Mild Cognitive Impairment

If you or a loved one are noticing signs of memory loss or cognitive changes, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis of dementia can help with planning and can slow the progression of the disease with the right lifestyle interventions.

Although there is currently no cure for dementia, there are disease-modifying treatments in clinical trials that may help slow its progression. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more.

Since dementia is a progressive disease, it’s important to make plans early while you or your loved one can still make decisions. This includes setting up an advance healthcare directive and assigning a power of attorney.

Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care. This helps to ensure that your wishes are honored if it becomes difficult to communicate and make decisions as the disease progresses.

Talk with family and loved ones about the dementia diagnosis and your plans for the future. These conversations can help to ensure that your family and loved ones are respecting your wishes and can make the right decisions for you.

Having an Advanced Healthcare Directive allows a person with mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia while they are still able to. This allows you to specify what type of treatment you’d like, ease the decison making burden on your family, and help to plan for the later stages of dementia.

Designating someone as power of attorney gives them the legal ability to make decisions for you. It’s best to choose someone trustworthy and have conversations about preferences early on.

Dementia care can be expensive, so it is important to have an understanding of how to manage costs. Explore options such as Medicare, Medicaid, or long-term care insurance to find the option that’s best for you and your situation.

Dementia increases the risk of financial vulnerability, so setting up protections early is essential. Trusted family members or professionals can help manage accounts, monitor for fraud, and ensure bills are paid.

As dementia progresses, the risk of falls, confusion, and wandering increases. It can be beneficial to modify the home by ensuring accessibility for bathrooms, removing clutter, disguising exit doors, and color contrasting.

A strong care team for someone with dementia may include doctors, home health aides, social workers, and family caregivers. Building this team helps ensure the best care for the person with dementia as needs evolve.