Protect Your Family From Heartbreak
SUDOKU
Battling in the Face of Alzheimer’s
When I was a small child, my grandmother was one of my favorite people. I’ll never forget the excitement I felt every time she appeared on our doorstep to pick me up for a night or weekend with her and Grandpa. She always kept me entertained, whether cooking, endless hours of playing dress up, or helping her tend to her garden. Afterward, if I was lucky, she would sit down at her piano or organ and bless me with her incredible skill. I wish I had more of those moments with my grandmother. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and entered a fight for her life. Her memories of our precious days together slipped away, and eventually, she did too. I was heartbroken to lose her. But not long after she passed, a client walked through our doors who I think was heaven-sent. His name was David Myers, and he’d recently lost his wife, Cheryl, to Alzheimer’s. David is truly inspiring. Instead of collapsing under the weight of Cheryl’s passing, he threw himself into activism. He joined the Alzheimer’s Association as a volunteer, organizer, and leader and even helped start a support group specifically for husbands of wives with Alzheimer’s. Through the process of working with David after the loss of his wife, I became an impassioned supporter of the Alzheimer’s cause. Since then, I’ve had to assist others battling Alzheimer’s in an attempt to get their financial affairs in order. This is a delicate process because a person in severe cognitive decline may not have the capacity to make their own financial decisions. In some cases, we must bring in family members to act as witnesses, which can be emotionally taxing for all involved. Those difficult meetings remind me how important it is that we get our financial affairs in order before a health crisis like Alzheimer’s occurs. Cheryl was only 47 when she was diagnosed. These things can strike at any time. November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and I would encourage you to connect with the local Alzheimer’s Association at Alz.org to find resources as well as volunteer and donation needs. Additionally, this is an excellent reminder for us to proactively secure a legacy. If your assets are already in order, consider sending your friends or family to us for help. We can create a financial plan for them before it’s too late.
SOLUTION ON PG. 4
–Krista McBeath
309.808.2224 3
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