As people live longer, the incidence of dementia, including early onset dementia, has become more common. Early onset dementia, which typically affects individuals under the age of 65, presents unique challenges for those diagnosed and their families. Planning for the future, including transitioning to a senior living or assisted living community, becomes crucial. Here’s how to approach this transition and how a certified senior move manager can assist.
What is Early Onset Dementia?
Dementia is a general term for the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Early onset dementia can be particularly challenging as it often affects individuals in the prime of their lives, disrupting careers, family dynamics, and financial planning.
The Importance of Early Planning
Early diagnosis of dementia allows individuals and their families to plan for the future while the person with dementia can still participate in decision-making. This planning includes legal, financial, and care considerations, as well as the eventual transition to a senior living community.
Steps for Planning the Transition
Legal and Financial Planning
Establish Legal Documents: Ensure that legal documents such as a durable power of attorney, living will, and healthcare proxy are in place.
1. Financial Planning: Work with a financial advisor to plan for the costs associated with long-term care. This includes understanding insurance benefits, long-term care insurance, and other financial resources.
2. Choosing the Right Memory Care Community
Research Options: Explore various senior living communities, including assisted living, memory care, and independent living options. Consider factors such as location, cost, services offered, and the community’s experience with dementia care.
Visit Communities: Schedule visits to potential senior living communities to experience the environment, interact with the staff, and observe the residents. During your visit, ask detailed questions about their approach to dementia care, staff training and qualifications, and the range of support services they offer.
Preparing for a Move
Downsizing and Decluttering: Begin the process of downsizing and decluttering early. This can be emotionally challenging, but it's essential for a smooth transition. If you and/or your loved ones find this process overwhelming or are unable to manage it on your own, you can enlist the services of a senior move manager. We will discuss the role of senior move managers in more detail below.
Home Modifications for Seniors
If the move is not immediate, consider making home modifications to ensure safety and accessibility during the interim period.
How a Certified Senior Move Manager Can Help
Senior move managers are professionals who specialize in helping older adults and their families navigate the physical and emotional challenges of relocation. Here’s how they can assist during this transition:
Comprehensive Assessment and Planning
Senior move managers are experts in transitioning seniors to various types of senior living communities, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care facilities. Their expertise extends to handling crisis moves, where unforeseen circumstances necessitate a sudden and unexpected relocation. Their services include:
Conducting a thorough assessment of the senior's current home environment
Assisting with sorting through belongings
Help guide decisions on what to keep, donate, or discard, always with a compassionate approach
Handling the logistics of the move, from packing to setting up the new living space, ensuring that the individual feels comfortable and at home
Coordinating with third-party companies like movers, realtors, and estate sale companies
Emotional Support and Guidance
Compassionate Assistance: Move managers provide emotional support, helping individuals and families cope with the stress and emotions associated with moving.
Ongoing Support
Post-Move Assistance: Even after the move, senior move managers continue to provide support, checking in to ensure that the individual is adjusting well and helping address any concerns that arise.
Conclusion
Planning for the future when living with early onset dementia is crucial. Transitioning to a senior living or assisted living community can provide the necessary support and care as the disease progresses. Certified senior move managers play a vital role in making this transition as smooth and stress-free as possible, offering comprehensive services, emotional support, and expert guidance.
If you or a loved one are facing early onset dementia, consider enlisting the help of a senior move manager. Their expertise and compassionate approach can make all the difference in ensuring a positive and successful transition to a new living environment.
About the Author
Kristyn Drury is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, an Associate Broker, a Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Kristyn loves working with senior clients and their families to help them transition and meet their relocation goals.
Nicole Hyman is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, a Realtor, a NASMM Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Nicole enjoys working closely with seniors and their families to create a stress-free transition whether moving, downsizing or just decluttering.
Real T Simplistic Senior Move Managers is a team of experts helping seniors and their families to make "Thoughtful Moves." because moving a lifetime is always more than just a move. Real T assists with every aspect of senior transitions, from decluttering and rearranging to age in place, to downsizing or relocating to a smaller home or assisted living community. Real T prepares a personal moving plan for each client, their home and their possessions. Real T is also uniquely able to help with selling the family home, and buying or leasing a new place -- taking care of marketing the home, locating the best new home and all of the paperwork details in between.
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