Different from standard memory loss, dementia is a broad term used to refer to the general decline of someone’s mental abilities, to the point it begins to interfere with one’s life. If you or a loved one is facing dementia, it is important to understand what this will mean in regards to long-term care and how the right life insurance policy can help.

At ElderCare Law Firm, we help our clients create the right plan for their specific needs. From estate planning to health care planning to everything in between, we are dedicated to treating each client with respect as they make decisions about their lives. Read on to learn more about how you or your loved one can prepare for dementia through a life insurance plan with long-term care benefits. Reach out anytime to talk to someone on our team about life insurance for seniors in Weber County.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, And Mental Decline

While many confuse dementia and Alzheimer’s as the same disease, dementia actually refers to the broad category in which Alzheimer’s falls. Alzheimer’s accounts for nearly 80 percent of dementia and is a disease that progressively worsens with time. If your loved one is suffering from the early stages of dementia, it is important to think about the future ahead.

Dementia is more than just simple memory loss. While anyone can forget things here and there, dementia is a much more severe overall mental decline. Usually, symptoms of dementia include memory loss, inability to focus, severe confusion, a decline in reasoning and judgment, and communication issues. As dementia progresses, these symptoms usually worsen and begin to severely interfere with one’s ability to live life.
The most important thing you can do for your own health or the health of your loved one is to see a doctor if you believe dementia may be at play. Without a medical diagnosis, it is difficult to make the right plans for end of life care.

Helping A Loved One Through Dementia

If you have a parent or other relative who is facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you might feel overwhelmed and uncertain of how you can help.The first thing you can do is provide support by simply being there for a loved one who is suffering from mental decline.

You can also implement a few of these tips as you help your loved one:

  • Practice Patience: As dementia progresses, your loved one will likely spend time confused and upset. They may lash out in anger without even really understanding why. It can be very difficult to care for someone during this time as they may say and do things that are incredibly frustrating. The best thing you can do is practice a large amount of patience and remind yourself that they feel as out of control as you do.
  • Take Care Of Yourself: It can be easy to throw yourself into the care of a loved one with dementia so much so that you neglect yourself. Make sure you allow yourself room to be human too. If you had a frustrating day, that’s ok. You can take a break, recharge, and do things for yourself. Don’t feel guilty when you lose patience with your loved one and allow yourself plenty of time for your own life.
  • Get Help: If you are trying to take care of a loved one with dementia all alone, you will very quickly burn out, especially as their disease progresses. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you need it. Make sure you know when it is time to seek medical help or to place your loved one into a facility where they can receive specialized care.

Creating A Long-Term Plan With The Right Life Insurance Policy

Because most forms of dementia will create a rapid decline in mental health, it is important to have the right plan set into motion before decision-making abilities are gone. A life insurance plan can be the right solution if used properly. Sometimes referred to as annuities with long-term care benefits, life insurance policies that implement a long-term care plan allow you to keep your assets if you never end up needing long-term care. However, these plans will create a guaranteed fund for use in a long-term care crisis.

By setting up a life insurance plan with long-term care benefits, you can give you and your loved one’s peace of mind, knowing that your end of life care will be handled. At the ElderCare Law Firm, we can sit down and discuss the right plan for your specific needs. We understand how taxing conversations regarding your healthcare can be and we make it our goal to help you smoothly navigate the waters of life insurance policies and estate planning.

If you or a loved one is facing dementia, we recommend you reach out soon to talk to a team member about the right next steps. Not only can we assist you in setting up the right life insurance plan, we can also help you with appointing a power of attorney and creating legal documents to dictate how your end of life care is handled.