3 Good Reasons to Organize Legal Documents in the Mildest Stages of Dementia

Reluctant to start thinking about the eventual legal documents you'll need, like a durable power of attorney for health care and finances, along with a living will? That's understandable. After all, someone early in the first stage of dementia is still of fairly sound mind and able to make many decisions just as he or she always did. But this is exactly why sooner, rather than later, is a wise time to look into these documents.

• At this earliest stage of dementia, someone can still legally sign the documents.

• Your loved one is capable of giving useful input and expressing personal preferences now. Eventually he or she won't be able to.

• If you postpone too long, these simple documents become unusable and you may have to go through the added expense and trouble of obtaining legal conservatorship.

Learn more about power of attorney and advance directives.