{"id":319,"date":"2020-01-23T15:17:24","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T20:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/info.eugeria.ca\/?p=319"},"modified":"2020-02-21T12:48:27","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T17:48:27","slug":"10-things-to-do-after-a-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-or-other-dementias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/info.eugeria.ca\/en\/10-things-to-do-after-a-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-or-other-dementias\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things To Do After a Diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s or other Dementias"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s our checklist of things to do if your loved one was recently diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. It\u2019s a long article, but every to-do will prove useful to you.<\/p>\n

1. Take the time to let the dust settle<\/h3>\n

A diagnosis of dementia can be hard to accept for your loved one and for you. It can take time to fully comprehend the disease and how it might affect your lives. Remember that your\u00a0current\u00a0situation is not all that different from the one\u00a0before\u00a0the diagnosis. If things feel so different now, it\u2019s because of the uncertainties and projections you have about the future. Know that Alzheimer\u2019s and other dementias progress rather slowly most of the time. This leaves you time to adapt and prepare. We\u2019ve separated the rest of the article into two sections: 3 things that you should do for yourself and 6 things that you should do with and for your loved one.<\/p>\n

3 to-dos for yourself:<\/h2>\n

2. Get information about the disease<\/h3>\n

Knowing what Alzheimer\u2019s and cognitive impairment are will help you to better face them. The more you informed you are, the more you\u2019ll be able to understand what\u2019s happening, and the more tools you\u2019ll have to address potential issues. There are excellent resources on the internet and in print. You can also reach out to many organizations and attend conferences on the topic. You can start on our platform\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Determine the stage of the disease<\/h3>\n

Diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s tend to evolve in a relatively predictable way. As a caregiver, knowing the current stage of the disease will help you understand what is happening now and anticipate what changes are coming next. Even if every person is unique,\u00a0determining the stage<\/a>\u00a0is important to identify the current and future support needs. A healthcare professional will be able to provide you with this information.<\/p>\n

4. Never (and we mean never!) hesitate to ask for help<\/h3>\n

If your loved one agrees, getting outside help is really useful when required. There are, of course, public resources such as the CLSC. But know that there are also many options by\u00a0community organizations<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0private services<\/a>. Other family members or relatives can also support you. Though it\u2019s possible to take care of someone with Alzheimer\u2019s alone, it\u2019s easier (and often indispensable) with help.<\/p>\n

6 to-dos for your loved one and you:<\/h3>\n

5. Prepare the future: mandate, power of attorney, and will<\/h3>\n

If the diagnosis was made early in the disease, your loved one should still be able to make decisions about their person and property. It\u2019s perfect timing for preparing for the future. This may mean drafting a protection mandate, a power of attorney document, or updating their will. More information can be found in our section on Legal and Finances.<\/p>\n

6. Keep an eye out for your loved one\u2019s everyday needs<\/h3>\n

Cognitive impairment has an impact on independence, making it crucial to keep an eye out for your loved one. Being fully independent requires doing all activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs), such as taking medications, tending to finances, and transportation. We suggest that you take a look at our list of\u00a0ADLs<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0iADLs<\/a>: review them with your loved one in mind to make sure every need is covered well. If your loved one needs assistance, this doesn\u2019t mean he or she must absolutely move. Many services and innovative products can help to keep someone with cognitive impairment at home. Social workers and occupational therapists are healthcare providers that are specialized in the assessment and management of these needs.<\/p>\n

7. Assess safety issues if cognitive impairment is advanced<\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, people with dementia can occasionally behave in unpredictable and dangerous ways. Some wander (for example, leave their home or walk without a specific purpose). Others can forget to turn off the stove or basic safety information like 9-1-1. Incoherent thoughts can also have an impact on behavior and collaboration. There are\u00a0solutions<\/a>\u00a0to reduce the risk, but a formal assessment by the CLSC or a health professional is often required.<\/p>\n

8. Put services in place and get support<\/h3>\n

When the disease alters daily functioning (see point 6), it\u2019s important to put services in place to assist your loved one and compensate for their needs. Services can be obtained via the public healthcare system, community organizations, and private companies. For example, think about getting support for taking medication, preparing meals, and home cleaning. Our website can help you find\u00a0services<\/a>. Your CLSC and healthcare provider are also excellent resources.<\/p>\n

9. Develop new routines<\/h3>\n

Both for you and your loved one, a period of adaptation is necessary to live with Alzheimer\u2019s. Routines will help make the transition easier. They will slowly build themselves as you try new things to support your loved one, and as services are put into place. Routines are important because they reduce uncertainty for your loved one.<\/p>\n

10. Regularly reassess the situation, with assistance from healthcare professionals if needed<\/h3>\n

Last to-do: you should regularly reassess the situation since Alzheimer\u2019s and other related diseases change with time. Ask your loved one how they\u2019re doing. Also see how you and your relatives are feeling. Involve your healthcare professional if you have any questions. As the disease progresses, you might have to do these reassessments more frequently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Take action<\/h3>\n

Your needs and those of your loved one will evolve. You don\u2019t have to do everything at once. You can print this list or keep it for later. Plan the to-dos and take the time to assess them and take action. This should help you improve everyday life, both for you and your loved one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s our checklist of things to do if your loved one was recently diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. It\u2019s a long article, but every to-do will prove useful to you. 1. Take the time to let the dust settle A diagnosis of dementia can be hard to accept for your loved one and for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Things To Do After a Diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s or other Dementias - Eugeria<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/info.eugeria.ca\/en\/10-things-to-do-after-a-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-or-other-dementias\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Things To Do After a Diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s or other Dementias - Eugeria\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here\u2019s our checklist of things to do if your loved one was recently diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. 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