If a parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, this can be upsetting for the entire family. It can be difficult to know what to do next, as you might be anxious and worried about the future. You are likely dealing with all types of emotions and feelings at the moment, which can make it difficult to see the next steps clearly. However, there are steps that you can take right now, that will make life a bit easier and more manageable. This is why, we have decided to put together this handy guide to help you get all the information that you need so that you can best support your loved one.

Understand The Diagnosis

Even if you have seen signs of memory loss, once the diagnosis comes, you might not know how to react. It can be unexpected, which means that it’s okay to allow yourself to feel all of your emotions right now. It’s crucial to take steps to accept the diagnosis and get a better understanding of it, as your parent will count on you to help them come to terms with it. Also, you should find out what stage of the disease they are at and begin working on a care plan as soon as possible.

Assess Their Needs

It’s essential to think about their needs at the moment to understand the level of care that they might be eligible for. NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care, provided to people with high health needs. To check if your mum or dad qualifies for it, they will need to complete a needs assessment, known as a CHC assessment. You should prepare well for this assessment to ensure that they can get CHC funding and support. A health professional will conduct a CHC checklist to see if they qualify for a full assessment, known as a Decision Support Tool. They will also have a Care Act assessment with a social worker as part of this process.

Get Information About Their Finances

You should stay organised as much as possible to help your parent through this difficult period, which means that you may need to gather more information about their finances. If you are given power of attorney, you will need to handle all financial matters on behalf of your mum or dad. For example, you might need to start with their main sources of income, their monthly bills, financial accounts, account numbers, insurance policies, and tax records. Also, you should obtain the names of any financial and legal professionals that your parent has worked with.

Consider Their Care Options

At this point, you may find it difficult to navigate the Adult Social Care System, so you might not be familiar with all the terms, acronyms, and jargon used every day. Check out our glossary page and FAQs for more information, which will help you make sense of the care system and what you can expect. It’s likely that for the time being, your mum or dad might be perfectly fine taking care of themselves. However, it’s important to think about the type of care that they can receive in the long run. For example, if they want to stay at home, you should check that their home can accommodate their needs.

Process Your Emotions

Take time to process your emotions, as you may start experiencing them as soon as you find out about the diagnosis. During this time, you might have feelings of loss or grief, so you should look for support to help you navigate these challenging times. Remember that it’s normal to have conflicting emotions, so you may feel sadness, frustration, or anger while feeling love for your parent. There are various support groups that you can join or you may decide to meet with a therapist to talk about your emotions in-depth.

Take Care Of Yourself

Don’t forget the importance of taking good care of yourself while looking after your mum or dad. Although it might be tempting to focus only on them at the moment, you should still make an effort to stay healthy and look after your mental health. This is the best way that you will be able to support your loved one and give them everything they need. Make sure you think about your physical and emotional wellbeing on a daily basis. As a result, you will be better equipped to create a balance in your life, that will provide you with strength and motivation.

Seek Support

Always ask for help when you need it instead of trying to do everything by yourself, which can quickly leave you feeling overwhelmed. Socia Partners is led by a team of specialists across the adult care industry. With over 15 years of experience, we have been able to help individuals with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, dementia, as well as older people. If you or a loved one needs support with accessing the right funding or completing Social Care Assessments,  we will ensure that you receive accurate information.

Be sure to contact us here to learn more about our services and pricing. We will ensure you get accurate information and advice regarding social care.