Tuesday, October 23rd, Sandra Day O’Conner announced that she has been diagnosed with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease,” in an open letter that she released to the public.  Sandra Day O’Conner was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.  After retiring at the age of 76 she continued her work in advancing civic learning and engagement.  Four years later she started an online civic learning center that could be used for teachers, civic leaders, and children alike.  The website, www.icivics.org , focuses on learning what our constitution says, how our government works, and how everyone can and should actively participate in their local communities.

Sandra Day O’Conner paved the way for so many women and has left us with a blueprint of hope.  What should Justice O’Conner be doing now to prepare her estate?  How is preparing her estate planning different due to her diagnosis?  Thankfully she is in the beginning stages of the disease, which makes things much easier for her and her loved ones.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, legal planning should be the first step after a patient’s diagnosis.  It might not be easy to start the process, but once it’s done the relief felt by all parties will allow the patient to enjoy their daily life without the worry about what will happen.

Legal capacity can differ from one document to another and can be argued by family members down the road.  Ensure that the client has picked someone as their power of attorney that has their best wishes in mind.  Remember that as long as the client has legal capacity they can make all of their own decisions.  Guardianship is not needed if there is a power of attorney in place and is not often needed unless their is a dispute among family members.
If you or someone you know has a family member that has been diagnosed with dementia visit
https://www.alz.org/  for more information and resources.