Planning for the future

A dementia diagnosis can raise many challenges for a person and their family. Decisions may need to be made about working, driving, medical and care support and living arrangements.

There are no simple answers, but discussing and planning for the future early may help prevent difficult and often stressful situations arising later. Before any significant changes are made, explore options to support the person to live their preferred lifestyle. 

Decisions people may need to make include

• Accepting help from family, friends and paid carers
• Moving home to live
  • in a more manageable home
  • with family
  • closer health and support services
• Moving into residential care
• Reducing or ceasing driving
• Reducing or ceasing paid or volunteer work

It is important to give people with dementia the opportunity to have a decision in future health care decisions. Information on supporting a person to appoint a Medical Decision Maker and complete an Advance Care Directive can be located via the following links.

Refer to the Future planning section of this pathway for more information on substitute decisions makers and advance care planning.