Anticipating the Progression of Dementia

Can you possibly prepare for the progression of dementia? You know dementia often means that those who are diagnosed gradually lose the ability to manage their day to day lives. So two questions come to mind. How can caregivers and family members help a loved one with dementia feel taken care of? And how does one take control of a potentially chaotic situation? So in this presentation we'll look at how to address life's details that need to be brought into order so that your family understands what should be handled. And when it should be handled.

Today's modern life is so full of complexity and how can you possibly assess it. Well spend a few minutes thinking about your own life and what it looks like. Think of all the passwords to all of your accounts. Think of your cars, the home, and all of the possessions that are in it. Now consider your daily routines. Your life, your work, your hobbies, your children, community involvement, and so on. And now think about how a person with dementia can get so overwhelmed by what were once familiar details. So the complexity of life is undeniable. And one way that you as caregivers can bring order is to create routines. With a diagnosis of dementia the person will need to orient themselves more often and having that consistent daily routine is both grounding and mentally healthy.

So let's simplify some things. Consider the fact that if your loved one is of a certain age he or she may not be as comfortable with computers and smartphones as we are. So you may have to take control of some aspects of their life that will require a move to the digital age just to help simplify things. And the more you simplify things like bank accounts and bill pay and appoint reminders the better. And your loved one with dementia will worry much much less when you can honestly say Don't worry Dad is taking care of.

So first begin by assessing the existing daily and weekly routines. What happens when. And write it down. You could try setting up a weekly family calendar to put appointments on, as well as caregiving schedules. They'd be in the same place. Here's where you can use technology to your advantage because a shared online calendar lets everyone in your caregiving circle know what is happening when.

So let's address and deal with financial matters next because clarity in financial matters is crucial. Now hopefully you and your family members have already communicated with your loved one about what his or her wishes really are. And if not do it as soon as possible because you need to understand the total financial picture. Communicate with your loved ones regarding their financial holdings their assets their debts and their equities. Roundup all of their passwords to all of their financial websites and put them in a safe place. Maybe most important is put alerts on their credit cards to track overspending because you don't want them to make impulse decisions.

Thoughtful Healthcare offers 24 hour in-home care tailored to your loved one's needs. We've been serving Kansas City and the surrounding area since 1999. Now back to the podcast.

Knowing the financial story of your loved one's life is very very important, but it's also vital to put legal frameworks and protections in place. So establish powers of attorney both medical and legal. Now this is very important when dealing with dementia because you're going to need to make decisions for them at some point in the future. So designate a family member who is reachable, capable, and preferably experienced in the matters of medical. And legal decision making. And this does not have to be the same person. Let's move on to estate planning. An estate plan will clarify your loved one's wishes and desires in a very real way. And it will also help keep your family out of probate court and it will prevent family discord. Now if your loved one doesn't have an estate plan in place please contact an attorney and establis