As we approach the estate planning process for someone who may have been recently diagnosed with dementia, it is extremely important to think about caregiver communication.Estate planning for someone with Dementia concept: Mature woman helping elderly mother with paperwork

Estate Planning Documents

The appropriate estate planning documents including powers of attorney can appoint authorized individuals to make decisions and speak on your behalf. Many different documents may be required for overall health care, management, financial issues and specific health care procedures.

Working with a qualified Massachusetts estate planning lawyer is one of the only ways to ensure that all of these issues have been addressed in full. Caregiver communication is one other possible challenge that may emerge during this process, and you need to have the support of a qualified attorney to help you broach the possibility of these challenges.

It is important to get permission in advance from a person who has been diagnosed with dementia to have his or her lawyer or doctor talk with the caregiver as needed. Advanced permission is not limited to health care professionals or lawyers either. It can be provided to credit card companies, Medicare representatives, financial advisors and banks. This can help to make communication and questions about bills, health insurance claims, care and more easier.

Contact a Boston Estate Planning Lawyer

Without this consent, a caregiver may not be able to get needed information. To learn more about the estate planning process and some of the unique considerations impacting a person who has been diagnosed with dementia, work with a talented and qualified Massachusetts estate planning lawyer to walk through all of the steps in full.

 

 


Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

View all posts by Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP →

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