Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Rhett Wimmer and Bryan Dwyer discuss some first steps once one of your loved ones is diagnosed with Dementia.
Key Points:
- One in nine people who are sixty-five years or older, and 50% of those eighty-five years or older, will develop Alzheimer’s Disease, the leading cause of dementia. Rhett Wimmer and Bryan Dwyer discuss some first steps once one of your loved ones is diagnosed with dementia.
- Alzheimer’s is one of the leading causes of dementia. Dementia is more than just someone older having memory problems. It is literal brain failure. It is the state of being demented or being “out of your mind.”
- Research dementia. Once a loved one is diagnosed, it is important that you become educated. For example, you can find good information through the Alzheimer’s Association. Once you do your research, you will be better prepared to decide what to do for your loved one with dementia.
- It is important to get appropriate legal controls in place. You want to be able to legally have control over your loved one’s health and assets. This will give you the ability to make important decisions once your mom, dad, or other loved one are unable to make these decisions on their own.
- Start an honest conversation with your family. You need to begin working with your family to come to an agreement about what to do with your loved one with dementia. Once you hear of this diagnosis, your life, the affected’s life, and your family’s lives will change forever. You need to prepare your family to be on the same page about difficult decisions you will need to make together.
- Dementia is a progressive disease. Once you hear of the first diagnosis, you need to begin to prepare yourself and your family for the worst. By doing your research, getting legal control, and having honest conversations with your family, you will be better-prepared for the difficult decisions that are to come.
Quote This:
If you find yourself caring for a relative with dementia, the chances are you’ll need help. -Phyllis Logan
See Also: Aging, Mental Health
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do the statistics about Alzheimer’s stated in this video surprise you? Why or why not?
- What do you know about dementia? What questions do you have? Where can you go to find out more information about the disease?
- Why is it so important to get legal control of your loved one’s health and assets? What would happen if you had no legal control over someone with dementia?
- What kind of conversations have you had with your family about your parents’ health? Is there usually more agreement or disagreement among your family members about your parents’ health issues?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
