4 Situations Where Your Elderly Loved One May Benefit from a Conservatorship
Life comes with many things that are inescapable. Getting older is one of them. While aging with class and grace is possible, some issues are out of our control. When an aging loved one is starting to have difficulties taking care of themselves and their finances, then it is time to make some decisions. Stepping in to offer a helping hand and support may be necessary, especially if your loved one does not want to leave their home or lose their independence. A conservatorship may be beneficial in these situations.
Families in Connecticut who would like to learn more about establishing a conservatorship can call The Law Office of Brian S. Karpe, LLC. Attorney Karpe is a Canton conservatorship lawyer who is dedicated to helping Hartford families with their conservatorship petitions.
When Should You Consider Petitioning for a Conservatorship?
One of the hardest things that you may experience in life is to see someone you love so dearly begin to decline mentally and struggle to maintain their own finances and attend to their physical needs. This can be incredibly heartbreaking. Your loved one may even admit that they are experiencing challenges, but they do not want to leave their homes and they desire to stay as independent as possible.
Seeking a conservatorship may be the appropriate remedy to this exact situation. A conservator is a person who is court-appointed to the job of taking care of another individual’s finances, physical needs, or both. Conservatorships are different from guardianship as they are only meant for adults, not children. Aging adults who are being inhibited by an illness, disability, injury, or just the process of getting older may benefit from the protections a conservator provides.
If you are concerned about your loved one’s ability to take care of their affairs by themself, then it is likely you are feeling this way for good reason. What you witness and your instinct alone can all lead you to believe that your loved one can benefit from having support. But if you needed to check some boxes to be sure if it makes sense to take action, the following are circumstances where a conservatorship is likely necessary:
- Your loved one is incapacitated in a coma causing them to be mentally and physically unable to take care of things in their life.
- Your loved one is mentally disabled.
- Your loved one has developed and been diagnosed with a debilitating disease like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Your loved one suffered a serious head trauma and brain injury.
Individuals that are not immobilized and indisposed but clearly do not possess the competence necessary to make decisions about money or daily life may:
- Forget to pay bills
- Be unable to access their money because they cannot figure out how
- Struggle using their credit or debit cards when shopping
- Refuse to accept help where they clearly need it
- Are vulnerable to being taken advantage of
- Cannot remember when to take medications
- Miss doctors appointments
Speak to a Connecticut Conservatorship Attorney Today
If you have questions about what a conservatorship is and if it makes sense to pursue one for your loved one, then please call our Connecticut elder law attorney at The Law Office of Brian S. Karpe at 860-217-1458 today.