“An accurate early dementia diagnosis is essential. It can make a significant difference in how families navigate the diagnosis.” Esther Kane, MSN, RN

Your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia… but do you ever wonder if they’ve been diagnosed with the correct type? Do you find yourself thinking: “This diagnosis doesn’t quite fit what I’m seeing.” You’re not alone. Getting the correct diagnosis opens the right doors to support, care, and community that you might not have known existed.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned firsthand that not all dementias are the same. Understanding the specific type of dementia your loved one has ensures they’re receiving the correct medical care and helps you connect with the education, targeted support groups, and research opportunities tailored to your loved one’s specific needs.

In this post, we’re sharing insights from Esther Kane, a registered nurse and the Director of Support and Education for the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). As a director of nursing in multiple memory care facilities, Esther’s entire career has been supporting and caring for individuals living with all types of dementia. In her role at AFTD, Esther works to advance early, accurate FTD diagnoses in order to improve the quality of life for those impacted by the disease.

We’re exploring five essential tips for ensuring your loved one receives the correct dementia diagnosis and how to leverage this knowledge for better care.

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/54-why-the-right-dementia-diagnosis-matters-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Additional Resources Mentioned

• Alzheimer’s Association 10 signs of dementia: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
• Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap guide: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/guides/
• Association for Frontotemporal Dementia (AFTD): https://www.theaftd.org/
• Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

Takeaways

Tip 1: Learn More About Dementia and Push to Dig Deeper

Tip 2: Find Your Specific Diagnosis Community, Resources, and Support

Tip 3: Monitor Disease Progression and Prepare

Tip 4: Investigate Clinical Trials

Tip 5: Understand the Genetic Risk Associated with This Diagnosis

Read More in This Blog https://sueryansolutions.medium.com/53-why-the-right-dementia-diagnosis-matters-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias-b6afe1179898?postPublishedType=repub

"Dementia is not just a medical journey, but it's a financial and emotional one." – Devon Banning, CFP

Are you avoiding the financial conversation with your loved one because it feels uncomfortable or overwhelming? Do you find yourself wondering how you'll afford care as your loved one's needs increase?

Are you concerned about making the right financial decisions during this challenging time?

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we know that money is often the last conversation we want to have, but it's inevitable. We have to have it.

Today, we're sharing five essential tips for navigating the financial aspects of dementia caregiving with Devon Banning, a Certified Financial Planner with Moran Wealth Management. Devon has more than 15 years of experience across a range of roles in the financial industry, and he brings invaluable depth of experience with dementia family caregiving. He's spent the majority of his career managing financial lives for individuals and families, many of whom were suddenly thrust into the caregiving role due to dementia.

Here's what makes this conversation easier: it'll be much more manageable when we respect our loved ones' dignity, independence, and their wishes throughout all of our conversations. Today is about helping you learn options for taking your next step—options that are going to make you feel more confident without needing to have all the answers at one time.

This episode supports step three of our Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap Guide: understand the financial situation. If you've been putting this conversation off, you're definitely not alone. This is an area many caregivers hesitate to step into. It's deeply personal, and it can feel intimidating—especially if we wish we'd addressed it sooner.

Connect with us and share your tips:

Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/

Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/

Email: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/53-the-dementia-care-financial-conversation-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias-2/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Moran Wealth Management https://moranwm.com/

Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are those of the participants as of the date recorded and may change without notice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to engage in any particular investment strategy. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals before making any financial decisions. Moran Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

Takeaways

Get the Financial Conversation Started

Use these 8 steps to guide the conversation

Understand the different stages of financial considerations

Understand The Financial Position of Your Loved One

Consider Leveraging a Financial Planning Expert

Read More in This Blog

https://medium.com/@sueryansolutions/financial-planning-for-dementia-caregiving-five-essential-tips-edf00b98be82