Diana, the most common procedure is that your husband’s Primary Care doctor will make a referral to a specialist, a Neurologist in this case, if he/she detects that your husbands shows signs of dementia. Usually, the Primary Care doctor conducts a preliminary assessment by asking your husband to draw the face of a clock showing a specific time or your husband will be asked to repeat three specific words. If your husband fails the preliminary assessment, a referral to a neurologist typically follows for more in-depth testing.

The (Durable) Power of Attorney is a document signed by your husband granting someone (you, presumably) the right to act in his behalf in all legal and financial matters. In some states, there is a separate document regarding health care decisions. That document is often called a Medical Power of Attorney or a Healthcare Directive.

The important thing is that your husband must be able to exercise “informed consent” when he signs these documents. That is, he must be judged capable of understanding what the documents provide and that he is giving, irrevocably, the right to make important decisions to another.

My final words of advice - work with an elder care attorney to get these matters settled correctly. Yes, there are websites that will generate state compliant forms, but those forms cannot interpret your goals as well as an attorney.

We did all power of attorney through our attorney. Get a good one to set it all up and tell you anything else you may need to do as soon as possible while your husband is still able. Medical power of attorney can be done through the attorney too all at one time.

He has a neurologist. I see him on the 17. I need him to sign for medical power of attorney. And working on the power of attorney for our financial part.
Thanks everyone for your help and advice. 😁

These answers are correct but at later stages an attorney is essential in obtaining a court order for POA or guardianship/conservatorship. This is a lengthy process so start asap. My sis has been in this process for over a year due to her attorney getting covid and leaving practice and now I have another attorney I have to call weekly to keep getting my temporary guardianship renewed. I was referred to this agency from elder care. Good luck!