In our last post we reviewed some of the things you should do after first hearing the diagnosis of dementia. In this post we will look at some additional items you should consider doing while your parent or spouse are still early in their diagnosis.
Accept the diagnosis and understand what it means
What type of dementia does the physician believe they have – Sometimes this is not yet known at the beginning but learn what you can.
Can the physician determine what stage they may be in and if there are any medications that may be beneficial at this point in helping to slow the progression.
Refusing to accept the diagnosis or looking to blame something else for what is going on will not make it go away.
Make sure you have essential legal documents in place
Are there already Power of Attorney papers in place for Healthcare and Property? Individuals in the early stages of dementia can usually still understand things and are often capable of signing legal documents yet. The physician can let you know if they feel this is the case. Having these documents in place now will help later on.
Is there a Will or Living Trust already established?
Now is the time to have a discussion about Advanced Directives and end of life care.
Gather information about finances
Sometimes the person that has just been diagnosed with dementia is also the person that has been managing the finances. Here are some things to begin looking into:
Sources of income and whether your parent/spouse receives that income by check or direct deposit
A list of monthly bills and how they are currently being paid (check, on-line, automatically deducted, etc...)
A list of financial accounts, account numbers, usernames and passwords for any on-line accounts. This is also a good time to get your name on the accounts if it isn't already.
Types of insurance policies, names of companies that issued the policies; how premiums are paid
Types and amounts of household debt
Personal information such as Social Security, Medicare Number or Medicare Advantage Plan information, Supplemental Insurance, Prescription Drug coverage and driver’s license number. It is a good idea to take a picture of or make a copy of these cards for your own records.
Location of tax records - It is a good idea to have at least the last 5 years worth of records.
Names and contact information of financial and legal professionals they work with
Final wishes for funeral and burial – Is anything pre-paid
Discuss Long Term Care Options
Care at home – Are there structural changes to the home that need to take place that would make the home safer?
In-home care assistance – There are numerous options for in-home assistance
If it is a parent, can they move in with you, or you in with them?
Care outside of home such as an assisted living facility, memory care facility, Skilled Nursing facility. Now is the time to begin touring facilities and getting an idea of the costs involved. By getting an idea of the costs, you can begin to plan for the future and what you can and cannot afford. This is also a good time to discover if there is a long term care insurance policy in place. Some of these plans now pay for In-home care, Assisted Living, or Skilled Nursing Care. Don’t wait until you are in a position that you need to find something immediately.
There will be a number of additional things that come up along the way, but starting with the items on this list will get you well on your way.
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