Early onset dementia is very much a reality and is known to affect people as young as 40 years old.
Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not just for elderly folk over the age of 60, much as we'd like to think so.
That's why it's more important than ever to understand this condition - and to also know how to curb and manage it, on top of finding ways to protect yourself should the worst happen.
Becoming forgetful, and then it gets worse
Dementia isn't just about forgetting what day of the week it is, or what the name of your spouse is. There are two common types of dementia: Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia. These conditions cause a decline in a person's mental faculties such as memory retention, thinking, and reasoning - all of which affects one's daily life, even with simple tasks like reading and writing. These disruptions will inevitably cause confusion or disorientation. What's more, people with dementia will also struggle with retaining visual and spatial skills. Such a grim reality affects 1 in 10 Singaporeans aged 60 and above. But as we've already mentioned, it's not something to be overlooked for younger folks either. So, what can we do about dementia and how can we ensure we can still live a comfortable life even if it comes knocking on our doors one day?Preventative methods to keep dementia at bay
The best way to do so is to take control of your health and be vigilant with regular health checkups. The key is to maintain a strong and healthy heart, which will supply adequate blood flow to your brain, so it remains nourished. Apart from the physical aspect of things, staying mentally active and being constantly engaged will go a long way in protecting you from dementia. This means stimulating the mind by reading, playing board games and other mentally stimulating games like sudoku, or even learning a new skill like picking up a musical instrument. According to HealthHub, building enduring and nurturing relationships can also help. Social interactions keep the mind active too, so remember to stay in touch with friends! Other things to look out for are blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, weight management, and staying away from vices like drinking and smoking. All of these are steps in the right direction, but there's also one more thing you can do to make sure you're adequately protected and prepared for the worst.Rely not just on yourself: how a Lasting Power of Attorney helps
The loss of one's mental faculties can mean the end of being able to properly manage one's own life. This is why a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will come in handy, along with preparing your will ahead of time.
Appointing an executor to help make decisions on your behalf should the worst happen and leaving instructions behind on how to manage your estate and assets will ensure that you still retain control over your affairs, plus it gives you peace of mind.
There are providers that offer both LPA and will formation services. For example, SimplyWills offers a preferred rate to insurance clients under the Singlife Dementia Cover.
Protecting one's finances in the face of dementia
And as for the financial aspect of things, like protecting your income? Insurance, of course, will come in extremely handy - particularly policies that include coverage for dementia. Should you be confronted with dementia (early to advance stages), Singlife Dementia Cover provides coverage until 99 years old. The payout for severe dementia is up to 10 years.Dementia also affects mental health. Depression is usually a common first sign of dementia. Additional benefits from the Singlife Dementia Cover include coverage for depressive or anxiety disorder after a dementia diagnosis, and even accidental burns or fractures to account for the fact that dementia will affect a person's ability to safely navigate their environment, meaning more financial relief for their future caregivers like spouses and children. Look out for insurers that provide extensive support beyond just financial payouts, too. For example, Singlife Care Collab is a one-stop health services hub with trusted healthcare service providers that can help link policyholders, as well as caregivers, to caregiving resources and services with preferential rates for Singlife Dementia Cover policyholders.
Dementia, after all, is just like any other debilitating condition - you will need help to manage it, and these days, the burden of caregiving can no longer fall on the shoulders of just family members.
It is said that every three seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. In 2020, more than 55 million people were living with dementia. This number is expected to rise to 139 million by 2050.
To fight this number, we simply need to take the necessary steps now to improve our lives and to ensure all our bases are adequately covered and protected. At least that way, we'll be able to preserve a little bit of dignity for our future selves, no matter what form it takes.Sponsored content by Singlife Singlife Dementia Cover is the first long-term care protection plan in the market that gives yearly payouts for cognitive decline and mental health with a total payout of up to $170,000*. It also covers dementia-related depressive or anxiety disorders as well as accidental burns or fractures, giving you and your loved ones greater assurance. Customers can enjoy 20% lifetime + 10% first-year premium discount from now till 31st August 2024. Additionally, Singlife policyholders can benefit from Singlife Care Collab, a one-stop health services hub designed to aid with caregiving support, elderhood planning and more.
| * Total payout of $170,000 is based on maximum benefit amount of $2,000, including Cognitive Care Benefit (5 times selected benefit amount over 10 years), Mental Care Benefit (5 times selected benefit amount over 5 years), Emotional Resilience Benefit (5 times selected benefit amount payable one lump sum) and Medical Expenses Benefit (5 times selected benefit amount payable one lump sum) |
