Personality shifts, or behavioral changes

Apathy, withdrawal, or depression

Difficulty performing everyday tasks

Language problems, or difficulty understanding others

Difficulty judging distance or direction, especially while driving

This document grants healthcare providers permission to share the person’s medical information with specified individuals, including family members and caregivers, which can be essential for managing their healthcare.

Consider setting up arrangements for managing the person’s finances, such as joint bank accounts, trusts, or authorized signatories on accounts. These can help ensure that their financial needs are met even as their capacity to manage money declines.

A will or trust specifies how the person’s assets and property should be distributed after their death. It ensures that their wishes are followed and can help prevent disputes among heirs.

Caregivers often experience a rollercoaster of emotions, including sadness, frustration, anger, guilt, and grief. Witnessing a loved one’s cognitive decline and personality changes can be emotionally draining.

Providing physical care for someone with dementia, especially in the later stages, can be physically demanding. Caregivers may need to assist with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and feeding, which can be physically taxing.

Many caregivers struggle to get adequate sleep due to the need for nighttime supervision, wandering, and disruptions in sleep patterns common among people with dementia. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to exhaustion and compromised health.

Caregiving often comes with additional expenses, such as medical bills, home modifications, and caregiving supplies. Caregivers may also have to reduce their work hours or quit their jobs to provide full-time care, leading to financial strain.

The demands of caregiving can limit a caregiver’s ability to engage in social activities, maintain friendships, or participate in hobbies. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and loss of support.

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that results from prolonged caregiving stress. It can manifest as a loss of interest in personal activities, withdrawal from social interactions, and a decline in overall well-being.

Caregivers are at risk of experiencing their health problems due to the stress of caregiving. Conditions like depression, anxiety, hypertension, and compromised immune function are common among caregivers.

Dementia-related behaviors, such as aggression, agitation, and wandering, can be difficult to manage and may pose safety concerns for both the individual with dementia and the caregiver.

Caregivers often feel undervalued and underappreciated, which can lead to resentment and frustration. They may also lack access to sufficient support, both in terms of respite care and emotional support.

Caregivers may need to navigate complex healthcare systems, legal matters, and financial arrangements on behalf of the person with dementia, which can be overwhelming and confusing.

Long-term care insurance may cover some of the costs associated with dementia care, including in-home care, assisted living, and nursing home care.

Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that covers medical and long-term care costs, but qualifying for this government program requires advance planning—the time to start preparing to qualify for Medicaid is now!

Many individuals and families use personal savings, investments, and retirement funds to cover dementia care costs—but with advanced planning, you can avoid this.