The Importance of Planning for Potential Dementia: Protecting Your Dignity and Future Financial Security

Planning for potential dementia or loss of judgment is crucial to protect one’s dignity and ensure that wishes are respected by authorities and family members. As people enter the third phase of life, they may face challenges such as social isolation, financial uncertainty, and questions surrounding their assets and care needs. Creating a precautionary mandate can help designate who will make decisions on your behalf if you lose judgement, covering areas such as personal care, financial concerns, and representation in legal matters.

Determining whether incidents of forgetfulness are part of normal aging or indicate a loss of judgment can be challenging. People with dementia may initially not notice their impairments or deny them altogether. The progression of the disease can lead to fluctuations in behavior and awareness, making it difficult for loved ones to broach the topic. Online tests can provide an initial assessment of cognitive function and memory, but a serious medical diagnosis from a doctor is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Doctors evaluate cognitive ability, evaluation ability, will-forming ability, and will-implementing ability to determine the extent of impairment in attention, memory, perception, and communication.

Taking care of financial matters is essential for aging individuals. Planning for dementia in advance can prevent financial strain and ensure that assets are managed according to your preferences. Despite the complexities involved, early planning for potential dementia is crucial for maintaining quality of life in later years. If not addressed early on