Sign Here, Please

Loved ones who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's require more than being attended for mental and physical ailments. Honest, meticulous care for their financial matters must be addressed from the first day of their diagnosis.

At the first opportunity, a financial plan should be organized for their future. The actuality of "we've got plenty of time" will sneak up and bite you in the behind.

There is no time! A caregiver's schedule can become so hectic they barely have time to remember to breathe.

One of the first signs of my father's memory loss was noticing that his bills were being paid late or not at all. This was so out-of-character for him. I started writing out his checks, then having him sign them. This turned into a two-hour session I began to dread. He would tortuously question me over and over whether a certain paid bill had not been paid earlier.

In order to take care of their business, an attorney who has expertise in public benefit needs to be contacted. Due to the memory-impairment of Alzheimer's, appropriate papers need to be drawn without delay. Remember as time elapses, chances increase when a claim might arise that the patient wasn't competent at the time of executing the protective legal documents.

Someone who is completely trustworthy needs to be designated Durable Power Of Attorney - also called a Health Care Power of Attorney - and whomever acquires this position must fall into a strict habit of signing their name ending with POA every single time they sign for the patient. You also need to realize that power of attorney will cease to exist the minute the patient passes away so anything signed incorrectly could come back hauntingly.

Most medical and financial institutions have absolutely no heart. They'll start calling mere days after your patient passes. You can ease most future burdens yourself by adding those three little letters to your signature: POA

Other institutions that have ruthless, frigid hearts are banks and investment groups. Most of them will be reluctant or even unwilling to accept your Durable Power of Attorney. It might be in your benefit to set up a joint checking account as soon as possible so to insure bills can be paid in a timely fashion.

Call a family meeting, it might take several gatherings before anything gets accomplished but don't give up.

I can't stress how important it is to get things in order immediately.