Dementia - what can I do now?
Posted by Kelly Duke on 21st November 2011
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia, whether it be you or a family member is likely to send your world into freefall. You will have questions about the future; what you will do, what will happen, how long before memory starts to fade, will you be able to stay in your home, how will it affect the family?
One certain thing about dementia is the uncertainty it will bring to your life. No-one can predict what direction events will take but certain issues can be resolved and tidied to alleviate unnecessary worry.
Even after diagnosis, as long as you still have capacity to give instructions, there are practical things that can be done to make life easier for you and your family.
Do you have a will?
If not, make one. A will ensures that those you wish to inherit do rather than leaving inheritance to chance under the intestacy rules. Protection can be built into a will to ensure that, should you survive your spouse/partner, you can be looked after in the most effective and protective manner possible.
Do you have a property and affairs lasting power of attorney?
If not, make one. You can appoint people of your choosing to act on your behalf in relation to your financial and property affairs. They can act if you begin to find things difficult or will continue to act should you lose capacity. This could allow something as simple as an overdue gas bill to be paid or for assets to be liquidated to provide care.
Do you have a health and welfare lasting power of attorney?
If not, make one. Would you prefer to have people you know and trust making decisions about your future health and welfare needs if you are unable to decide for yourself or a third party who does not know or understand your wishes?
Check your finances?
If you need care, whether it be at home or in a residential or nursing setting, a financial means test will be carried out by the local authority. This may mean that you have to use your savings to meet the cost of care. Assets held in joint names will be assessed 50/50 by the local authority and not proportionately according to contribution. Should you be splitting your savings accounts proportionately? Should you be splitting the ownership of your house to ensure that it is not all lost in care fees?
Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to?
Check what you are entitled to. Not all state benefits are means tested. Some are based on need and not finances. Different benefits apply to different age groups. Extra funds could enable additional support to be brought in to help at home. Benefits are payable, in certain circumstances, when an individual resides in a residential or nursing home.
Always keep an eye on continuing care.
Continuing care is paid to the most poorly. It can be paid if you are living at home or in a residential setting. Primary care trusts have to pay for nursing care if an individual falls within the most severe categories for health and nursing needs. If awarded continuing care covers the majority, if not all, of a person’s care costs. Payment is dependant upon condition and can be withdrawn if a person’s condition improves. It can be claimed at any time whether an individual is alive or by the executors of their estate following death.
By dealing with the above you can put certain financial worries to the back of your mind and free up the time and energy to deal with the daily challenges that will arise with dementia. It is best to put things in place as early as possible but capacity is the key issue. As long as capacity is present instructions can be taken.
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