Bruce Willis requires support from caregivers for his dementia.
Dementia impacts millions of people worldwide.
This ailment affects more than memory.
It can lead to changes in personality and struggles with carrying out tasks of daily living.
Although Alzheimer's is the most common and well-known form of dementia, the other types of dementia can be equally devastating to individuals and their loved ones.
The diagnosis of Bruce Willis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has brought public attention to the challenges of these other forms of dementia.
After the initial diagnosis, loved ones must deal with the practical and emotional struggles associated with caregiving.
Dealing with dementia involves preparing for the future progression of the disease.
Estate planning can reduce the stress and strain on caregivers as they seek to follow their loved one's wishes while supporting their healthcare and finances.
Those with dementia rely more heavily on caregivers as their disease progresses.
Dementia is an ongoing medical issue.
As such, caregivers must be committed over the long term.
The CDC estimates about six million Americans have an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
Most of these individuals rely on family and friends for support and care.
The role of the caregiver brings with it heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and stress.
If caregivers also work and have children, they are juggling multiple demanding responsibilities.
When loved ones with dementia deteriorate without clear incapacity planning documents as part of their estate planning, then their caregivers can experience significant challenges in making decisions for their loved ones.
Caregivers are not mind readers and will be unable to honor wishes left uncommunicated.
What incapacity documents should those with dementia have in place?
Key documents include a durable power of attorney for financial decisions and a healthcare directive for outlining desired medical treatments.
When Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), his family initially kept it a secret.
Although protecting the privacy of Bruce Willis and his family was important, it left Emma Heming Willis in a challenging position as she faced the immense challenges of caregiving.
While privacy initially seemed like the best option, it left the family feeling more overwhelmed by stress and isolated.
According to an ABC News article earlier this year titled "Bruce Willis' wife says family 'desperately needed' support after dementia diagnosis," sharing about the diagnosis publicly enabled Bruce Willis and his family to receive support from other people.
They no longer had to shoulder the heavy weight of the disease on their own.
Dementia caregivers should surround themselves with a good support network.
Although it is ideal for individuals to have an estate plan in place before a dementia diagnosis, families should schedule an appointment with an experienced estate planning attorney before the dementia progresses if no plan is currently in place.
If the loved one with dementia can still make his or her own decisions, then a plan can be created to give the family peace of mind and ensure all necessary financial and legal decisions can be made.
Estate planning allows the focus to remain on supporting the loved one with dementia rather than navigating the legal system.
If you anticipate the need to serve as a caregiver for a loved one, then you should encourage your loved one to work with an estate planning attorney now if no plan is in place.
Having legal documents in place will enable you to more easily navigate the complexities of caregiving for a loved one with dementia.
You can schedule a consultation with our office to set up a comprehensive estate plan with incapacity documents.
Preparing for the possibility of dementia includes estate planning.
By working with an experienced estate planning attorney, you can trust that you have the legal documents in place, such as a living trust, an advance health care directive, and a general durable power of attorney, to protect your loved one financially and medically.
Although many caregivers do not want to burden others, they require support from other people as they navigate the emotional, mental, and physical challenges associated with a diagnosis of dementia.
Ultimately, estate planning can give caregivers peace of mind so they can focus their time and energy on their loved ones.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should contact an attorney for advice concerning any particular issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.
References: ABC News (May 8, 2024) "Bruce Willis' wife says family 'desperately needed' support after dementia diagnosis" and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (June 30, 2023) "Caregiving for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia"
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