Many people focus on financial assets when doing their estate planning, and these are important. But one of the major benefits of making an estate plan is that you can plan for your medical future and your potential healthcare needs. You can do this with an advance directive, for instance, by leaving instructions for your medical team. You can also set up a medical power of attorney so that you have an agent who can act on your behalf if necessary.
Often, it’s important to make these plans in advance because certain diseases or disabilities can make it difficult to do so at the time. Having that advance plan is beneficial, not just for your long-term health needs, but also for your family. If you develop a disorder such as Alzheimer’s, for instance, you will already have a plan in place to help things go smoothly.
Potential signs and symptoms
It is often beneficial with serious medical concerns or conditions to identify them and get proper treatment as soon as possible. Knowing that you have a specific condition can also help during healthcare planning. With that in mind, here are a few potential signs of Alzheimer’s:
- Age-related forgetfulness
- Subjective memory loss
- Memory lapse
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Difficulty with complex tasks
- Trouble with organizational skills
This doesn’t mean that every time someone feels forgetful or cannot perfectly remember something they may be coming down with Alzheimer’s. But if you do see these signs and symptoms on a consistent basis, they let you know that it’s time to focus on your health. One way that you can do that is by utilizing your estate plan, so be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take and went to do so.