Ok, here is the Next Move.
Please note that most of these steps are for a caregiver that will be the agent in handling and operating on the behalf of the person who has Dementia. Also, remember do your own investigation on these suggestions. Every state and country is different.
- Educate yourself about Dementia. What type of dementia does your loved one have? Alzheimer’s? Familiarize yourself with the future stages of the disease.
- Start the legal/financial process. Get a Power Of Attorney (POA). Very very important especially if your loved one’s spouse is unable to continue the financial duties. (Having a POA saved me so many times.) This will help you pay bills, talk to financial institutions, and medical professionals. In addition, find out if your love one has a Will. This will avoid some mess for the family.
- Familiarize yourself with your loved one’s medical situation. What type of insurance? What covers what? Who do I need to talk to about if my loved one can’t afford long term care?
- Review your loved one’s current housing situation. Is it safe for my love one? How can I make the environment suitable for my love one? Keeping it stress free, allowing mobility and independence. What kind of precautions can I make in the home to minimize dangers?
- Distinguish which is the closest hospital.
- Familiarize yourself with your state and local law regarding caring for an elderly.
- Does your love one have a Advanced Directive? If not, start one.
- Find a local respite memory facility. This can save you lots of stress. When the worst happens, and the medical professionals want to hold your love one for observation for wandering or for any other reason. Depending on the medical facility’s regulations they might not be able release your love one back to you so quickly. So, in this case, you can give a name of the respite memory facility. A respite memory facility can be a temporary place.
- Start investigating and interviewing long-term memory care facilities. This will again save you stress when the time comes. And the time will come. You want to be ready. Some memory care facilities have a wait-list. Especially, if your love one is on medicaid. Memory care facilities who are providers for medicaid will have limited beds available.
- Find a local Adult Daycare. This helped me so much. It gave my mom and I a break from caring for my dad 24/7.
- Introduce healthy foods that support the brain. I wish I did this earlier.
- Start a daily routine, introducing cognitive activities and exercise.
- Find a Dementia support group for yourself.
Okay, I might have missed some steps, but this is a good place to start.
Remember my friend, one step at time. It will be ok. Keeping you in my prayers.
