We sometimes take our good health for granted. However, sometimes as a person in Southern Arizona ages, they come down with an illness that will cause a decline in their mental and physical abilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease. If this happens, it is important to execute an estate plan as soon as possible, before you become too incapacitated to do so.
There are certain legal documents that can be executed as part of a well-rounded estate plan. An advance health care directive is a means of communicating your health care wishes if you are unable to do so on your own. A living will allows you to dictate what kind of end-of-life care you want when the time comes. Medical and financial powers of attorney can designate who is to make medical and financial decisions, respectively, if you become incapacitated. And, of course, wills and trusts can be executed so that your assets are passed on to your desired heirs upon your passing.
However, in order to execute any of these documents, a person must be mentally fit to understand what they are doing and the consequences of their choices. Therefore, if a person has Alzheimer’s disease, they will want to start discussions as soon as possible, as their mental capabilities will decline as the disease progresses. If they already have an estate plan, reviewing it in a timely matter is important to ensure it still meets their wishes.
Being diagnosed with a disease such as Alzheimer’s which will lead to a decline in your mental abilities is distressing, but one thing that can alleviate the anxiety is executing an estate plan early on. Estate planning attorneys in the Tucson area understand these concerns and may be a useful resource.