It’s a simple phrase with a devastating impact; your Mom and Dad sit you down on the faded living room sofa that has been in your home since you were a child. You mom is staring down at her hand clasped around your father’s and he looks at you and reveals, “Your Mother Has Alzheimer’s.” Your mind begins to race. First you are hit with the reality that Mom and Dad aren’t going to live forever, you fear that she will lose her independence, you worry about treatment, will she need a live in nurse, assisted living and how will they afford it?In that moment you all feel lost. There are answers to all of these questions and more with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney and life care planning coordinator.
It reads like something in the movies or on television, unfortunately it is estimated that 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. Medical advances are slowing the disease and our healthier life styles are giving us longer lives, yet as of today there is no cure. As our parents age they may no longer be able to make decisions for themselves and you may have to make some difficult and pressing decisions for them. Researching and looking into where they will live, who will take care of them and how much it will cost can be daunting.
We hope that you will never have someone you love effected by Alzheimer’s, however there are steps you can take to be prepared. An MH estate planning attorney can walk you through creating a trust that will ensure your assets are protected from Medicaid spend downs. If someone you love has already been diagnosed, a trust can still be created and a life care coordinator will help in determining what plan of action will work for your family. They will educate your family about assisted living; help determine if living at home is an option, if the home will need modifications or if a home nurse is right for you.
You don’t know what the future holds, but you should be prepared and have a plan in place, so that if the unthinkable happens, you can spend more time with mom and dad and be able to enjoy each precious moment a little bit more, knowing they will be cared for.
Why Choose Morris Hall:
You have a number of options when it comes to estate planning, so why pick Morris Hall? First off, estate planning and asset protection are a very complicated endeavor and you should only trust someone who focuses exclusively on those matters. Also, MH is a proud member of The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) which provides us additional support, advanced training, tools and information that is not available to others – which means that we can better protect your assets and your loved ones. We are one of only two firms in Arizona that belong to the AAEPA and are the only firm in that has been granted membership. If you have assets and loved ones that you want to protect, you are in good hands with MH. Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
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