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My father in Chapel Hill was just diagnosed with dementia — what should our family do in the first month?

Start by asking his diagnosing physician (often through UNC Health's geriatrics or memory program) for a written care plan and a referral to legal and

Quick answer

Start by asking his diagnosing physician (often through UNC Health's geriatrics or memory program) for a written care plan and a referral to legal and financial planning, since powers of attorney and advance directives need to be signed while he still has capacity to do so. Contact the Central Pines/Triangle J Area Agency on Aging (1-800-310-9777) for local caregiver support resources, adult day programs, and options counseling covering Orange County. Avoid rushing into a move; a dementia diagnosis alone doesn't mean immediate relocation to a facility, but you should start researching Special Care Unit (memory care) options now so you're not deciding under crisis conditions later.

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Answer

Start by asking his diagnosing physician (often through UNC Health's geriatrics or memory program) for a written care plan and a referral to legal and financial planning, since powers of attorney and advance directives need to be signed while he still has capacity to do so. Contact the Central Pines/Triangle J Area Agency on Aging (1-800-310-9777) for local caregiver support resources, adult day programs, and options counseling covering Orange County. Avoid rushing into a move; a dementia diagnosis alone doesn't mean immediate relocation to a facility, but you should start researching Special Care Unit (memory care) options now so you're not deciding under crisis conditions later.

How families here handle this

A new dementia diagnosis in the Chapel Hill area often comes through UNC Health's academic geriatrics and memory disorders programs, which can be a strength since these programs typically connect families to structured follow-up care, clinical trials, and support groups rather than leaving them to figure things out alone. The most urgent, time-sensitive task in the first month is legal: powers of attorney for healthcare and finances, and an advance directive, all require the person to have legal capacity to sign, which can erode unpredictably as dementia progresses — waiting even a few months can close that window. Families should resist the instinct to make an immediate housing decision; early-stage dementia is often compatible with staying at home with some support, and the Triangle J Area Agency on Aging can provide free options counseling to map out a realistic timeline rather than a same-week decision.

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Questions families ask

My father in Chapel Hill was just diagnosed with dementia — what should our family do in the first month?

Start by asking his diagnosing physician (often through UNC Health's geriatrics or memory program) for a written care plan and a referral to legal and financial planning, since powers of attorney and advance directives need to be signed while he still has capacity to do so. Contact the Central Pines/Triangle J Area Agency on Aging (1-800-310-9777) for local caregiver support resources, adult day programs, and options counseling covering Orange County. Avoid rushing into a move; a dementia diagnosis alone doesn't mean immediate relocation to a facility, but you should start researching Special Care Unit (memory care) options now so you're not deciding under crisis conditions later.

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