Statewide Iowa (RI) – A lawyer from western Iowa who focuses on eldercare and estate planning says she’s finding many Iowans are ill-prepared for worst-case scenarios. Deborah Peterson, of Council Bluffs, led an online workshop this week on behalf of the Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
More than seven-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including some 62-thousand in Iowa. Another 100-thousand Iowans serve as caregivers for family members and friends. Peterson says some people don’t like to confront their mortality by creating things like a will or medical power of attorney, which is understandable, however:
Having a living will isn’t just for the elderly. What’s considered early-onset Alzheimer’s can strike a person in their 30s, and Peterson says many people are simply unprepared — at all ages.
Some people will wait until they have children or buy a house before they’ll draw up a will, but Peterson notes the legal age in Iowa is 18, and that’s not too early to get organized.
The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting hour-long virtual workshops for veterans every Tuesday this month, though many of the topics are relevant to anyone facing Alzheimer’s disease and all are welcome to attend — for free — via Zoom. To learn more or register, visit alz.org/crf.
