Summary Box:
Receiving a dementia diagnosis can feel daunting, but taking practical early steps makes a difference. Families should focus on understanding the diagnosis, arranging follow-up medical care, making the home safe, and starting care planning while their loved one can make decisions. This guide explains the first steps for families in Hong Kong.
What Should Families Do First?
A Quick Checklist to Get Started
- Obtain the diagnosis report and medical notes
- List current medications and allergies
- Pick one or two primary decision-makers
- Schedule medical follow-up
- Division of family responsibilities
- Implement basic home safety measures
How Do You Create a Care Plan?
Dementia refers to an abnormal deterioration of the brain. While the specific type (such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia) shapes how symptoms develop, early intervention benefits everyone.
Think of a care plan as a flexible guide that grows and changes alongside your loved one’s needs, rather than a rigid set of rules. A solid plan usually covers:
- Daily routines: Arrange daily living activities and meals; establish meaningful activities based on preferences (e.g., cognitive exercises, physical recreation, chores, etc.).
- Medication management: Manage medication use and prevent accidental misuse/errors.
- Safety measures: Setting up the home, monitoring and maintenance.
- Support services: Utilize home care or day care center services.
As dementia progresses, care needs will naturally increase. Day care services are a great way to offer engagement during the day while giving primary caregivers a break or time to work. Residential care is always an option if 24-hour supervision becomes necessary.
How to Make Daily Life at Home Safer and Easier?
Many people with early-stage dementia can live at home, though making a few small adjustments around the house can prevent risk.
What are the common household hazards
- Feeling disoriented by major changes in the household
- Misplacing keys, money, or important documents
- Falling in the bathroom
- Accidentally consuming uncooked food or household cleaning products
- Forgetting to turn off the stove after cooking
Establishing simple routines works wonders. Try keeping essential items in fixed places and guide the person with dementia to get used to where things are stored. Use labels or visible reminders. Clearing away clutter and improving lighting can significantly reduce the risk of falls. It’s also wise to lock away cleaning supplies. Regularly clean out the refrigerator and avoid storing uncooked food to prevent accidental consumption. For cooking, consider using induction cooktops that have overheating protection and pan detection features.
What Medical and Financial Decisions Should Families Make?
While your loved one is still cognitively sound, agree on medical, care, and financial arrangements:
- Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) ：Allows you to appoint one or more attorney(s) to take care of your financial matters even after you become mentally incapacitated
- Advance Medical Directives (AMD) ：Indicates your wishes for refusing life-sustaining treatment (such as CPR) when you reach the specified medical condition (e.g., being terminally ill; being in a persistent vegetative state and state of irreversible coma; or being in other end-stage, irreversible, life-limiting condition).
- Will：A document consisting of written instructions about the administration of an estate after a person’s death
What Comes Next?
No family is expected to have everything figured out right away. To explore support options tailored to your family, visit the “Find Your Suitable Services” page or contact JCCPA’s hotline at 2333 2393 to discuss your situation with trained professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if my parent refuses dementia care?
Answer: Try to avoid arguing or executing nursing tasks. Instead, offer gentle, practical support—like tagging along to doctor appointments, making subtle safety tweaks at home, or introducing engaging daily activities. Keep conversations calm, patient, and gradual. If your loved one gets upset, focus on comforting their emotions first rather than correcting the facts. For more practical guidance on daily care, check out JCCPA’s practical tips for caregivers.
2. Can someone with dementia continue living alone?
Answer:
Some people with early-stage dementia can live alone if safe and supported. Regularly assess risks like cooking, medication, falls, and getting lost, and review as symptoms change.
In the early stages, many individuals can live on their own safely if sufficient support is provided. Regularly assess key safety areas—like cooking, taking medications correctly, preventing falls, and wandering—and reassess their living arrangements as symptoms change.
3. How can families reduce caregiver stress after diagnosis?
Answer: Don’t try to do it all alone. Share responsibilities among family members, define clear roles, make good use of respite or day care services, and reach out for professional help early on.
