In my workshops, we talk about the Elder Care Journey. Along this journey, which I show on a chart, is an area called “Declining Senior With Memory or Mobility Issues.” I reference this step along the Elder Care Journey as a DANGER ZONE. We know that mobility issues and falling oftentimes is the beginning of a downward slope for our older loved ones. A person with mobility issues but who still has good mental capacity can of course enter into a long term care estate plan. She can agree in the plan that if she loses capacity, her loved ones can proceed with asset preservation, possible gifting, transfer of her home for asset protection, and getting her ducks in a row for qualification for Medi-Cal, etc.
If she has lost mental capacity by the time she sees her elder law attorney, she will not be able to enter into such a plan. If there is a formal diagnosis for instance of advanced dementia, we of course will not be able to proceed. In that case, if she has the plain vanilla type of estate plan, which is more suitable for a younger person, the plan will most likely not have the powers to allow her fiduciary to complete gift transfers or to transfer the home to her spouse or her children for asset protection. In that event, we may need to go to court to obtain an order to reform her existing estate planning documents.
If Mom has some dementia, such as short term memory loss, she may still have sufficient mental capacity to enter into a long term care plan. We can usually tell through our interview and conversation with her if she understands what the plan is about. If we are not certain, we can ask her medical doctor whether he would be willing to confirm in a letter that she has sufficient mental capacity to create the estate plan.
The sooner the older client sees the elder law attorney, the better. It is never too late to do long term care planning, but it is much more expensive if we need to go to court to complete the planning.
For additional information, you can contact your elder law attorney Michael J. Young. This information is not to be taken as legal advice, and you are encouraged to see your elder law attorney. At the law offices of Michael J. Young, 1931 San Miguel Dr., Ste. 220, Walnut Creek, CA http://www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com, 925-256-0298,lawyoung1@gmail.com, we practice elder law and we help Baby Boomers, Seniors and families through their Elder Care Journey. We help families with Sustainable Estate Planning, long term care planning, asset protection plans, special needs trusts, comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts and powers of attorney. We also help Baby Boomers and families get their “Ducks in a Row” in order to help them qualify for Medi-Cal and the VA Aid & Attendance Improved Pension Benefit.