By John Fales
When dementia impacts someone you love, their safety becomes a high priority. Making sure the home they live in doesn’t add to their confusion or cause additional harm is an important consideration.
At a recent presentation I attended, we went over a few recommendations for an aging-friendly home, which, depending on the safety level needed, include:
- Removing poisonous plants
- Removing or securing dangerous substances
- Securing windows and doors
- Considering alarms or additional locks
- Securing appliances
- Planning for medication management (appropriate dosing at appropriate times)
The National Institute on Aging provides an extensive list here.
If your loved one is willing, you could consider a move to a care facility, or to a villa that is near services or a retirement center.
In some situations, especially when moving is not an option, you might want to consider a roommate. For those who don’t want to move to a traditional retirement home and would prefer to age in place, a companion might make sense. Perhaps a relative or best friend could cohabitate and offer help in a less invasive manner than a hired companion.
Walking through dementia is not easy for the person impacted or their loved ones. Making sure that safety precautions are in place is just one way to reduce the stress of the situation.
To read more about how dementia can severely impact the ability to make financial decisions and to find ways to help those with dementia manage their finances, visit https://www.searcyfinancial.com/blog-posts/84-planning-for-the-family/102-helping-families-protect-and-preserve-assets
Please remember that different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this content, will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for you or your portfolio. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this newsletter (article) serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Searcy Financial Services, Inc.
The content of this letter does not constitute a tax or legal opinion. Always consult with a competent professional service provider for advice on tax or legal matters specific to your situation. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed in this content, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing.
Published for the blog on July 28, 2020 by Searcy Financial Services, your Overland Park, Kansas Fee-Only Financial Planner and Investment Manager.
