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DEMENTIA AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
I know this will seem like a cross subject, but it concerns money and Alzheimer’s. I decided it needed to be in Finance Highdance; the Alzheimer’s is a whole other matter.
Most of us have either had a parent or grandparent with dementia problems, and it creates a humongous strain on the whole family. From money, to financial responsibilities, to care, to housekeeping, and on and on. If you happen to be one of the children, or grandchildren who still live nearby, the burdens typically fall on you. When it comes to financial issues there may come a time when you will need to take over. How do you do that?
You should hire legal assistance to go forward due to the fact that financial institutions need authorization for such actions that you may need to do. Your attorney can help you accomplish the power of attorney paperwork which, in effect, can allow you financial authority over specifics. A durable power of attorney allows you immediate ability to process financial matters, or a springing power of attorney only takes effect when a medical diagnosis confirms the individual’s mental incompetence. Whichever is decided you will need to send copies to financial institutions. It is recommended that it may be best to get a durable power of attorney before your parent or grandparent is unable to make financial decisions, as some financial institutions require the original owner to sign a form to allow another person access to investments. You can also be appointed as guardian or conservator. Your attorney will guide you in these differences and decision-making.
Hopefully, you can provide medical history or prescriptions, as needed. Also the checking, savings and investment accounts, insurances, PASSPORT and/or Driver’s License, Social Security Numbers and any passwords used. You will need to know the beneficiaries for insurances or any other documents which allow those. Your attorney will be able to help in some of these instances, including income, wills, deeds and trust documents.
You may decide that you do not wish to become the responsible party. You can very carefully review whether to select an attorney or a wealth management organization to assist in these details.
Rest assured you are not alone in this situation these days. There are many support groups available for families struggling through the maze. Check with your attorney, your local health department and/or senior center; help is waiting.
We all want to be healthy, and the need seems to increase with the number of birthdays we experience! How many times did you hear an older relative complain about aching back, sore knees, neck pain, etc., along with a statement about getting older.
Unfortunately, getting older isn’t the be-all and start-all of pain. Reasons are endless. Ask yourself how often you are in the recliner daily, as opposed to when you were younger. One lady I know decided she no longer had to worry about weight or her looks since she is now a grandmother. Mercy sakes! If you stand back, look around at others, you will identify immobility as a culprit. A man once said, “Give me ten minutes a day, and you will lose weight, pain and the aging process.” In other words, move continuously only ten minutes a day for improvement! How hard can that be? Ah, but the young at heart attitude is, I believe at the heart of it all, no pun intended.
I just saw a television program this morning in which Anderson Cooper, a CNN TV Anchor and son of Gloria Vanderbilt, shared their family album and some stories with Rita Braver on CBS News. It is highly recommended that you look up and enjoy this interchange. What I took away was that Gloria never plans (drives son bananas), and always thinks there is another exciting possibility right around the corner. She is 92, now, but Anderson says she still thinks there might be a guy waiting on a boat in the south of France. To quote Anderson “My Mom is the most sort of young and optimistic person I know.”
Anyway, she looks pretty health to me! Pain…what pain?
You will find the full report at cbsnews.com/news/mother and son
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