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a person’s medical chart.                          update a will and secure the
                                                                  estate.


                                                                  A  Durable Power of Attorney for
                 Access to private medical                        Finances  names someone to
                 information is closely regulated.
                 The    person    with   Alzheimer’s              make financial decisions when the
                 disease must state in writing who                person with Alzheimer’s disease
                 can see or use personal medical                  can no longer do so.  It can help
                 records.
                                                                  people with the disease and their
                                                                  families avoid court actions that
                                                                  may      take     away      control      of
               ADVANCE                  DIRECTIVES                financial affairs.

               FOR         FINANCIAL               AND            A Living Trust provides instructions
               ESTATE MANAGEMENT                                  about the person’s estate and

                                                                  appoints someone, called the
               Advance directives for financial                   trustee, to hold title to property
               and estate management must                         and funds for the beneficiaries.

               be created while the person with                   The      trustee       follows      these
               Alzheimer’s still can make these                   instructions after the person no
               decisions (sometimes referred to                   longer can manage his or her
               as “having legal capacity” to                      affairs.
               make decisions).                                   The     person      with    Alzheimer’s
                                                                  disease also can name the trustee
               These directives may include                       as the health care proxy through
               some or all of the following:                      the durable power of attorney for

               A  Will  indicates how a person’s                  health care.
               assets      and      estate     will    be         A living trust can:
               distributed upon death. It also can                Include a wide range of property
               specify:                                           • Provide a detailed plan for
                                                                     property disposition
                                                                  • Avoid the expense and delay of
               • • Arrangements for care of minors                   probate (in which the courts
               • Gifts                                               establish the validity of a will)
               • Trusts to manage the estate                      • State how property should be
               • Funeral and/or burial                               distributed      when       the     last
                   arrangements                                      beneficiary dies and whether the
                                                                     trust should continue to benefit
               Medical and legal experts say that                    others
               the newly diagnosed person with

               Alzheimer’s and his or her family
               should move quickly to make or






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