YOUR MONEY
Dementia isn’t just a health matter, its a financial matter
Rebecca Warren is a certified financial planner professional and certified senior adviser in Mesa. She can be reached at (480) 357-8380 or by e-mail at Rebecca@ WarrenFinancialServices.com.
When a close relative or friend starts to display signs of dementia or related neurological ailments, it is a family tragedy requiring speedy action and medical care. But in many cases, the disease comes on gradually, and it becomes evident with inconsistencies in behavior and sometimes, problems with money. So when does impairment become a money issue? In the best circumstances, as part of a full estate planning process before an individual becomes ill. In the worst, it needs to happen immediately after a loved one is diagnosed. Once stricken, older relatives may be unable to understand questions or express their wishes in proper detail. If there is no plan, family members grasp at responsibilities — or shirk them — without any idea of what the older relative would really want. Some key points: • Have a discussion with people you trust to make decisions for you. It’s not fun to imagine yourself in the state dementia brings, but it’s important to consider trigger points where trusted people would step in to do specific functions for you. • Make sure how major assets will be used to pay for care. If an elderly relative becomes sick and irreversibly incapacitated, the equity in your home may come under consideration as a resource to pay uncovered medical or household maintenance. Since the home is both a major asset and an emotional focal point, it’s best to get good advice and spell out specifically what you want done with your property and under what conditions. • Pick the right experts. It would be wise to confer with a tax professional as well as a trained financial expert such as a certified financial planner professional. The professionals and nonprofessionals in this role should have significant experience working with seniors and be prepared to interact with other members of your team if they notice anything particularly out of character in your future actions. • Put it in writing. Once you’ve established the team that will carry out your wishes in a variety of situations — not just in the case you are diagnosed with dementia — then you should have such instructions written into a formal estate plan with the necessary powers of attorney as well as your updated will.
