It goes without saying that one of the best days in the lives of older people is the day they finally retire. Indeed, after decades spent putting in long days and making long commutes, they are finally free to enjoy the fruits of their labor, perhaps taking up a hobby full-time, relocating to a dream spot or just enjoying the absence of an agenda.
Given the tranquility promised by a post-retirement lifestyle, it would naturally make sense that many older people would want to do everything in their power to avoid potential conflict or issues that could cause them undue stress, including planning for their incapacity.
After all, they may have already executed an otherwise valid estate plan several decades ago, or still feel as if they are perfectly healthy both physically and mentally.
While this is understandable, what happens if they start to notice an ever so subtle shift in their cognitive abilities, such as brief spells of confusion or lapses in memory?
The simple — and sometimes hard to accept truth — is that with aging comes an increased risk of incapacity, meaning the inability to care for oneself.
Indeed, this is precisely why it’s so important for older people who begin to notice these almost imperceptible types of cognitive changes to have a discussion with their family members about revisiting their estate plan to ensure that the necessary documents protecting their best interests are in place should incapacity someday become a reality.
At Frye & Vazquez, P.L., we have extensive experience helping older people reexamine the efficacy of their existing estate plans and, if necessary, drafting the necessary documents to safeguard their wellbeing, and help prevent potentially bitter legal proceedings.
In addition to helping with traditional estate planning matters like wills and trusts, we can also assist with the following:
- Health care directives
- Durable powers of attorney
- Living wills
To learn more about how we can help, please visit our website.
