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   3 Things to Know About Alzheimer’s Power of Attorney   
      
   March 25, 2014DementiaBrad Sauer3 Comments   
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   We recently sat down with attorney Brad Sauer, to discuss the execution of   
   end-of-life legal documents for those with Alzheimer’s disease.   
   Unfortunately, many caregivers do not understand the importance of living   
   wills and powers of attorney until it’   
   s too late. Because of the nature of the disease, executing these documents   
   can become an ethical issue if they are not done in a timely manner.   
   3 Things to Know About Alzheimer's Power of Attorney   
   1. Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney   
   As an attorney for one of the branches of the military, my responsibilities   
   include providing legal assistance to active-duty service members and military   
   retirees. For military retirees, I am often asked to prepare:   
   A living will (also called an advance medical directive)   
   A health care power of attorney.   
   The former is a document that permits health care professionals to cease   
   artificial life-sustaining measures when an individual has a terminal   
   condition, permitting the individual to pass naturally.   
   The latter gives another person (often a spouse or an adult child) the   
   authority to make health care decisions on the individual’s behalf; which   
   takes effect at a lesser stage of incapacitation, such as temporary   
   unconsciousness or diminished cognitive    
   abilities.   
   Both of these documents are important for a family to have, especially for   
   families with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s. These families will   
   often be challenged with ethical issues if the documents are not prepared in a   
   timely manner.   
   2. The Effect of Alzheimer’s on Legal Documents   
   To be clear, Alzheimer’s disease greatly effects living wills and a health   
   care power of attorney, as:   
   Only an Alzheimer’s patient can sign the document pertaining to him or her   
   Neither an attorney nor a notary can ethically prepare or notarize a living   
   will or health care power of attorney for a patient that does not understand   
   the nature of the documents at issue   
   This creates a challenging situation for the patient and his or her family who   
   needs the documents. I am always saddened when a spouse or adult child comes   
   to my office asking for assistance with a loved one with late stage   
   Alzheimer’s. Sometimes the    
   Alzheimer’s patient is present, but it is clear that he or she does not   
   understand why they are in my office, let alone understand a complicated legal   
   document. Sometimes the Alzheimer’s patient doesn’t even come. I am forced   
   to answer that,    
   unfortunately, it is too late.   
   3. Determining Capacity to Execute Legal Documents   
   Most attorneys and notaries are not medical professionals, so when determining   
   the capacity to execute a legal document, they err on the side of caution. In   
   fact, some will not even prepare or execute documents for an individual they   
   know has an    
   Alzheimer’s diagnosis.   
   I feel this approach is extreme, and will personally prepare and execute   
   documents for a person who can explain the basic purpose of the document to me   
   15 minutes after I explain it to him or her. But, in my experience, most   
   middle to late-stage    
   Alzheimer’s patients are not able to do so.   
   An Alzheimer’s diagnosis for a loved one is overwhelming.  As you prepare   
   them for the future, be sure to talk to them early about getting a living will   
   and a health care power of attorney.  They may resist at first, but don’t   
   give up; when your    
   loved one needs them, you will both be glad they have one.    
   About the Author   
   Brad Sauer graduated from George Washington Law School in 2010, and is   
   currently practicing law on active duty status for the military. The views and   
   opinions expressed in this post do not imply endorsement by the United States   
   military.   
   Related Articles:   
   Why You Need Guardianship for a Parent with Alzheimer’s   
   6 Online Alzheimer’s Resources You Shouldn’t Be Without   
   Big List of Alzheimer’s Resources   
      
   About The Author   
      
   Profile photo of Brad Sauer   
   Brad Sauer   
      
   Brad Sauer graduated from George Washington Law School in 2010, and is   
   currently practicing law on active duty status for the military. The views and   
   opinions expressed in this post do not imply endorsement by the United States   
   military.   
      
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