild stage Alzheimer’s.
Also, a caregiver should take the necessary legal steps to help protect the person with Alzheimer’s by visiting an elder law attorney who helps clients suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Moderate Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
Moderate stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has different signs than mild stage Alzheimer’s disease, and a caregiver needs to know what to look for and steps they can take to ease the transition.
- Needing help bathing, showering, choosing clothes, brushing teeth or getting dressed
- Needing help setting the table or getting out of a chair
- Developing poor or sloppy table manners
- Getting suspicious, angry, or easily upset or having difficulty expressing oneself or understanding others
- Feeling restless and wandering, especially in the afternoon or evening.
There are certain steps that a caregiver for Alzheimer’s sufferer take when there is moderate Alzheimer’s or dementia. For example, you can encourage the person suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia to stay involved in the things he or she enjoys, even if for short periods of time. Along the same lines, a caregiver can help the person with Alzheimer’s or dementia share his or her memories with family members by telling stories or creating a scrapbook.
With moderate Alzheimer’s or dementia, it is even more important and critical for a caregiver to get the Alzheimer’s sufferer to delegate certain powers and take the necessary legal steps to protect their future and quality of life. Contact our office at (248) 481-4000 or fill out the form to the right to receive our Alzheimer’s Planning Legal Guide.
