The unfortunate reality is that Alzheimer’s is a serious issue for many elderly people who have to do their estate planning. Even years before they pass away, the disease can really take hold and cause their mental state to deteriorate. This matters for estate planning purposes because a person needs to have the mental capacity to make an estate plan to guarantee it will hold up in court.
With that in mind, here are some facts to know about Alzheimer’s among the modern population:
- Many Americans have to provide care for no pay for friends and family members. As many as 16 million people could be involved in this process.
- The disease can be fatal, and it is actually the sixth most common reason that people pass away in the United States.
- If you look back to 2000 and then check the statistics all the way through 2017, you will find a rise in Alzheimer’s-related deaths of 145 percent.
- About one-third of elderly people have dementia at the time that they pass away. While Alzheimer’s is perhaps the most notable, it is only one type of dementia.
- In just 2050, experts think that there will be around 14 million people living with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. Here in 2019, that number is closer to 5.8 million.
- A new case of Alzheimer’s develops in an elderly American every 65 seconds.
Do you think that mental issues like Alzheimer’s may impact your estate planning in any way? It is important to take this into account and to consider all of the legal options you have at your disposal.
