Give Your Kids the Power Today

Watching a loved one battle with symptoms of dementia is a heart-wrenching process. Typically, a child must watch a parent slowly succumb to one of the diseases causing the dementia, usually Alzheimer's disease. As the child deals with the ravishes of the disease, stress is often magnified by the lack of ability for the child to easily make health care decisions for the parent. All too often, the parent procrastinated contacting a skilled estate planning lawyer to prepare for such an occasion.

If the parent had met with a skilled estate planning lawyer, a Power of Attorney for Health Care would have been created. The parent would have been taught that a Power of Attorney for Health Care is a vital piece of the estate plan that ensures the health care desires of the parent are carried out while the parent is living, but unable to make those decisions. The parent also would have been taught that without this advanced planning, if it was ever necessary for care to be given in a nursing home or community based residential facility setting that a guardianship would have to be obtained. This would add considerable stress to the person caring for the parent, not to mention the added financial burden.

Avoid the added stress of having to wade through the guardianship mire. Call your parents today and encourage them to make an appointment with a skilled estate planning attorney. Offer to drive them to the appointment if necessary. Urge your parents to plan while they are still legally competent to do so. Delaying this appointment runs the risk that adequate competence may be lacking, making the planning attempt moot. Parents, there is no need to leave this mess for your child to deal with. The costs to adequately plan now far outweigh the costs for a guardianship later. The peace of mind for yourself and your child that you have a plan in place is priceless. Contact us today to assist you with your planning. Leave your children a legacy, not a mess.