Planning Ahead for Dementia
Planning ahead is one of the most important steps you can take after a diagnosis of dementia—or even before any changes in memory or thinking begin. Making decisions early helps ensure that your wishes are known and respected. This can include legal and financial plans, such as naming someone you trust to make decisions for you if needed, and health care plans that describe what kind of care you would want in the future. Talking openly with family, friends, and health professionals can make these choices easier and give everyone peace of mind.
These four guides can help you as you think about planning ahead.
Health Care Planning
Financial Planning
Care Planning
Support
Understanding Your Planning Options
Advance Directive
An advance directive is a legal document that explains your wishes for medical care if you cannot speak for yourself. It can include directions about treatments you would or would not want and may also name someone to make health decisions for you. In Virginia, an advance directive needs to be witnessed by two people who are not named in the document, but does not need to be notarized. Share the completed advance directive with all your health care providers.
- Standard Virginia Advance Directive Form
From the Virginia State Bar Association. - Dementia-specific advance directive
Dementia-specific advance directives should be used together with a standard Virginia advance directive, but you can choose different options depending on the stage of the disease or other considerations. Here is one option.
Health Care Power of Attorney
A health care power of attorney (sometimes called a medical power of attorney or health care proxy) is part of an advance directive. It names a trusted person—called your agent—to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. This person works with your doctors to be sure your care follows your wishes.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a broader legal document that lets you name someone to handle your financial or legal matters. This can include paying bills, managing property, or handling insurance and benefits. A financial power of attorney is separate from a health care power of attorney, and many people choose to have both.
- Find an elder law attorney to help with powers of attorney and other legal planning.