The uncertainty after a dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment diagnosis may feel overwhelming and scary. Making sure everyone involved, including the person living with memory and thinking changes as well as their loved ones, has the support they need is important. After a diagnosis, many Penn Memory Center patients and families ask “what’s next?”. While information and knowledge allow persons living with memory and thinking changes and their loved ones to make informed decisions about their care and support, a lot of information at once may feel too much. You may find it helpful to go through one section or resource at a time, and then come back to this page when you’re feeling ready.
At the Penn Memory Center, our personal experience and ample research show that patients and families who are well-informed about all stages of the disease and who early-on anticipate and prepare for the necessary legal, financial, housing, care-related and other challenges they may face rate their overall quality of life higher than those who are less informed and less prepared.