Dementia, in all its forms, affects millions of individuals worldwide. If your family member is one of them, you might have a lot of questions about the future. As the disease advances, it becomes increasingly important to plan for the different stages of dementia to ensure that care is available and sufficient to help your family member thrive. Being proactive allows families to navigate the challenges of dementia with greater confidence and support, and assisted living can play an important role in relieving some of their caretaking burden. In this article we discuss how dementia planning can help your family in their journey.
Dementia Planning – Your Family Member’s Future
In the early stages of dementia, you may notice mild cognitive issues in your family member, such as difficulty remembering words, getting lost, or problems with short-term memory. As the disease progresses, the symptoms may become more pronounced. You may notice changes in behavior, such as increased confusion, agitation, or mood swings. When in the early stages of dementia planning, it is vital to create a support network that is ready and willing to provide assistance as the condition worsens. Here are some steps to help you build a strong support system:
- Reach out to family and friends and inform them of the situation. Ask them to provide support and understanding to the best of their ability.
- Join a support group to connect with others who are similarly affected by their family member’s dementia diagnosis. A sense of community and valuable advice can make a world of difference.
- Seek professional help and consult with healthcare professionals who can offer guidance and resources.
- Consider taking breaks from care to prevent burnout. However, make sure you have other resources lined up to continue caring for your loved one. Assisted living and memory care facilities are the perfect partners to help you when burnout becomes a threat.
When planning for the mid-stage of a family member’s dementia, your family must consider the legal and financial issues that may arise. Keep some of these complicated issues in mind:
- Look to establish a power of attorney on behalf of your family member for both healthcare and financial decisions. By working on these documents before their condition worsens, you can help them feel secure that their current wishes will still be respected in the future.
- Concurrently, begin talks with an estate attorney to create or update their will.
- Future care needs are likely to increase, and you may need assistance from insurance for future assisted living and memory care costs. Research insurance options now before the condition worsens.
- Research government benefits that may be available to individuals with dementia, such as Medicaid or veterans’ benefits.
When Should You Consider Assisted Living?
As you continue your plans and help your loved one through their struggles with dementia, the idea of assisted living and memory care is sure to come up in discussions. Many families try to resist placing their loved one in assisted living for as long as possible, but this can lead to hardships for both the senior with dementia and the family members helping with care.
There is a reason why assisted living and memory care facilities provide the highest levels of care possible – they are specifically designed to help people like your senior family member and are staffed 24 hours a day with professional caregivers. If you are overwhelmed by planning your loved one’s future, organizing their finances, and providing care while maintaining a 9-5 job, we are here to help.
Our facility provides resources and assistance to families who need extra help caring for their loved ones suffering from dementia. Contact A Banyan Residence today to learn more about our facility.
