Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Jawad Ali
When my mother was diagnosed with dementia, I was stunned. My mom had always been a strong woman who was active in her community and enjoyed spending time with her family. The diagnosis changed our lives forever—and it’s not over yet. As your parent gets older and closer to their final years, you might find yourself dealing with this difficult situation. It’s important to be prepared for what will happen during this process by learning about how dementia affects people and taking care of yourself emotionally so you can best help your loved one through this difficult time.
Get an early diagnosis.
If you are diagnosed with dementia, the earlier your diagnosis is made, the better. Early diagnosis can help with treatment options and ensure that the right support is provided for you and your family to best manage their care needs.
Early diagnosis is also essential for planning ahead for legal and financial affairs. The Dementia Services Act 2013 provides for a person to make an advance decision about future health care – this involves stating what sort of decisions they would like to be made in certain situations if they have dementia or some other serious illness from which they may not recover fully or at all. For example, it could include whether or not you wish to continue living at home or move into a residential care facility. This can be done by completing a Medical Power of Attorney (MPA) form which gives another person authority over making decisions on behalf of someone who has lost mental capacity due to illness – typically because of dementia but also due to other medical conditions such as stroke or brain injury caused by accident etc… It’s important that people know exactly what type of support service will work best for them so it’s vital that any changes are noted down when first discussing them with family members before anything happens if possible!
Start communicating the diagnosis.
When you’re diagnosed with dementia in Ireland, your first step should be to communicate this information to everyone who needs to know. This includes:
- Your family, friends and work colleagues. It is a good idea to put a plan in place for how they will receive the news and how you want them to support you on an ongoing basis.
- Your doctor (or other medical professionals). You may want your doctor or nurse practitioner to help devise a plan for communicating the diagnosis with your loved ones as well as creating an individualized care plan for yourself.
- Employers if applicable
Dementia care centers are the center of health and memory care which is the department that focuses on offering medical care to people who have problems with their memories.
Dementia care centers are the center of health and memory care which is the department that focuses on offering medical care to people who have problems with their memories.
A dementia care center is a place where people with memory problems can go to receive care. These facilities are also called “memory care centers,” and they’re usually located within larger facilities like nursing homes or assisted living centers.
Dementia is a type of brain disorder that causes loss of mental faculties, including memory, thinking abilities, and behavioral skills. Dementia care centers are designed for people with mild to moderate dementia who need more help than other residents do but don’t need hospitalization or 24-hour round-the-clock supervision by staff members (though some do offer this).
Know the legal and financial implications.
When you’re diagnosed with dementia, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may find that your brain is still sharp but you’re losing basic skills like organizing your thoughts and remembering things. It might seem like the best thing to do is retreat from life, but that’s not the case at all! Dementia does not have to stop you from living a full life—you just need to plan ahead so that you know where your support systems are when they are needed most.
If you have dementia, there are legal and financial implications of this diagnosis as well as medical ones:
- You will need an attorney or advocate who understands the special needs of people coping with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Your representative will help secure appropriate housing options based on individual needs and preferences; assist with choosing appropriate care providers; assist with navigating Medicaid reimbursement issues if applicable; provide guidance regarding benefits available through Social Security or Veteran Affairs agencies if applicable; assist with advocacy efforts related directly related such issues as housing discrimination against individuals who require assistance in order for them access their community services offered by local governments within their area(s) where they live/reside; etcetera…
Find a care plan that works for you.
If you’re married, or in a long-term relationship, or have children, it’s important to consider what your future care needs will be. If you have no family support and need help at home, then home nursing care would be the best option for you.
If you don’t have children who could come stay with you regularly or if they live abroad then a residential care facility might be your best bet.
Learn about your condition and what you can do to preserve quality of life.
- Understand the condition
If you’re newly diagnosed with dementia, it can be helpful to know what you are facing. The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland has a section dedicated to explaining this disease in more detail. It includes information on symptoms, stages and treatments—as well as some tips for family members trying to help their loved ones cope.
- Communicate effectively
If someone has dementia, they may not remember conversations or instructions they have given you in the past. To make sure that your loved one understands what you want from them, try using visual aids such as pictures or diagrams when talking about complex tasks (such as driving). Also make sure that there are fewer distractions around—for example, turn off televisions playing background noise so that everyone in the room can hear each other clearly.* Manage finances carefully
Get practical help as soon as possible.
- Get practical help as soon as possible. You will need to rely on family and friends to assist you at some point, so it’s important to prepare them for this responsibility.
- Seek help from a support group or dementia association. The groups can offer advice about how best to cope with the condition and the changes that may occur within your relationship with other people, including friends and family members.
- Find a carer: if appropriate, consider hiring someone who is not part of your immediate family, such as an agency nurse or home help service provider who can provide care around the clock in case you or your loved ones are unable to do so yourself.
- Get help with finances: talk with financial advisors about what kind of financial planning is needed when caring for someone with dementia; they may be able to recommend trusts where funds can be placed out of reach until they’re needed (for example, if there’s been an unforeseen event such as hospitalization).
You may want to take some time to yourself to absorb the news.
It’s important to take some time for yourself to absorb the news. You may not want to talk about it with anyone, but you could also feel a need to confide in someone close to you. Don’t be afraid of asking for help or support if you need it, and don’t be afraid of talking about your diagnosis either – it can help other people understand what you’re going through as well as giving them an opportunity to offer their support. There are many different ways in which people react when they find out that someone they know has dementia – some may offer practical assistance while others will simply listen and give advice on where best go next.
You may also want to look into joining a support group for those living with dementia; these groups often meet once per week at local community centres throughout Ireland and provide an opportunity for people who share similar experiences (and symptoms) with one another so that they can offer mutual support through their journey together with this condition
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you to understand what to expect when you’re diagnosed with dementia. We also recommend that you contact your local Alzheimer’s Society or other support groups and organisations to find out more about the services they offer. The point of this post is not so much to scare people or make them feel bad because they have dementia, but rather it’s meant as a tool for helping people plan ahead.
