Alzheimer’s FAQs for Massachusetts Families

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday activities. Symptoms generally become more significant as the disease progresses. A diagnosis can affect far more than medical care. Over time, a … [Read more...] about What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Many estate planning documents must be signed while the person creating them has sufficient legal capacity. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis does not automatically mean a person is unable to make legal decisions. A person in the earlier stages of the disease may still … [Read more...] about Why Is Early Legal Planning Important After An Alzheimer’s Diagnosis?

The appropriate documents depend on the individual’s circumstances, family, assets, health, and existing estate plan. Common documents that may need to be created or reviewed include: A Durable Power of Attorney can allow a chosen agent to handle authorized … [Read more...] about What Legal Documents Should Someone With Alzheimer’s Review?

A Massachusetts Health Care Proxy allows a competent adult to appoint another adult to make health care decisions if the person later becomes unable to make or communicate those decisions. The agent’s authority generally begins after the attending physician … [Read more...] about How Does A Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Help?

If a person becomes unable to handle important matters and does not have effective legal documents in place, family members may have fewer options for acting on that person’s behalf. In some situations, a Massachusetts Probate and Family Court proceeding may be … [Read more...] about What Happens If Someone With Alzheimer’s Becomes Incapacitated Without Planning Documents?

Alzheimer’s disease may eventually increase a person’s need for supervision, personal care, home-based services, assisted living, memory care, or nursing facility care. Families should consider future care needs before a crisis develops. Planning may include … [Read more...] about How Should Families Prepare For Long-term Care?