A diagnosis for Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease is a devastating blow to anyone and will often push other considerations into the background. However, proper planning for the change in circumstances must be done in order to protect the interest of the sufferer. The best time to make alterations to any estate plans would be right after the diagnosis when the cognitive decline will be comparatively mild and the individual can still make decisions without any capacity concerns. Health care directives should be the first change made since a diagnosis may alter what measures would preferably be taken by the sufferer to preserve life when the disease is in a later stage. Another step worth taking would be preparing for the eventuality of long term care with any LTC insurance being maintained by the prompt payment of premiums to avoid any chance of having the policy dropped. Coming down with a degenerative disease is never good but with a modicum of sober minded forethought some of the problems and concerns that arise with the condition may be avoided and greatly lower the level of frustration that will inevitably be involved.
See David M. Zimmer, Planning becomes vital following Alzheimer’s diagnosis, NorthJersey.com, December 27, 2015.
