Advanced Planning

It is important that soon after a person is diagnosed with dementia they consider their future. Of considerable importance is to ensure that the person has made decisions about their life, including financial and health matters, which may be referred to at a time when they are no longer able to express their wishes.

Alzheimer's Australia recommends five areas that should be addressed in relation to legal planning. 1

  1. Financial Planning
  2. Medical Planning
  3. Driving with Dementia
  4. Employment
  5. Other Contact with the Legal System

References and recommended reading

  1. Alzheimer's Australia (2005). Legal Planning and Dementia, Position Paper 5. Available from http://www.alzheimers.org.au/upload/LegalPlanning.pdf
  2. Office of the Public Advocate. (2006). Powers of Attorney. Available from http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/Powers-of-attorney.html 
  3. Alzheimers Australia. (2005). Legal Planning and Dementia. Available from http://www.alzheimers.org.au/legal
  4. Alzheimer's Australia (2001). Driving and Dementia: A Background Paper. Available from http://www.alzheimers.org.au/upload/DrivingBackground.pdf
  5. O'Neill, D., Neubauer, K., Boyle, M., Gerrard, J., & Surmon, D. (1992). Dementia and driving. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 85, 199-202.