Dementia what should i do

In the early stage of Alzheimer's, most people function independently. He or she may still drive, take part in social activities, volunteer and even work. Your role as care partner is an important one: to provide support and companionship, and help plan for the future. Your role as care partner Helping the person with dementia live well Finding a new balance Taking care of yourself Maximizing independence Getting empowered Understanding emotions.

You may be unsure of where to go for information, anxious about what to expect as the disease progresses and concerned about your ability to support the person living with dementia.

With an early diagnosis, you and the person with dementia now have the opportunity to make decisions about the future together, including legal, financial, and long-term care planning.

The person living with dementia can take advantage of available treatments or participation in clinical trials and you both can benefit from local resources and support services. Being able to take advantage of all these benefits can reduce anxiety about the unknown and lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.

The role of a care partner is not limited to spouses, partners or close family members. Care partners may include "families of choice" such as friends, neighbors or long-distance relatives. If you are providing support as a secondary or remote care partner, it may be difficult to determine the exact level of assistance needed without direct observation. Whenever possible, try to connect with others in the support network to share insights or make plans to meet the person with dementia in their own environment.

As a care partner, your support with these everyday tasks can help the person with dementia develop new coping strategies that will help to maximize his or her independence. Every relationship is different, but finding balance between interdependence and independence may increase confidence for both of you.

To help you determine when and how to provide the most appropriate support to a person living in the early stage of dementia consider these tips used by other care partners:.

This program, "Living with Alzheimer's: For Caregivers: Early Stage," provides practical answers to questions that arise in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Focus on the person's strengths and how they can remain as independent as possible, and establish a strong channel of communication.

Consider ways to work together as a team. For example, if they are still comfortable balancing a checkbook, you may offer to provide a final review.

I wasted a lot of valuable time denying that this could be possible, when I could have been getting support to help me cope with the diagnosis. You might also be interested in this one about capacity if you think huis sisters are taking advantage of him financially.

Remember to have a plan for your own safety in this situation. Thanks for reading the article and stay safe. Our brother lives in another state. He lives alone. We have noticed during the past several years that his cognitive abilities are declining.

Could you give us some guidance as to how we should approach the situation? He is also a hoarder and values items that have not real value. We are at a loss. This article might be helpful to learn more about how a dementia diagnosis is made.

If your brother has a family doctor or other primary care provider, it might be a good idea to share your concerns with him or her. You can let the provider know about the hoarding as well, although this is often a longstanding pattern and can be along and painstaking process to deal with. You might also want to check out Dr. The communications strategies and steps to take to figuring out the best way to help a family member could be applied to a sibling or a parent. I have tried to discuss my concerns with her however when I do, she becomes extremely defensive and refuses to discuss any possibility of a problem with her memory.

I am at a loss for what to do for her. Her primary care physician told her she felt she was paranoid and she refused to see her anymore. She lives alone and I am extremely concerned about discissions she makes concerning her finances. What should I do?? Why cant I stop obsessing that I have dementia?

The MOCA came back at I should be fine. So why am I so afraid? Most days I can function pretty well even though I had to give up practicing law. A little memory problem. Uncharacteristic bursts of anger. She says wait till after the neuropsych test. How can I wait!!! Is there anything I can read or do to rule out this supposed thing so I know one way or the other?

I just want to know. I see a lot of people in my practice who have major anxiety about their cognitive performance, and the irony is that that anxiety can worsen cognitive performance! So it can be a bit of a vicious cycle. The diagnosis of dementia is based on memory testing but also on the history of the changes that are being observed, and sometimes a brain scan can help, but usually mainly to rule out other conditions.

In the meantime, maintaining healthy habits for your brain is the best way to relieve stress and prevent vascular events that can increase the risk of dementia or worsen its course. My Father died 3 months ago, yesterday, after having been in the hospital for over a month. Two weeks later I had to put my horse down — I was there when she was born 27 years ago. You'll also be able to help them recall what has been discussed. A GP will ask how the symptoms have developed over time.

They may also do a memory test and physical examination. Blood tests may be done to check if the symptoms are being caused by another condition.

If other causes can be ruled out, the GP will usually refer your friend or relative to a memory clinic, or other specialist service, where they may have more assessments to confirm whether they have dementia. Talking about memory loss, and the possibility of dementia, can be difficult. Someone who is experiencing these symptoms may be confused, unaware they have any problems, worried, or struggling to accept their condition.

Before starting a conversation with someone you're concerned about, the Alzheimer's Society suggests you ask yourself:. When you do talk to them, choose a place that is familiar and not threatening. Also, allow plenty of time so the conversation is not rushed. The Alzheimer's Society has more tips on how to talk to someone about memory problems. If the person does not want to see a GP, many UK dementia charities offer support and advice from specialist nurses or advisers, such as:.

A dementia diagnosis can be a shock, but it's the first step towards getting the information, help and support that's needed to manage their symptoms. A diagnosis of dementia can also help people with these symptoms, and their families and friends, make plans so they're prepared for the future.

Read more about what to do if you've just been diagnosed with dementia.