The Experienced North Carolina Elder Law Attorneys at Carolina Family Estate Planning Help Families Safeguard Loved Ones Affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Cognitive Impairment
Do you worry about how cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, or dementia might impact your and your family's future?
Whether you have a family history of cognitive impairment, or you or your loved one have been recently diagnosed, it's something none of us want to think about. It can be overwhelming to consider and even more difficult to imagine losing oneself to such a disease that steadily erodes your cognition and the essence of who you are. And as if that weren't frightening enough, there's the financial devastation that it can wreck.
Did You Know...
- Dementia care, including Alzheimer's care, can range from 4 to 8 years after diagnosis, to as long as 20 years! The average length of care is 8 years.
- Last year, unpaid caregivers provided 16 billion hours of assistance to people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and memory loss. This contribution, in monetary terms, is valued at $271.6 billion!
- In 2021, the Alzheimer’s Association reported the total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia was $377,621. 70 percent of that figure is borne by family caregivers via unpaid caregiving and out-of-pocket expenses.
- The Alzheimer’s Association also notes that over half of family caregivers (57 percent) of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia provided care for four or more years.
Additionally, a significant amount of caregiving is provided by unpaid family members who take time away from their careers and other family responsibilities, and the impact is oftentimes severe.
About The Alzheimer's Planning Center
The Alzheimer's Planning Center is a special division of Carolina Family Estate Planning devoted to helping individuals and families impacted by cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease live their best lives possible through our unique Memory Safeguard Planning.
Memory Safeguard Planning is composed of three parts created especially for you and your family that fulfill your dreams and goals and will protect you and your family for life.
- Care plan. An assessment of the social, family, and medical information to create a strategic plan to meet your needs. This comprehensive care plan serves as the foundation for all decision-making, ensuring that your unique circumstances and preferences are at the forefront of every aspect of your care journey.
- Legal plan. Estate planning, health care power of attorney, wills, trusts, and other items to ensure you take the best care of your loved ones. Our legal plan not only protects your assets and wishes but also provides peace of mind, knowing that your affairs are in order and your family is safeguarded against potential legal complications.
- Financial plan. An assessment to find the best solutions to fund long-term care. This tailored financial plan goes beyond basic budgeting, incorporating innovative strategies to maximize your resources and maintain your quality of life throughout your retirement years.
Our Memory Safeguard Planning options are specifically designed for:
- Healthy individuals concerned about the possibility of cognitive impairment in the future (e.g. family history, high-risk factors, etc.)
- Individuals recently diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment
- Individuals (or their family members) in progressed stages of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
For far too long, traditional estate planning and elder law have been failing to address these issues. Traditional estate planning focuses primarily on what happens when you die, but it generally does an inadequate job of addressing quality of life and long-term care concerns. Meanwhile, traditional elder law planning has primarily been focused on nursing home planning and government benefits such as Medicaid. We believe that good planning can and should be so much more than this.
How Can Our Plans Help You and Your Family Live Better?
Strengthen Your Financial Security During Retirement and Planning for Long-Term Care
Our financial planning services are designed to safeguard your future. We'll work with you to develop a comprehensive strategy that ensures your assets last throughout retirement. This includes exploring long-term care insurance options, creating a budget that accounts for potential future medical and caregiving expenses, and optimizing your Social Security and pension benefits. For eligible veterans, we'll also investigate available benefits to maximize your financial resources.
Maintain Your Safety and Dignity
Preserving your independence and self-respect is paramount. We'll assess your living situation and recommend necessary home modifications to enhance safety. Our team can connect you with reputable in-home care services to support independent living. We'll provide guidance on maintaining personal care routines, suggest memory aids and assistive technologies improve daily functioning and implement strategies to protect you from financial exploitation and elder abuse. At Carolina Family Estate Planning, your well-being is our top priority.
Maximize Your Input and Control Over Your Quality of Life
We believe in empowering you to make decisions about your future. Our process includes facilitating discussions about your wishes and preferences for future care and assisting in the creation of advance directives and healthcare proxies. We'll explore various living arrangements, including aging in place options, to suit your desires. To support your cognitive health, we'll recommend engaging activities and social opportunities tailored to your interests. Additionally, we'll provide personalized education on nutrition and exercise to promote overall well-being.
Reduce Family Stress and Conflict to Preserve Family Harmony
Family dynamics can be challenging during times of change. Our team is skilled in mediating family discussions to ensure all voices are heard and respected. We'll help clarify roles and responsibilities among family members to prevent misunderstandings. By educating your family about the progression of cognitive impairment, we'll set realistic expectations and reduce potential conflicts. We also offer resources for caregiver support and respite care to prevent burnout. Regular family meetings facilitated by our team will address ongoing concerns and allow for plan adjustments as needs evolve.
We understand the difficulties in navigating the issues arising from a diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Our goal is to relieve that stress by mapping the way through for you. Our experienced team will conduct a thorough assessment of your current situation, develop a customized plan tailored to your unique needs, provide ongoing support as your needs change, connect you with trusted professionals in your community, and offer compassionate, judgment-free advice to help you make informed decisions. By partnering with us, you'll gain a dedicated advocate who will work tirelessly to ensure you and your family can face the future with confidence and peace of mind.
For additional resources, we recommend downloading our free e-book, Guide to Alzheimer's Care.
