Is a Power of Attorney Still Valid After the Principal Passes Away?
My father-in-law passed away unexpectedly, and my mother-in-law has dementia and is in a nursing home. My husband has a durab...
Read moreIn 2022, the world learned that legendary actor Bruce Willis – known for his memorable starring roles in Die Hard films, the cult classic Pulp Fiction, the Golden Globe-winning TV series Moonlighting, and much more – had been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects speech and language abilities. In 2023, his family provided a further update: Willis’ condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a degenerative brain disorder that impairs cognitive function, behavior, and communication.
The news of Willis’ FTD diagnosis was heartbreaking for his fans, but it also served as an important reminder: Incapacity can strike anyone at any time. Preparing for it is an act of respect and compassion for one’s family.
Aphasia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to speak, understand language, read, and write. It often results from brain damage, such as a stroke. However, in Willis’ case, it was an early sign of frontotemporal dementia.
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FTD is a rare type of dementia that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to changes in personality, decision-making, speech, and motor skills. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which primarily affects memory, FTD can cause individuals to lose the ability to communicate and make sound judgments. For people with FTD, there is currently no cure, and its progression can be unpredictable, varying from person to person.
Bruce Willis’ diagnosis highlights the importance of planning for the possibility of incapacity. No one expects to lose the ability to make their own decisions, but conditions like dementia, strokes, or traumatic brain injuries can strip people of that ability — sometimes earlier in life than expected.
Incapacity planning is an important part of the estate planning process. It involves preparing legal and financial documents that help ensure a person’s wishes are honored if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. Starting the advance care planning process may seem challenging at first, but it can make things easier for you in the long run and is one of the most compassionate things a person can do for their family.
Incapacity planning involves legal instruments that can be grouped into two general categories: financial and medical.
Two financial instruments you should consider creating are a durable financial power of attorney and a revocable living trust.
Advance health care directives, also known as advance directives or health care directives, are legal documents that outline a person’s medical preferences if they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.
These documents ensure that health care providers and loved ones understand a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment. This can reduce confusion and stress during critical moments and remove the burden of indecision and blame from the family members who want the best for their incapacitated loved one but may have conflicting views on proper medical or end-of-life care.
Advance directives that will help loved ones in the event of incapacity include:
Though Bruce Willis’ family has not publicly discussed his incapacity planning, their unified approach to his care suggests that they may have taken proactive steps. His wife, children, and ex-wife, Demi Moore, have rallied around him, ensuring that he receives the best possible care while also raising awareness about FTD.
Willis’ diagnosis serves as a poignant reminder that incapacity can affect anyone — regardless of age, wealth, or status. By making legal and medical arrangements in advance, individuals can protect their dignity and ease the burden on their loved ones.
Though having conversations about incapacity may be difficult, it can help provide peace of mind and allow families to focus on what truly matters — supporting and cherishing their loved ones. After talking with your family members about your medical and financial wishes, find an experienced estate planning attorney in your area to help you create an estate plan that makes your incapacity planning official.
For additional reading about estate and incapacity planning, check out the following articles:
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Read moreIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MOREIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
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READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
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READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
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READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
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