5 Questions Many Families Have When an Aging Parent Is Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

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Questions are good. Questions help us discover how to deal with certain situations. When a family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you may have questions that need answers.

Below are five questions that many families have when an elderly loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.

Question #1: What happens now?

When people don’t have any prior experience with something, they have no clue how to cope with it, how to prepare for it, and how to make the right plans for the future. For those who have no prior experience with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to have this question answered as quickly and honestly possible.

Question #2: Are they safe?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. That means the signs and symptoms are going to become more significant and severe as the years progress.

Getting proper care and making plans for the future is essential to not just keeping them safe, but also maintaining as high quality of life as possible.

Question #3: What if they need help?

At some point in time, elderly individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia are going to need help. It’s not a question of if, but when. It’s important to consider all options, but if the senior prefers to ‘age in place, meaning they want to remain at home, where they are most comfortable, for the rest of their life, if possible, then home care aides and other services need to be discussed.

It’s a good idea to discuss the services now. If you wait, you may have difficulty ascertaining what the senior truly wishes for himself or herself. If they refuse to even consider home care support services for their future, explain the challenges they will face and how that may not be a reasonable solution if they want to be home for the rest of their life.

Question #4: Do they expect me to support them?

Maybe this family member, perhaps a parent, expects you or some other family member to take care of them. That may seem reasonable, especially because you want to be there for them, but as the disease progresses it will place increased pressure on that family caregiver’s time, emotional resources, and strength.

It’s also advisable to rely on home care support services early on because there are many things that can be done during the earlier stages of the disease that pay dividends in the future.

Question #5: When will they need professional care?

They may be able to take care of themselves well enough at the moment, but they should consider relying on professional home care support services as early as possible. By developing a routine, focusing on mental stimulation, and becoming familiar with a particular non-medical caregiver, it can help promote more comfort and less anxiety in the future.