Issues To Consider When Formulating An Alzheimer's Care Plan

Caring for a relative who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia can be a challenging, overwhelming, and emotional process. If you have a relative who has been diagnosed with this disease, you are likely worried about how he or she will change, how you will care for them, and how the diagnosis will affect your life. For this reason, it is important to gather as much information as possible while preparing for Alzheimer's care. This will ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible and that your relative is comfortable and well cared for during his or her life. When preparing for Alzheimer's care, there are many questions you will need to answer and many preparations you will need to make early in the process. You might find it difficult to consider these issues shortly after the diagnosis because it requires thinking ahead to a time when your loved one is in the advanced stages of dementia. However, tackling these issues early will ensure that things are set up well for the future. One of the issues you will need to consider when formulating an Alzheimer's care plan is who will make medical decisions when your family member is no longer lucid enough to do so. It is important to talk to your family member and determine what he or she wants and to get those wishes down on paper. It might be helpful to meet with an attorney during this process so that you can fully understand your options. Ask the attorney to explain power of attorney, capacity, guardianship, and conservatorship to you. They will become important when your family member is unable to make his or her own medical decisions. You should also discuss caregiving and who will provide it. This discussion should involve all family members so that everyone has an understanding of who will provide Alzheimer's care when the time comes. Often, other family members will assume that the spouse or children will take on the entire responsibility, but this may not be the case. Dementia patients often require round-the-clock attention and support, meaning that everyone will have to pitch in. Since everyone has other responsibilities, it's important to communicate with one another to figure out how to provide treatment and support that will meet the patient's needs. The third issue that will need to be addressed is where the patient will live. Your family member may currently live alone or far away from family and friends, but it may be necessary either to relocate or to move them closer. Additionally, if your home is not safe or accessible for the patient, it may be necessary to remodel and make it more accessible, such as by installing ramps and guardrails.