There is no easy way to put this, but it will be tough and sometimes seem impossible.  Planning ahead is the key in caring for those who have family members with Dementia or Alzheimer’s.  No one expects to have to be the caregiver for a spouse or a parent, but odds are you will be touched with this in one way or another.  The best way to be able to handle this is to begin planning now.  The very worst thing that you can do is to ignore the issue.  Early recognition and acceptance of the diagnosis is the hardest thing to accept, but will make treating and caring for your loved one the best it could possibly be.  This will require having hard conversations concerning those tough topics that no one is comfortable discussing which includes:

  • What type of affliction does your loved one have?
  • What is the best form of treatment?
  • What type of arrangements should be made now after diagnosis?
  • How do we get training so the caregiver can properly and respectfully care for them?
  • Where the best place for them to live is, based on their need?
  • How will we pay for it?

These are some of the topics we will cover over the next few weeks as we discuss caring for someone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s.