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Other than knowing that they're loved and will be kept safe and be taken care whether at home or in a facility, there's not much else they need to know as they probably won't remember it anyway.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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8 things? How did you come up with this number?

I think they need to know that it is critical they get all their legal ducks in a row asap: choose a PoA who is a full generation younger than themselves (or at least make this person the Alternate) and is willing, local, reliable, trustworthy and competent; don't make the PoA authority activation onerous (just 1 diagnosis of sufficient impairment); create a Advance Healthcare Directive or POLST that is discussed with their doctor so that it has specifics in it; a Pre-Need Guardian choice; a Last Will; guidance about what to do with their body and what type of final service they want. Once the legal docs are set up, the PoA needs to submit the paperwork to every one of your doctors, banks and financial institutions. Maybe even consider setting up a trust.

They need to come to grips with the possibility that their trajectory may require facility care and they need to assure their LOs that this is ok. They may even want to tour places and pick one out in advance (have an opinion) to take some of that burden and guesswork off of family.

If these things aren't in place early, then the LO with ALZ needs to know they will lose control of what happens to them. No PoA means that the family may be forced to pursue guardianship through the courts -- which is expensive, time-consuming and stressful; or a judge will assign a 3rd party legal guardian who is not a family member if the family can't get guardianship themselves. This happens A LOT.

Plus, what funkygrandma59 wrote.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
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Reply to Geaton777
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1.)You have to get all the "legal stuff" taken care of ASAP

2.)If you are going to be the caregiver for anyone other than a spouse you MUST get fairly compensated for what you are doing.
(If the above is the case have a caregiver agreement or contract done)

3.) SAFETY. If you are not safe being a caregiver or if the person you are caring for is not safe reassess options.
(for this reason NEVER agree that you will never place ________in a facility)

4.) a) learn to ask for help
b) learn to accept help

5) Turn over every rock you can that will help you find programs that will help make caregiving easier

6.) Get Hospice on board as soon as possible. The help, services and peace of mind are invaluable.

7.) Accept that the decline will get worse, no magic pills, vitamins, coconut oil, snake oil will help.

8.) Know that you will lose friends cuz they just don't get it. But part of that might be because you forget you need to make time for them as well. I guess it is the adage...Take care of yourself first. So make time for friends. Getting back to # 4... If someone says "if there is anything I can do...." say "Could you pick up a gallon of milk for me and bring it over when you get a chance and I will make a cup of Chai and we can sit and chat. Afternoons are best cuz mom sleeps after lunch"

there are plenty more but you asked for 8.
If you get 100 responses you potentially could have 800 "things people should know"
But every one with dementia is different so are the people caring for them so you have to find the 8 that are important and relative to you and your situation.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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