Tulsa Senior AdvisorWhat should a family do in the first months after a dementia diagnosis?
Get the legal documents in place while your parent can still sign them, namely a durable power of attorney for finances and an advance directive for health care, then review finances and start learning what care options exist nearby.
An elder law attorney can also discuss whether SoonerCare planning makes sense given the 60-month look-back.
When is memory care needed?
Usually when safety can no longer be managed with supervision at home or in regular assisted living: wandering, exit-seeking, getting lost, or nighttime behavior that wears out caregivers.
Many people with early dementia live well at home with adult day care or in an assisted living center that provides cognitive support.
How do we evaluate a Tulsa memory care unit?
Ask for the facility's Alzheimer's/dementia special care disclosure (ODH Form 613), check that it is on file with OSDH, then ask about overnight staffing, dementia training hours and the activity schedule.
In the six-county Tulsa area, 12 licensed buildings are marked for dementia care in the state record: 6 with an Alzheimer's disclosure in their OSDH file and 6 by licensed name only.
What support exists for families after a dementia diagnosis?
The Area Agencies on Aging offer caregiver support and information, adult day centers give daytime structure and respite, and the Alzheimer's Association runs a 24-hour helpline at 1-800-272-3900 with education and support groups.
Caregivers who join a support group early tend to cope better later. Ask the diagnosing doctor or clinic which local groups meet near you.
How do finances change after a diagnosis?
Expect costs to rise over time: dementia care usually progresses from help at home to adult day care to assisted living or a dementia unit, so a realistic budget plans for several years and for the possibility of SoonerCare later.
Because of the 60-month look-back, decisions about gifts or transfers made in the first year after a diagnosis matter. Talk to an elder law attorney before moving money.
Should a person with dementia keep driving?
Driving safety should be assessed early and revisited often, ideally with the doctor, because dementia gradually affects judgment, reaction time and navigation even when a person feels confident.
Plan transportation alternatives, such as family rides, adult day center transportation or PACE, before driving stops, so the loss of the keys does not also mean the loss of independence.
At a glance
| Early planning means | It does not mean | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | Signing powers of attorney now | Waiting for a crisis |
| Care | Learning options before they are needed | Moving immediately |
| Money | Knowing the ADvantage and SoonerCare rules | Giving assets away |
Sources include the Oklahoma Administrative Code (chapters 310:663, 310:680, 310:673, 310:675 and 310:605), OSDH, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Human Services, the Oklahoma Attorney General, CareScout, CMS and the VA, as cited above; see our editorial standards.
