Dementia is rarely a straight line. One day your senior seems mostly fine, and the next they’re staring at the microwave like it’s a spaceship.

The shifts can be subtle at first—repeating a story twice, getting lost on the way home, or forgetting a neighbor's name. But as time goes on, the changes can feel relentless. And if you're the one holding everything together? You're probably asking yourself, *"What happens next? And how do I get ready for it?"

That’s exactly why I created the Organize Dementia Care Toolkit—a free download that gives you practical tools and planning checklists before things get too overwhelming. Grab your copy here and let’s talk through what you really need to prepare for.

It Doesn’t Just Get Worse—It Gets Different

Most people think dementia means your senior gradually forgets everything. But that’s only part of the picture.

Dementia changes how someone experiences the world. That means:

• Their reasoning might shift before their memory goes

• Their sense of time can disappear

• Tasks like bathing or dressing suddenly become impossible without help

You might notice new behaviors too:

• Shadowing (they follow you everywhere)

• Sundowning (more agitation in the evening)

• Delusions or fears (they’re convinced someone stole their purse or money)

Knowing these changes are coming gives you a chance to create a plan that prevents total burnout.

Download the toolkit now so you can work through these changes with tools in hand.

Step One: Understand the Stages—but Don’t Get Stuck There

Yes, there are stages of dementia. But don’t worry about labeling your loved one.

Instead, ask:

• What do they struggle with today?

• What used to be easy that’s now hard?

• What support do they need more often?

That will tell you more than any diagnosis ever could. This is about adapting their environment and your expectations.

One caregiver I know said, "When I stopped expecting my mom to make coffee or dress herself the way she used to, our whole relationship got easier."

Use the  Dementia Care Toolkit to track what’s working and what’s starting to slip.

Step Two: Get Legal and Medical Ducks in a Row

This part feels boring—but it’s where panic often starts if you avoid it.

Have these been done yet?

• Healthcare surrogate or durable power of attorney?
• Updated will or trust?
• HIPAA forms on file with all providers?
• Medical records stored in one place?

A dementia diagnosis doesn’t stop someone from having input. But as it progresses, it gets harder to make or explain decisions. Having this squared away while they still understand gives you peace and protects them.

Pro tip: put all legal/medical docs in a labeled binder or cloud folder. Then let someone else in the family know where it is.

Step Three: Prepare for Behavior Changes

You can’t always predict how your loved one will act, but there are common patterns. And most caregivers feel caught off guard when a sweet senior starts yelling or refusing care.

That’s why your toolkit includes planning pages like:

• "How to Respond When They Get Agitated"
• "Setting Up a Calming Routine"
• "Creating a Safe Exit-Free Zone"

These are real-world solutions based on what home health nurses and memory care teams do.

Dementia isn’t just hard. It’s confusing. And that confusion is what creates chaos. You can interrupt that by having go-to strategies on hand.

Grab the toolkit and use the checklists as symptoms progress.

Step Four: Rally the Team Early (Even If They’re Not Ready)

Here’s a hard truth: if you wait until your senior is in a full crisis, the family is 10x more likely to argue.

Instead, use this time to start those conversations:

• "If mom can’t live alone in a year, what’s our plan?"
• "Who’s willing to help with her bills, appointments, or food shopping?"
• "How will we know when it’s time for memory care?"

The answers might not be perfect. But having any answer means fewer fights later.

And if you’re the main caregiver now? Make sure someone else knows the plan if something happens to you.

Step Five: Plan for Your Own Survival

You can’t care for someone with dementia long-term without a plan for you.

You need:

• Regular breaks (not just quick errands)
• Mental health check-ins (with a friend or professional)
• A written list of your own warning signs for burnout

That’s why the final section of the toolkit is about your needs. It has a Self-Care Readiness Quiz, a list of tasks to offload, and permission to stop trying to be the perfect daughter or son.

You’re doing the best you can. And that’s more than enough.

Download the toolkit and fill it out before the next stage catches you by surprise.

Don’t Just React—Prepare With Confidence

Dementia is hard enough. But walking into each stage with no idea what’s coming? That’s avoidable.

Smart caregivers do the hard work early. They get their documents in order, have tough talks, and put strategies in place while their senior can still participate.

That way, when things shift—and they will—you’re not scrambling. You’re ready.

Take 10 minutes today and download the Dementia Care Toolkit. It won’t fix everything, but it will give you back some control.