He is still highly functional, but memory and cognitive abilities are declining rapidly. He is 80 years old. I am 65. I want to start planning now for the future, he is in total denial. He just think he is having memory loss from old age. He makes up stories. He often can't find words when speaking.
If you can find an Elder Law attorney, tell your husband that you are concerned that YOU could die in a car crash, and then what would he do? If he is in denial, just refer to his little trouble with his memory. Ask him what you should do if he fell down the stairs and hit his head? You would need POA to get him the help he needs.
How do you want him to participate? You can't expect to discuss his situation with him. You need other allies - children, doctors, friends. If you don't already have one, get a cleaning lady to start coming in so he will accept outside help later.
You both should sign the forms to allow each of you to discuss things with the other one's doctor. See the theme here? You take blame for everything. You might get sick, so you want him to be able to talk to your doctor.
Tell us what specific issues you have, and we can offer more advice.
If his cognitive abilities are declining rapidly as you said he may not be able to acknowledge and accept his diagnosis. Call it denial or call it Alzheimer's, he just may not be capable of understanding this. I'm assuming that he's been told that he has Alzheimer's, that the name of the disease has been spoken to him. I ask because some families opt to not tell their loved one and let their loved one just think they're getting forgetful in their old age. I don't have an opinion on that either way but I'm going to assume you've told him that he has Alzheimer's.
Again, I'm so sorry that you're at the beginning of this journey. There are many people here who are traveling the same path so I hope you avail yourself of this site and their experiences often. I hope you have support at home. Siblings? Kids? Friends?
Come back often and let us help.