Advanced Care Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, the most common form of the disease, in fact. Essentially, when a person has dementia, they start to lose their memory and other cognitive abilities. The majority of dementia cases are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s can come in older age, as the majority of individuals who have the disease are aged 65 and older. However, Alzheimer’s can also affect individuals under the age of 65. Despite the frequency of diagnosis, developing Alzheimer’s disease is not inevitable, nor is it part of the aging process.

When a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is made, it is serious. Alzheimer’s disease will progressively worsen with time, and on average, people with this disease will only live for four years to eight years after they were given their prognosis. While treatments do exist, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and the reality is that it, along with other forms of dementia, are terminal conditions. Until there is a greater understanding of how to delay and prevent dementia from occurring, the outlook for a dementia patient is grim.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and you do not have advanced care planning documents in place, there is never a better time than now to get started. Since the disease will only advance to the point where communication may cease and the ability to complete normal daily tasks may also end, advanced care planning can prepare for what is coming down the road in the future.

For help with advanced care planning, you are welcome to call the Canton advanced directive lawyer at the Law Office of Brian S. Karpe. If you become incapable of making decisions for yourself or cannot communicate, putting in place tools like advanced directives can help your loved ones support you later in life.

While you can still make sound decisions independently, you can consider establishing a living will. In your will, you can describe the circumstances where you would want certain types of medical treatment and those where you would not want a particular medical treatment. In this way, should your condition deteriorate, as is usually the case when the disease enters into late-stage Alzheimer’s, you can ensure that your wishes will be met.

Additionally, whether or not you have a will, you may also name a durable power of attorney for healthcare. This individual would be responsible for representing your interests and needs related to the healthcare you receive.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can make the future uncertain, and while treatments are available, there is no cure, and death will ultimately be the result. Advanced care planning early on after a diagnosis is advantageous to have more control over your future and your healthcare.

Speak to a Connecticut Advanced Care Planning Attorney Today 

Alzheimer’s disease is an unfortunate condition for those who are diagnosed. It is also a complex disease to manage and witness for those surrounding an individual with Alzheimer’s. Planning is important to ensure you can directly participate in decisions regarding your healthcare when your disease has advanced. Advanced care directives can help you with this.

For your questions and help with advanced directives, please call the Connecticut advanced care planning attorney at the Law Office of Brian S. Karpe at 860-217-1458 to schedule a free consultation.