Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease can be tricky to diagnose. When a diagnosis is finally made, you will have challenging emotions to come to terms with and some difficult decisions to make. As you begin planning for your future memory care needs, you may wish to consult your loved ones, doctor, an attorney and a long-term care, planning consultant. Get important documents drafted. Alzheimer’s disease progresses very slowly. It is quite likely that you will be able to continue to make major financial, legal, and healthcare decisions for a long time. However, it is always best to err on the side of caution and make arrangements in advance. An estate planning attorney can provide guidance on the important documents you need to have drafted. These will likely include the following: Last will and testament Advance directive or living will Healthcare proxy designation Living trust Do not resuscitate order (DNR) Make arrangements for your business. If you own a business, you will need to consult a lawyer about the future of your company. If you are the sole owner of your company, then selling it when the time is right might be a fairly straightforward process. Or, you may wish to pass ownership of the company to other family members. Consider your future living arrangements. It is never too early to begin considering arrangements for your care. In the beginning stages of the disease, your family members may be able to provide all the care that is necessary. As your health condition and abilities decline, it will almost certainly be necessary to move to a memory care home. Make a list of the available memory care residencies in your area. Take your time touring the grounds before making your [...]

In many cases, families seek expert counseling when they suspect that a loved one might need Alzheimer’s care. But it is not necessary to wait for others to bring up the subject. You know yourself well, and you can probably identify new challenges you may be experiencing. Consider talking to your family doctor about these issues. With early detection and treatment, you may preserve your independence for a bit longer. Talking to your doctor about Alzheimer’s and getting diagnosed early on also gives you some much-needed time to plan your future Alzheimer’s care. If given the choice, most people would probably prefer to select their own memory care location. But by the time memory care is needed, people with Alzheimer’s may be unable to make this choice. By getting diagnosed early, you can ensure that your wishes will be respected. Avalon Memory Care provides gracious, dignified bedside care for people with Alzheimer’s in Arlington, Irving and Houston. To discuss your future care needs, call us at (214) 752-7050.