Financial and legal issues
With a diagnosis of dementia and the changes associated with decision-making, the need to plan for the future is very important while a patient still has the ability to actively do so. Future planning and advance care directives must be discussed early in the diagnosis to ensure development and finalisation of plans is undertaken while cognitive ability is sound.
For more detailed information and resources on future planning can be found here.
Advance Care Planning (ACP)
Commence discussion with patients and family on Advance Care Planning soon after diagnosis. Begin by expressing a need and interest to understand the patient's views with the aim to develop a broad understanding of the patient's hopes and dreams. Doctor-patient discussions about end of life treatment can be framed by starting a conversation focused on the question "How can we help you live well?"
Advance Care Planning and legal considerations help patients and families to:
- Consider the kind of care that fits with their values
- Make decisions about future care, and review possible scenarios in relation to their own situation and their values
- Identify a proxy decision maker, if one is available and appropriate
- Discuss wills, funerals, and other matters related to the end of life.