Dr. K explains what all family caregivers should know about decision-making capacity, especially if there’s a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Plus how incapacity is confirmed to activate a power of attorney.

She covers:

• How to recognize signs of “mental incompetence”
• 4 decision-making abilities needed for capacity
• Why capacity is decision-specific
• Incapacity vs incompetence
• How to get an older person’s decision-making capacity assessed by professional
• How to activate a “springing” power of attorney

Related episode:

009 – If Your Aging Parent is Resisting a Memory Loss Evaluation

• Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A geriatrician’s step-by-step guide to memory loss, resistance, safety worries & more
• Incompetence & Losing Capacity: Answers to 8 FAQs
• What You Can Do if You’re Worried About “Incompetence”

Dr. K explains what you can do, if your aging parent has been refusing to see the doctor for their memory or thinking problems. She covers:

• Why older adults are often reluctant to get medically evaluated for memory loss
• 5 tactics that families can use to try to persuade the older person
• How to trigger less fear of the evaluation
• How to frame the evaluation in a positive way for your parent
• If they are still refusing despite your best efforts

Related episode:

008 – Is it important for your aging parent with memory loss to go to the doctor?

• Related article: What You Can Do if You’re Worried About “Incompetence”
• Related article: Incompetence & Losing Capacity: Answers to 8 FAQs
• Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent
• Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More
• Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program

People with memory loss often refuse to see a doctor. So how important is it for them to go and get medically evaluated? Dr. K answers this common question in this episode. She covers:

• Why aging parents with memory loss often resist evaluation
• 6 specific benefits of getting evaluated
• The most common cognitive tests used in the initial evaluation
• How long it might take to get an actual diagnosis
• How an evaluation can help you address safety concerns.

Related episode:

007 – How to talk to your aging parent about memory loss concerns

• Related article: How We Diagnose Dementia: The Practical Basics to Know
• Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent
• Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More
• Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program

What can you do if your aging parent with memory loss refuses to admit to their problems, or is waving off your suggestions that they get help? In this episode, Dr. K explains how to discuss memory loss and other worrisome symptoms with your aging parent. She covers:

• A simple technique that will quickly improve your conversations
• A 5-step framework for talking to your parent about their memory loss issues
• Sample phrases to start the conversation
• What YOU need to learn from the conversation (and why)
• How to end on a positive note

Related episode:

009 – If Your Aging Parent is Resisting a Memory Loss Evaluation

• Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent
• Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More
• Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program

When an older person starts to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, what are the earliest warning signs to look out for? In this episode, Dr. K explains 10 warning signs that often catch her attention.

She covers:

• Why her list isn’t quite the same as that of the Alzheimer’s Association
• 10 early warning signs she considers especially important
• What to know about “lack of insight” (also known as “anosognosia”)
• What to know about accusations, delusions, and paranoia
• What to do if you notice possible warning signs in your older loved one

Related episode:

002 – What causes memory loss as people get older?

• Related article: 8 Behaviors to Take Note of if You Think Someone Might Have Alzheimer’s
• Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent
• Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More
• Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program