Dallas County Living Well Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 25

Everyone has a Reason
To end Alzheimer’s
By Lori A. Leu & Associates

M

aybe your mother is one of the five million Americans living with the disease.
Perhaps your grandfather died from
Alzheimer’s disease––the sixth leading
cause of death in the United States, killing more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
Or, maybe you are a caregiver and, like countless other
Americans, have contributed to the 17.7 billion hours of
unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other
types of dementia. No matter what your reason to end Alzheimer’s, awareness of the disease and planning for your
future can help you move one step closer toward honoring
that cause.
Lori A. Leu & Associates has many reasons to support
efforts to end Alzheimer’s. As elder law attorneys, we witness daily the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s and other
types of dementia on our clients and their families. One
of our missions is to help our clients alleviate the anxiety
that planning for a future with dementia may entail. If you
receive a diagnosis of dementia, you may ask yourself questions such as: “Who will take care of me when I need help?
How will I pay for the care I may need? Who can I trust to
protect me?” Attorneys who devote their practice to elder
law can help you understand your options and guide you
in making these important decisions. With special sensitivity to the legal issues surrounding the healthcare of older
adults, elder law attorneys empower seniors through the
long-term care planning process by ensuring that proper estate planning documents are in place and by assisting with
planning for the cost of long-term care.
If you already have a diagnosis of dementia, is it too late
to plan ahead? Not necessarily. With an early diagnosis of
dementia, you may still have the capacity to execute important documents necessary to safely navigate the future of
your disability, such as powers of attorney and a declaration
of guardian. A durable or “financial” power of attorney is a
legal document that designates another person, whom you
trust, to act on your behalf with regard to financial and legal matters, including, among other things, managing bank

accounts, paying bills, and applying for public benefits. A
medical power of attorney enables the named agent to make
health care decisions for you, such as consenting to medical
treatment, services, or procedures.
Another essential document is a declaration of guardian.
In the event your durable or medical power of attorney is
not effective, you can further protect your interests by declaring the individuals who you would trust to be appointed
as guardian over you and your estate (as well as individuals
who should not be appointed). Although a court proceeding
would still be necessary, a declaration of guardian allows
you to have input into the appointment of your guardian.
And, if your family members cannot agree, or an outside
party is attempting to take advantage of you, the declaration
of guardian can sometimes help shorten an otherwise long
and expensive process.
Although elder law attorneys strive to protect the future
of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other
types of dementia, these legal safety nets are only temporary solutions until a cure can be found. It takes action
and resources to make a difference and everyone can help
lead the way. Start by spreading the word that November
is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and
National Caregiver Month. Educate your family, friends,
and coworkers of the fact that all of us are at risk of being
touched by Alzheimer’s disease––whether by personally
suffering from the disease or by providing care to family
members or friends who suffer from the disease. Contact
the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association,
www.alz.org/greaterdallas, to learn about opportunities to
raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer