Yesterday, Today and TomorrowThe ConclusionDementia, Incapacity and Arizona Estate Planning
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The Conclusion
Dementia, Incapacity and Arizona Estate Planning
What Can Estate Planning Do When a Family Faces Dementia?
Estate planning cannot prevent dementia or remove the emotional pain a diagnosis causes. However, documents prepared before incapacity may give trusted individuals the legal authority needed to manage financial, legal and health care decisions when someone can no longer make those decisions independently.
In this conclusion to Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Scottsdale estate planning attorney Ilene L. McCauley shares the lesson her family learned from Annie’s experience: planning cannot prevent a crisis, but it can help a family respond when difficult decisions must be made.
Ilene’s Personal Story
I wrote this series about a deeply personal experience. Although Annie’s story was personal to my family, it was not unique. Many families have faced similar situations.
Caring for someone with dementia was difficult. Without the proper planning in place, it could have become a nightmare.
Throughout my life, my mother taught me how to make lemonade from lemons. When challenges came, I found a way through them.
But with Annie, we hit a wall.
There were no do-overs. There were no instant replays. We could not change what had happened or stop what was happening. We could only deal with it.
Fortunately, Annie had planned ahead.
Her legal documents were in place before we needed them. Those documents did not take away the pain or change her diagnosis. But they gave our family the legal authority to act when Annie could no longer make important decisions for herself.
During that time, I often thought about the Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
I called this series Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow for a reason.
was behind us. We could not change it.
was the day we had to make difficult decisions.
was uncertain.
What made the difference was that Annie had prepared yesterday for the decisions we had to make today and the challenges we would face tomorrow.
That was the lesson Annie’s journey taught me:
Planning ahead did not prevent the crisis. It allowed us to face it.
Do not wait for a crisis to discover whether you are prepared.
If you need help putting that planning in place, please contact me.
Ilene
About the Author
Ilene L. McCauley, Esq. is a Scottsdale, Arizona estate planning, probate and tax attorney who has practiced law in Arizona since 1982. She helps individuals and families throughout Arizona address estate planning, incapacity, probate, trust administration and related family planning concerns. Ilene has been a Certified Specialist in Taxation recognized by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization since 1983.
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Planning before a crisis may help ensure that the people you trust have the appropriate legal authority when important financial, legal and health care decisions must be made.
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