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If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease it is important for you to take immediate action to protect them, yourself, and the rest of your family. Once they are no longer able to make decisions with some level of cognitive understanding you will be helpless to implement important legal decisions to protect them.
I have listed below the important steps you must take. I would suggest you consult with a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) to complete items 1,2 and 5.
1.Establish a durable power of attorney for your loved one giving you the authority to act on their behalf in financial affairs. It is important that they understand the meaning of this act and can describe it to the attorney drafting the document. You should utilize a notary to verify your loved one’s signature (it would be beneficial for you to also have a durable power of attorney for yourself giving your child or a trusted advisor the power).
2.Create a health care proxy for your loved one giving you or someone you select the power to make health care decisions for them. This document must be witnessed by two non-family members verifying that “at the time of execution the individual appeared to be of sound mind and able to understand the nature and consequences of the said document”
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