Understanding Memory Care Planning in Athens
Receiving a dementia or Alzheimerโs diagnosis for a loved one can be an overwhelming and emotional journey. The visible changes in behavior, abilities, and care requirements can be unsettling for everyone involved. It is essential to plan and prepare for the upcoming challenges and transitions.
We recognize you and your loved one may be unsure of your next steps, and you are likely experiencing some anxiety as you seek to envision the future and its accompanying implications and challenges. That is why we have leveraged our decades of experience guiding families through these issues to develop a comprehensive Memory Care Planning program that addresses the needs and goals of people with dementia and Alzheimerโs and those who love them.
When to Consult a Memory Care Planning Attorney
Contacting a memory care planning attorney immediately after a diagnosis is advisable. This ensures that your legal, financial, and healthcare matters are properly arranged, your assets are protected, and the necessary care for the future is secured. Early access to a memory care planning attorney also allows the affected family member to play an active role in decision-making to the greatest extent possible. At Jarvis Law Office, we help you navigate memory care planning in Athens, ensuring you or your loved one experiences appropriate care, support, and dignity throughout their journey.
Memory Care Planning Services
- Asset Protection
- Business Succession Planning
- Care Navigation
- Charitable Planning
- Estate Planning
- Estate Tax Planning
- Medicaid Planning
- Powers of Attorney
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Administration
- Trusts and Wills
- Veterans Benefits
Financial Power of Attorney
In memory care planning, your attorney will likely advise setting up a financial power of attorney to manage finances and property. This involves appointing an agent who can manage your finances if you or your loved one cannot do so independently. This agent is empowered to act on your behalf, making legal and financial decisions, and can either fully represent you or assist you in these matters as needed.
With this document in place, your family wonโt have to petition the court for guardianship or conservatorship. In addition, you would then not have to worry about someone you donโt trust stepping in to make the decisions. Instead, you will hand-select the person, which promotes a more seamless process and allows you to let them know what your wishes are for the future. Your attorney will discuss this document with you and the importance of naming one or two successor agents in case your first choice isnโt available.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Our Athens, Ohio, memory care planning attorney can assist in creating a healthcare power of attorney. This document allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you, including accepting or declining treatments. Itโs wise to select one or two backup individuals to act as healthcare proxies, ensuring someone is available to fulfill this vital role if your primary agent is unavailable.
Many Ohio residents include a HIPAA release with the durable power of attorney document. This release authorizes your healthcare agents and anyone else you might want to receive medical information about you. If you donโt have this form, your agent and other family members wonโt be able to see the complete picture. Your attorney will discuss these documents with you and assist you in choosing individuals best suited for the role of your healthcare agent.
Living Will
A living will enables you to specify your medical treatment preferences as you approach the end of your life. This document allows you to decide whether to receive life-sustaining treatments and to outline the types of treatments you are willing to accept. It ensures that your medical decisions are respected even when you cannot communicate them, and it relieves your loved ones from the responsibility of making those difficult choices. It also takes the burden off your loved ones. Once this document is in place, loved ones wonโt have to worry about making decisions regarding these treatments.
Reviewing Your Estate Plan for Updates
As part of memory care planning, updating your estate plan is crucial. An elder law attorney can examine your existing plan to determine if any changes are needed to ensure your wishes are accurately reflected and your assets are properly managed.
Itโs essential to have your estate plan fully in place before dementia progresses. If you become legally incapacitated, you wonโt be able to modify or revoke any documents. It is wise to take action today with the guidance of an Athens estate planning attorney to maintain appropriate control over your assets and to provide direction to your decision-makers in the future.
Three Key Considerations in Memory Care Planning
- Focus on a loved oneโs good health, safety, and well-being.
- Make dependable decisions regarding a familyโs long-term care needs while keeping their goals in mind.
- Offer viable financial solutions in paying for long-term care costs.
Regardless of their situation, memory care and care navigation planning offer Athens families the resources to manage their long-term care options and expenses. Jarvis Law Office leverages its long-term care planning teamโs extensive knowledge and experience to guide clients in finding suitable financial solutions. This includes assessing existing insurance policies, investigating Medicaid eligibility options, and handling veterans benefits claims. Schedule an appointment with one of our elder law attorneys experienced with dementia, Alzheimerโs, stroke, Parkinsonโs, and more at our firm today.
Essential Components of Memory Care & Care Navigation Strategy
To safeguard whatโs most valuable, creating a comprehensive memory care or care navigation strategy involves pinpointing crucial areas of your loved oneโs life that demand thoughtful consideration. These may include:
Preferred living arrangements: Determining the right location for your loved one, whether aging in place, transitioning to an assisted living facility, nursing home, or moving into a specialized memory care community. Jarvis Law Office offers access to a Care Navigator who liaises between the family and the care centers.
Healthcare providers: Jarvis Law Office team members will help identify preferred care providers to meet your loved oneโs needs and develop a client-focused care plan to maximize the quality of life for your loved one. Your care navigator will also advocate on your loved oneโs behalf and coordinate communication among the care professionals involved in that care.
Legal documentation: Develop essential legal tools like advance directives, durable powers of attorney, trusts, and guardian and conservator appointments to ensure your loved oneโs medical, financial, and personal decisions are always in the right hands.
Shifting from Home or Assisted Living to Memory Care
Moving a family member from their residence or an assisted living facility to a memory care setting or another tailored care environment often presents significant challenges. When you collaborate with Jarvis Law Office, youโll have access to a committed care guide who offers direction, resources, and support to help you navigate key memory care planning aspects. Consider these useful suggestions:
- Research memory care communities and facilities to identify those that meet your loved oneโs needs and preferences.
- Visit potential communities, arrange a tour, meet with staff, and observe daily routines.
- Discuss the transition with your loved one or close support system, including the benefits and the importance of specialized care.
- Create a plan for the physical move, paying attention to details that can create a comfortable and familiar environment.
At Jarvis Law Office, our elder care attorneys and care navigators can diligently guide you and your loved one through these anticipated transitions to address your needs and concerns while helping you to prepare for the steps ahead.
Memory Care Planning โ Protecting Families In Athens
Memory care planning plays a vital role in ensuring the health, well-being, and legacy of seniors, especially those facing cognitive challenges such as Alzheimerโs, dementia and memory loss, or the impact of stroke or other neurological diagnoses.
Understanding that no two individuals or families are the same, we take a personalized approach to memory care planning to fulfill your loved oneโs specific needs while maintaining their quality of life. Our compassionate professionals work closely with families in Athens, Ohio, to develop tailored long-term care planning strategies that address various aspects of seniorsโ livesโfrom legal and financial matters to healthcare decisions and choosing the right care center.
Jarvis Law Office understands the emotional and practical challenges faced by families with seniors grappling with memory problems. We offer unmatched support while navigating the often-complex world of memory care planning, giving families the confidence and peace of mind that their loved onesโ interests are being looked after.
With a singular focus on protecting seniorsโ health, well-being, and legacy, Jarvis Law Office is the go-to service provider for any family seeking the experience and support needed to handle the unique challenges of memory care planning. Fill out our online form or call us at (740) 640-6617 to schedule an appointment.