Alzheimer’s Planning – Helping Momma Plan

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a complex disease that can be difficult to manage, both for those who are affected and for their loved ones. Alzheimer’s planning is an important part of managing the disease and ensuring that individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families have access to the resources they need. In this blog, we will explore the importance of Alzheimer’s planning, what it entails, and how it can benefit those affected by the disease.

Momma’s Story:

Momma was always a vibrant and active person, full of life and energy. She was always there for us, taking care of us and making sure we had everything we needed. But as she grew older, we started to notice changes in her behavior. She became forgetful, repeating the same stories over and over again, and struggling to remember basic information.

After consulting with her doctor, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This was a devastating blow for our family. We watched as our dear mother slowly lost her memory and her ability to do the things she loved.

Coping with Alzheimer’s:

Coping with Alzheimer’s disease has been a challenging journey for our family. We have had to make significant adjustments to our lives and routines to ensure that our mother receives the best possible care.

Communication is Key

One of the most important things we have learned is the importance of communication. It’s essential to communicate with our mother in a clear and simple way, avoiding complicated or confusing language. We also try to listen to her and understand her perspective, even when it doesn’t make sense to us.

We have also had to learn to be patient and flexible. Alzheimer’s disease can cause a wide range of unpredictable behaviors, and it’s essential to be prepared for anything. We have learned to adapt to our mother’s changing needs and to be flexible in our plans and schedules.

Finally, we have found that support is crucial. We have connected with other families who are going through similar experiences and have found comfort in sharing our struggles and successes with others.

Early Diagnosis Alzheimer’s Planning

At the very early stages there may still be time for them to take action.  Talk to their doctor to see if they still have capacity to understand issues and make reasoned decisions.  If this is the case, this is a gift that should not be taken for granted.  Capacity can slip away very quickly.

Helping Momma plan in the early stages of Alzheimer’s can be an important step in managing the disease and ensuring that she receives the best possible care. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, individuals may still have the ability to participate in planning and decision-making, making it an ideal time to start the planning process.

First Steps in Alzheimer’s Planning

The first step in Alzheimer’s planning is to gather important information about your loved one’s medical history, finances, and legal documents. This may include information about their medications, medical conditions, insurance policies, bank accounts, and legal documents such as a will or power of attorney.

Once you have gathered this information, it’s important to have open and honest discussions with your loved one about their wishes and preferences for their care. This may include discussing their preferences for living arrangements, medical treatment, and end-of-life care. It’s important to respect their wishes and involve them in the decision-making process as much as possible.

Alzheimer’s planning may also involve working with a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, social workers, and elder law attorneys, to ensure that your loved one receives the best possible care. This may involve developing a care plan, setting up legal documents such as a power of attorney, and exploring options for long-term care.

By helping your loved one plan in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, you can help them maintain a sense of control over their care and ensure that they receive the best possible care as the disease progresses.

Challenges that are Hard to Plan For

Alzheimer’s disease is a difficult and emotionally challenging disease, both for those who are affected and for their loved ones. Watching our dear mother struggle with this disease has been heartbreaking, but we have learned to cope and adjust our lives to ensure that she receives the best possible care. Through communication, patience, flexibility, and support, we have found ways to navigate this challenging journey together as a family.

Not a Happy Visit to Mom’s

There is a sad dilemma which plays out in many homes during holiday get-togethers: The kids come home for what they thought would be a short visit – then encounter an emergency situation with their parents. 

In some cases, the parent had slowly declined over the past year and had reached a point where a care decision could no longer be delayed. Some decisions, however, to be made now and the kids knew that it had to be made quickly.

Quick decisions were necessary because (1)  Mom or Dad’s health required immediate action; (2)  the kids had very little time to act; (3)  they couldn’t just go back home without doing something.

Many of these kids did take some action such as doing family meetings, seeking immediate medical attention for their declining parent and taking actions to make homes safer.

But they knew they needed to do more and are still struggling with the question of what to do next. It is for this reason that we wrote Mom’s Christmas Shocker. This book discusses the very situation that we discussed herein, which is how to make a difficult decision such as discussed above in a very short period of time.

To read more about Mom’s Christmas Shocker click on this link to go to the page where this book is discussed in greater detail.

Were YOU Shocked During a Recent Visit?

Were you shocked over the Holidays when you visited your parent and realized things are worse than you thought? You have your own life, work and responsibilities. What will you do? Let our eBook help you with your “speed planning”.

We’ve been there & we understand.

That’s why we wrote a book to help you make the best decisions for your parent as quickly as possible.

We want to be friends!

Ok. That might come off a little fast, but you can trust us. We want to help! We fully understand the stress and turmoil that you are facing as Family Caregiver – including personal experiences with burnout.

In our time as caregivers, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge that we desire to pass on. We understand the emotions involved while making necessary decisions. Likewise, we have met many professional caregivers, as well as other family members who were thrust as Family Caregiver. All caregivers have shared the same advice – Join a community! There is nothing more cleansing for our situation than knowing that we are not alone!

We have since created Caregiver Connection. Caregiver Connection is a newsletter that we write personally and send to fellow Caregivers. It is full of tips, tricks, direction and even professional advice. If you would like to sign up, click the button below.

Please Invite Someone to Our Newsletter

Being an Adult Kid who is helping mom as she is declining can be a scary, frustrating and lonely place lacking stability. You feel like you are solely responsible for solving Mom’s problems while managing yours. Some occasional input and a community you can trust would help, especially when facing burnout! This is a way that all of us can be working together as caregivers!

Many others that you may personally know are having to figure it all out by themselves. Most of them have no community. Please take a minute and do them a favor. Copy this link ~> help.mom/cc <~ and send it to them in an email or private message. They can click on it and subscribe to our newsletter for free.

Then they can enjoy weekly tips and encouragement. They no longer have to feel so alone in their family caregiver journey. They will appreciate the favor! Thank you for thinking of them!

Thank You for being a Caregiver for Your Loved One – you are making a huge difference in their life!