CURA helps you to get the discussion going. What should you do if you are diagnosed with dementia?

Dementia is an example of a disease that makes a person more dependent on his or her surroundings and on professional care. Making decisions for oneself can become complex. That is why it is important to think about the future in time! Who can help me organise my finances and make decisions about my well-being? What support do I need? When should I make decisions about the end of my life?

It is not always easy to talk to your loved ones about your future, because you do not want to face the worst or even insult the others. But it is important to discuss this with them, because these life choices have to be made by you and to avoid any disagreement afterwards. Depending on the stage the person with dementia is at, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to take care of themselves. That is why the support of loved ones is important and good guidance is crucial. Cura is committed to helping you every step of the way. The decisions that have to be made 'together' make it possible to remain independent for as long as possible and to delegate tasks that are not always easy to manage due to age and the amnesia associated with the disease. From an administrative point of view, a person with a very mild form of dementia, for example, may experience forgetfulness. In this case, it is interesting to know whether a family member or CURA can check the payment of bills, or give a power of attorney to verify the accuracy of the amounts. As far as health is concerned, home care often offers added value and enables the person suffering from dementia to continue living a normal life for as long as possible. For this reason, it is proposed that the possibilities of existing care be mapped out.

Setting up an organisation that allows for proper day-to-day management is beneficial in both the short and long term. The opportunity to participate in this implementation makes it possible to put the 'sick' person at the centre of decisions, like a real captain choosing his sailors.

Thanks to the experience of CURA, we know what to think about in order to prepare ourselves and how to initiate this discussion between the person suffering from dementia and his or her family members: in this way, we can remain satisfied despite the loss of autonomy.