How The Dementia and Life Care Planning Center Can Help Secure a Loved One’s Future

Posted on October 5, 2025 by shieldsandboris

Dementia is one of the most challenging medical conditions that a person (and their family) can endure. It is a degenerative condition, meaning dementia gets worse as time passes. For that reason, a proactive life care plan at the earliest possible time is a must. It can make a big difference to help ensure that your vulnerable loved one lives the best possible life. At The Elder Law Offices of Shields & Boris, we are leaders in dementia care plans. Our Pennsylvania elder law attorneys can provide a guide to dementia and life care planning.

Dementia is Common, Challenging, and Degenerative

According to the most recent data from the Alzheimer’s Association, there are more than seven million Americans who are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. There are several million other people who have different forms of dementia. Notably, these numbers continue to rise as the population ages. There is a common misconception that dementia is not just memory loss. However, it is about a lot more than that. Dementia is a progressive neurocognitive decline that affects judgment, executive function, communication, mobility, and behavior. Because dementia worsens over time, families confront escalating care needs, legal complexities, and emotional strain.

Why a Proactive Approach Matters: When is the right time to start dementia care planning? The sooner, the better. Decisions made now can have profound consequences on the quality of life going forward. A specialized planning center focused on dementia can anticipate needs before they arise.

Understanding the Unique Needs of Families Facing Dementia

If your spouse, parent, or other family member has dementia or is showing signs of dementia, it is imperative that you take action. Families confronting dementia face many challenges. A well-coordinated, comprehensive solution is the best path forward. Here are some of the most common challenges related to providing care for a family member or other loved one who has dementia:

  • Legal and Decision-Making Capacity Issues: As cognitive decline advances, a person may lose the ability to execute wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or health care directives. Early planning ensures legal documents are valid and that guardianship, conservatorship, or supported-decision pathways are in place as needed. Ideally, all of these documents will be in place before any formal dementia diagnosis.
  • Long-Term Care, Medical, and Behavioral Management: Dementia progresses unpredictably. That is a reality of the condition. It requires adjustments in care level, supervision, medication, safety protocols, and behavioral interventions. Families must anticipate future needs, because they can change much more quickly than expected.
  • Financial Care and Asset Protection: Long-term care costs can deplete savings. Medicaid provides some important protection, but only for those who meet asset/income requirements in Pennsylvania. For that reason, proactive strategic planning is a must.
  • Emotional Support and Caregiver Relief: The reality is that caregivers often carry heavy emotional, physical, and psychological burdens. Families need structured support, education, counseling, and respite services to sustain long-term care without burnout.

What is Life Care Planning?

If you have a loved one with dementia, a life care plan can make a big difference. Life care planning is a forward-looking, multidisciplinary strategy tailored to a person’s current and anticipated needs. A big focus is on their current (or likely future) chronic, degenerative medical condition. The plan integrates medical, legal, financial, and residential components into a cohesive roadmap. A key point is that a life care plan for dementia should project care needs over time. A life care plan is not static. It must adapt as disease progression, medical technology, and personal circumstances change.

Services and Support Offered by the Dementia & Life Care Planning Center

A family member’s dementia diagnosis can be very hard to deal with. One of the very best things that you can do for them is to develop a comprehensive life care plan. The Elder Law Offices of Shields & Boris is the leader in planning. Our Dementia and Life Care Planning Center is specialized and focused on helping families protect their most vulnerable loved ones. Here is an overview of services and support that we offer related to dementia life care planning in Pennsylvania:

  • Comprehensive Personal Assessment: We evaluate medical, cognitive, functional, psychosocial, and environmental factors to project care needs and risks. Home Safety Assessment and Modifications: Our life care planning team is prepared to inspect living environments for hazards and recommend structural or behavioral modifications to reduce risks, such as falls and/or wandering.
  • Life Care Plan Creation and Implementation: We draft a detailed plan that includes timelines for escalating care, budgeted costs, decision points, and contingency strategies. Our attorneys also help the family in implementing the plan.
  • Professional Advocacy and Discharge Planning: We coordinate transitions from hospital to home or facility, manage care provider selection, and advocate for the person’s rights.
  • Medicare, Medicaid, and Benefits Navigation: The Center guides families through public benefits, eligibility, application, and preservation of assets. Navigating Medicaid and Medicare can be very hard for families. Do not try to do it alone.
  • Money Management and Financial Planning Support: Our Pennsylvania elder law and estate planning attorneys support budgeting, bill paying, asset protection, and ensuring financial continuity despite capacity loss.
  • Caregiver Education, Support Groups, and Virtual Network: We also offer training in communication techniques, behavioral strategies, and disease education, and host private support groups, including virtual support groups.

You Can Rely on Our Dementia and Life Care Planning Center

The Elder Law Offices of Shields & Boris is a boutique elder law firm that leads the way in dementia care planning and life care planning in Western Pennsylvania. Our life planning is more than a service. It is a comprehensive support system built to guide families through every stage of a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. When a loved one’s future feels uncertain, our interdisciplinary team steps in with compassion, clarity, and legal expertise. We begin with a comprehensive life care plan: assessing present and potential future needs, identifying appropriate care, and detailing legal, financial, and health-related strategies to protect wellbeing and dignity. You can reach out to The Dementia and Life Care Planning Center at The Elder Law Offices of Shields & Boris to learn more.

We are Leaders in Dementia and Life Care Planning in Western Pennsylvania

At The Elder Law Offices of Shields & Boris, our Pennsylvania elder lawyers have extensive experience with dementia life care planning. We know that dementia is a progressive, degenerative medical condition that can be very challenging for families to navigate. You do not have to figure it out alone. Give us a call at (724) 302-3718 or contact us online for a fully confidential consultation. We provide dementia life care planning support all across Western Pennsylvania.



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