Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Next month is the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s statistics, more than five million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to grow to as many as sixteen million by 2050. This walk is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest funder of Alzheimer’s disease research in the United States.

Alzheimer’s Not Natural

Alzheimer’s is not a natural part of aging and the disease worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia; an estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease. It is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate. Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s not only affect a person’s memory, it can also affect personality, reasoning, and judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may repeat themselves, get lost in familiar places, forget conversations, and misplace possessions. Alzheimer’s can even cause vision problems such as difficulty determining color or contrast.

Routine activities become difficult for the person to perform and managing finances becomes challenging. There may not be a cure yet for Alzheimer’s, but medications may temporarily improve symptoms and slow the rate of decline. The work the Alzheimer’s Association is doing is crucial to promoting brain health and helping people live well.

With proper estate planning, many of the pitfalls of aging, including Alzheimer’s, can be successfully mitigated. Legal planning for end-of-life is never easy or pleasant, regardless of health status or life situation. However, creating a plan for your future can be empowering. The sooner you establish your legal plans, the better prepared you and your family will be for the unknown. Once you know your wishes will be carried out, you can focus on enjoying your life.

There is Help

Because planning for the potentiality of Alzheimer’s is a reality we here at Silverman Law Office see every day, we are strong supporters of the Alzheimer’s Association. We hope you join us in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this year on September 7th at Carroll College. You can also donate to our walking team at http://act.alz.org/goto/silvermanlawofficewarriors. Just click the “donate” button, and search for “The Silverman Law Office Warriors” to donate a monetary amount of your choice to our walking team. The more people who become aware of the disease and its affects, the more hope we have.

Get Peace of Mind

Stop by either our Helena office at 950 North Montana Avenue, or our Bozeman office at 504 West Main, to talk to an estate planning attorney about getting an estate plan in place. Planning for the potentiality of Alzheimer’s is crucial to everyone’s lives.