As your senior loved one’s dementia progresses, they may become unprepared for the costs, healthcare complexities, living arrangements, and other expenses, needing assistance from you or professionals. You and other family members your loved one trusts or awards the right to oversee their affairs can step in. Below are some legal and financial considerations seniors with dementia may need assistance with.
Address Caregiving Matters
Deciding where your loved one will live is essential, as dementia will affect their cognition and memory in the future. If your loved one is adamant about aging in place, your family should honor those wishes through legal documentation.
Plan who will be responsible for your loved one’s caregiving as the dementia progresses. Your family should enlist professional assistance, ensuring your loved one can age in place while living with dementia.
Highly trained caregivers with experience in caring for seniors with dementia can be a fantastic resource for family members. For trusted and reliable dementia care, families can turn to Companioa by Institute on Aging (IOA). As experts in caring for seniors with memory-related conditions, our dementia-certified practitioners will work closely with you to customize a care plan tailored to your loved one’s unique needs, interests, and desires. Our primary goal is to go above and beyond to provide the highest possible level of compassionate care by designing a care plan based on your loved one’s personal history, physical condition, and cognitive abilities.
Start Early
Beginning early could give your loved one confidence, let your family know their wishes, and reduce the risk of disagreements and legal setbacks. For example, if you plan where your loved one will live before the dementia progresses to the advanced stages, you won’t need to argue and disagree or handle your loved one’s affairs in court. Instead, you can focus on your loved one’s health and enjoy your time together.
For dementia and Alzheimer’s care families can count on, reach out to Companioa by IOA. Our compassionate home caregivers are specially trained and certified in dementia care, and they use revolutionary memory care programs to help seniors delay the progression of dementia. In addition, our state-of-the-art adult day program, which is specifically designed for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, provides social engagement, a wide variety of cognitively stimulating activities, and group exercises.
Beware of Scams
Many thieves and professional scammers focus on older adults, including those with dementia, via unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emails. Some fraudsters also send documentation via the mail, trying to lure seniors with financial requests. As a family caregiver, you must keep your loved one aware of scams, especially in the early stages of dementia. Explain to your loved one that they should never disclose personal or financial information.
Your family should also keep essential documents in a secure and safe area that others cannot access. Doing so could lower the risk of financial scams and other fraudulent activities targeted toward seniors.
Seek Legal Assistance
Reviewing your loved one’s wishes and plans, such as who will oversee their healthcare decisions and finances, should be done with the assistance of others, particularly someone with legal experience or certifications. Doing so could prevent financial risks and allow your loved one to receive high-quality care in the future, regardless of whether that entails you and your siblings dividing daily tasks or hiring professional caregivers to help.
From time to time, you should review the portfolio and make changes to the plan only as your loved one wishes. Those updates may be required due to changes in medication plans made by physicians or living arrangements that have to change to fit your family’s current lifestyle and finances. Again, speaking with professionals can ensure everything is prepared accurately and legally.
Even when families have the best intentions, caring for a senior loved one with dementia can be challenging. For reliable dementia and Alzheimer’s care, families can turn to Companioa by IOA. We are a leading provider of professional memory care designed to help seniors maintain a higher quality of life. From our revolutionary care programs to our compassionate and dedicated caregivers, we can meet all of your dementia care needs. To create a customized care plan for your loved one, reach out to one of our Connect Specialists today at (415) 750-4111.