LEGAL AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
It is vital after a diagnosis of dementia to organize important legal and financial documents to provide easy access by both the dementia patient and/or the caregiver. Assistance from an attorney will be needed to prepare some of these documents. Use this checklist to collect and organize the following:
-Wills and trusts.
-Deeds or mortgages to properties.
-Banking and investment information:
Account numbers, banks and locations, stock certificates, bonds, safety deposit box location and key.
-Employment, salary, or retirement salary information.
-Marriage license.
-Divorce decree.
-List of credit cards and their numbers.
-Birth certificate.
-Social security card.
-Pink slip or payment information on vehicles.
-Insurance policies: Life insurance, home insurance, car insurance.
-Any other loan documents or legal agreements to which the person is a party.
-The last three years of federal and state tax returns.
-Copies of normal bills that are regularly paid: Utilities, phone, security, etc.
-POLST medical form (ask the doctor for this form, as a medical professional must assist in its completion).
-Health care power of attorney.
-Legal and financial power of attorney.
-Any other pertinent legal documents.
-Financial sources of medical care:
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- Benefits available through health care providers.
- Employment benefits–disability plans, Family Medical Leave Act, employee emergency assistance programs.
- Public benefits: (US) Medicaid, Medicare, in home support services, Supplemental Security Income.
- Veterans benefits.
- Long term care insurance policies (must be purchased previous to diagnosis).
-For those who use online resources: Include information on passwords for important sites, i.e., banking, bill paying, etc.
-Personal attorney contact information.
-Medical history of pets and instructions as to what should happen to them if you are no longer able to care for them.
-Information on any pre-paid funeral, services, cemetery plots, who to contact in the event of death.