As a caregiver for someone with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, you should start to make legal preparations as soon as you can after your loved one’s diagnosis. People who have one of these diseases often will have the ability to manage their legal and financial affairs in the beginning. But as the diseases progress, they will need you and other caregivers to act for them. This transition to caring for someone else is not easy. But with some planning in advance, people with long term diseases and their families will be better prepared for what comes down the road.
Important Legal Documents for Caregivers
It is important that you have clearly written legal documents that outline what your loved one’s wishes are. these documents might authorize you or someone else to make their healthcare and financial decisions, and also long term care plans. If the person you are caring for has the mental capacity to sign legal documents, she should work with you in this legal planning.
For your loved one to get the best care, you should get legal advice from an experienced lawyer in this field. If your loved one is 65 or older, you should think about hiring a lawyer who works in elder law. As you start to plan for the future, ask your elder law lawyer about these documents:
- Power of Attorney – This document gives you the opportunity to authorize an agent to make legal decisions for your loved one if she is no longer able to. You will need to have multiple copies of this official document so you can give one to each company with which your loved one does business. You will also need copies to give to government agencies as well.
- Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare – This document appoints someone to make all of the decisions for healthcare for your loved one. this includes choices of doctors, medical treatment and also end of life issues. This means that the agent can authorize or refuse treatment for the loved one.
- Living Will – This document allows the person to state in advance what sort of medical care she wants to receive and what life support actions she wants or wants to withhold. This document is often used when a person becomes terminally ill and cannot make her wishes known if she becomes unconscious. Note that for a person to be considered permanently unconscious, two doctors must determine that the person has no possibility of regaining consciousness.
- Will – This is a document that is created by a person that names an executor and the beneficiaries of her estate.
If you or your loved on cannot afford a lawyer, there are many legal forms available on the Internet. You also can often discuss legal issues with a social worker or clergy without cost to you.
If your loved one is still able to make decisions for herself, she may need some assistance with writing so that documents can be completed. Some of the best products to help with writing for Parkinson’s patients include the Thomas Steady Arm and the Steady Writing Pen.
