World Alzheimer’s Day
In honor of World Alzheimer’s Day, we would like to share some history and spread awareness on this important topic. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects many people, including those who have the disease and their loved ones.
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia which negatively affects memory and the ability to function daily. The disease itself was named after the German psychiatrist, Alois Alzheimer, who first identified it while treating a patient in 1901. Later in 1984, Alzheimer Disease International was founded with the goal of fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Although there is currently no cure, we spread awareness and share ways to help those affected.
There are many ways to prepare for yourself, or help loved ones, before any decision-making ability is impacted. Proactively creating a plan with your wishes clearly laid out gives you more control in situations where cognition may become impaired. Through proper planning you can remain in control while you are alive and well. Then, if necessary, you can indicate who will help, when, and how to use your well-earned money for your care. You can also leave instructions for who inherits, when they inherit, and how they inherit. Putting a plan in place now will save you and your loved ones time, money, and frustration down the road.
Your plan should include who will make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. You should name a financial agent. This is someone who you trust to make all your financial and legal decisions if you were unable to make them yourself. To aid your agent, you can start by gathering information on your assets. This would include your bank accounts, retirement plans, investments, as well as home and vehicle information. Gathering information makes planning easier for both you and your appointed agent.
You can also think about who you would like to be your patient advocate. This is someone who you trust to make your health care decisions. You can give this person guidance by thinking about your treatment preferences ahead of time and sharing them with loved ones. That way, everyone knows your opinions regarding crucial decisions like remaining at home, heroic measures, and life support. Then, time isn’t wasted, and relationships aren’t strained by potential disagreements over those issues.
Making these decisions proactively and having a plan in place can help prevent unnecessary stresses in the future and ensure your wishes are carried out. If you have questions or would like to learn more about planning proactively, you can contact our office to set up a complimentary initial consultation, (248) 409-0256.