Attorney Caprice L. Collins Delivers a Powerful Keynote on Cognitive Decline and the Importance of Being Prepared
Alzheimer’s Los Angeles’ Virtual Early Memory Loss Conference brought these vital resources together in one thoughtful and accessible program. Held on June 7, 2025, the free conference provided education and support for people living with early memory loss, mild cognitive impairment, early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, or another form of dementia—as well as their loved ones, care partners, and anyone concerned about changes in memory.
A distinguished highlight of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Attorney Caprice L. Collins, founder and principal attorney of Collins Law Group.
Drawing upon her extensive experience helping individuals and families protect their legacies, Attorney Collins spoke thoughtfully about the legal and personal consequences that may arise when cognitive decline occurs without the proper safeguards already in place.
Watch the Conference Here
Those who were unable to attend—or who would like to revisit the information—can watch the complete program online.
Watch the Virtual Early Memory Loss Conference
Her central message was both compassionate and urgent: the most effective time to prepare is while an individual can still clearly communicate personal wishes, make informed decisions, and choose the people they trust to act on their behalf.
Cognitive decline can affect far more than memory. It may eventually influence someone’s ability to manage finances, understand legal documents, make health care decisions, or communicate preferences concerning care and quality of life. Without advance planning, families can find themselves confronting difficult decisions during an already emotional period—often without clear legal authority or guidance.
Attorney Collins emphasized that proactive estate planning can help individuals preserve their independence, protect their assets, document their wishes, and provide loved ones with a clear path forward.
Depending on the individual and family, this preparation may include:
- Establishing or reviewing a revocable living trust
- Creating a durable power of attorney for financial affairs
- Completing an advance health care directive
- Selecting trusted individuals to make financial and medical decisions
- Reviewing beneficiary designations and asset ownership
- Communicating preferences concerning future care
- Ensuring that important documents remain current and legally effective
Watch the Conference
Those who were unable to attend—or who would like to revisit the information—can watch the complete program online.
Watch the Virtual Early Memory Loss Conference
Attorney Collins’ keynote elevated an essential truth at the heart of the conference: preparation is not about surrendering control—it is one of the most meaningful ways to preserve it.
By making informed decisions early, individuals can ensure that their voices continue to be heard while giving their families the clarity and legal authority they may need in the future.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Early Memory Loss
The conference examined early memory loss from several important perspectives, including legal and financial planning, brain health, Alzheimer’s research, current medications, and the everyday realities of living with cognitive change.
Featured experts included:
- Attorney Caprice L. Collins, founder and principal attorney of Collins Law Group and conference keynote speaker
- Rebecca Goldfarb, elder law attorney with Goldfarb and Luu
- Dung Trinh, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Healthy Brain Clinic
- Zaldy Tan, MD, MPH, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Health System Memory & Aging Program
Together, these perspectives helped attendees understand that memory loss does not affect health alone. It can influence independence, finances, family relationships, housing, decision-making, and future care.
Brain Health, Research, and Current Medications
The conference’s medical presentations helped attendees better understand cognitive health, the value of early evaluation, current Alzheimer’s research, and available medications.
Memory concerns can have many possible causes. When changes begin affecting everyday life, speaking with a qualified health care professional can help determine what may be happening and identify appropriate next steps.
The discussion of research and treatment also offered a message of measured hope. The field continues to evolve, and families can benefit from current information provided by trusted medical professionals who can explain the potential benefits, limitations, eligibility requirements, and risks associated with different treatments.
Centering the Voices of People Living with Early Memory Loss
The conference also featured a panel that included people living with early memory loss, a care partner, and a person continuing to live independently with early memory loss.
Their participation brought an invaluable human dimension to the program. Memory loss may become part of someone’s life, but it does not erase that person’s identity, dignity, preferences, or ability to participate meaningfully in decisions about the future.
The panel reinforced several important principles:
- People experiencing memory loss should remain involved in decisions that affect them.
- Independence and support are not mutually exclusive.
- The right assistance can help someone remain engaged in everyday life.
- Care partners also need reliable information, practical resources, and compassion.
- Every experience is different, and planning should respect the individual rather than rely on assumptions.
It was a powerful reminder that families and professionals should speak with—not simply about—people experiencing memory loss.
Essential Takeaways for Individuals and Families
Although every situation is unique, the conference offered a clear framework for moving forward:
- Do not ignore meaningful changes. If memory concerns begin affecting everyday life, discuss them with a qualified medical professional.
- Begin planning early. Legal, financial, health care, and family conversations are most effective when the individual can participate fully and clearly communicate personal wishes.
- Choose trusted decision-makers carefully. The people selected to handle financial or health care matters should understand the individual’s values and be prepared to honor them.
- Review existing documents. An outdated estate plan may no longer reflect current relationships, assets, wishes, or legal needs.
- Build a knowledgeable support team. Physicians, estate-planning and elder-law attorneys, financial professionals, care partners, and community organizations may each play an important role.
- Keep the individual at the center. Respect, dignity, autonomy, and personal choice should guide every stage of the process.
Watch the Conference
Those who were unable to attend—or who would like to revisit Attorney Collins’ keynote and the other educational presentations—can watch the conference online:
Watch the Virtual Early Memory Loss Conference
The recording is an important resource for individuals and families beginning to ask questions about cognitive decline, future care, legal decision-making, or the protections that may be appropriate for their circumstances.
Attorney Collins Keynote Speech was on Moving Forward with Knowledge, Dignity, and Confidence
Early memory loss can raise difficult questions, but families do not have to face them without information or support. This conference demonstrated how medical guidance, legal preparation, reliable education, and honest family conversations can help replace uncertainty with greater clarity and direction.
Attorney Collins’ keynote offered a particularly meaningful reminder: preparing for the possibility of cognitive decline is not merely a legal exercise. It is an act of foresight, dignity, protection, and love for the people who may one day be asked to carry out our wishes.
Collins Law Group is grateful to Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, the featured speakers, panel participants, and conference supporters for making this important program available to the community. Special thanks were extended to Elliot and Marcia Sainer and Eli Lilly for their generous support of the conference.
If cognitive decline has raised questions about your family’s estate plan, living trust, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, or long-term planning, Collins Law Group is here to help you prepare with clarity and confidence.
Contact Collins Law Group at (310) 677-9787 to schedule a consultation.
This article is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Viewing the conference recording or contacting Collins Law Group does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.
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Our Past Partnerships:
The NAACP
On September 21st, 2022 Collins Law Group partnered with the NAACP on a sponsored webinar presented to their national staff. The presentation was given by Attorney Collins and was titled, “The 5 Myths of Estate Planning.” Attorney Collins spoke for 40 minutes and to over 100 employees of the NAACP.
The City of Carson & Mayor Lula-Davis Holmes
Attorney Caprice L. Collins was a keynote speaker and honored at Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes 8th Annual “It’s All About Me” Women’s Health Conference and Business Expo. The event was a part of the month-long National Breast Cancer Awareness campaign to educate the community about women’s overall health and wealth. Mayor Davis-Holmes awarded Attorney Collins a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the City of Carson that honors the hard work, commitment, and success she has accomplished in her community.
