Facing a Dementia Diagnosis: What Families Need to Know Now

Written By Amy Huddleston

By Amy Huddleston, Host of The Care Table Podcast | December 2025

When the doctor says “dementia,” everything changes. In this raw episode of The Care Table, I talk with Anne Farley, a dementia care expert who’s walked hundreds of families through the fear, finances, and future. We answer the questions I’ve heard for 20 years:

  • “What do we do first?”

  • “How much will this cost?” ($7K–$12K/month for memory care)

  • “How do we keep Mom safe at home longer?”

Anne’s advice is gold:

  • Get the exact diagnosis—Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, vascular—treatment differs.

  • Build your team early—geriatric care manager, attorney, support group.

  • Lock in legal docs NOW while capacity remains.

  • Safety tech (locked pill dispensers, GPS trackers) buys precious time.

  • Ask for help—you’re not alone, and people want to help.

Most powerful moment? Anne’s reminder: “This is a marathon of love—pace yourself.”Resources from Anne:

Watch/listen now: youtube.com/watch?v=yourlink Subscribe to The Care Table—new episodes every Tuesday.

#DementiaCare #Alzheimers #CaregiverSupport #TheCareTablePodcast

Amy Huddleston
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