October is Special Needs Awareness Month, and I want to shine a light on an often-overlooked challenge:
The intersection of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s.
Research shows that individuals born with Down Syndrome face a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s as they age — often beginning in their 40s or 50s. For parents and caregivers, this presents a daunting dual challenge: planning not just for lifelong intellectual and physical support, but also for the potential onset of memory loss and cognitive decline.
Facilities that can properly care for individuals with both developmental disabilities and dementia are extremely limited. Without thoughtful, proactive planning, families can find themselves in crisis trying to navigate complex care decisions without the right legal or financial tools in place.
If you have a child or loved one with Down Syndrome, it’s critical to create a legal plan that anticipates these future needs — one that can ensure they’ll be supported even when you’re no longer here to advocate for them.
I can help you design a plan that includes:
Special Needs Trusts to protect public benefits
Legal structures for long-term financial and caregiving support
Provisions for future housing and medical decisions
Planning for dementia-related care needs
If you’d like to talk about how to protect your child’s future, no matter what challenges come – please reach out.
Now is the time to plan.
