After a dementia diagnosis: the first 30 days
In the first month after a dementia diagnosis, call the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod — free, local, and the most useful first call — and sign a health care proxy and power of attorney while the person still can. Then look at driving, money and safety at home. Memory care can wait, but plan early: certified units on the Lower Cape are scarce.
- First call: the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod (free).
- Sign the health care proxy and power of attorney now.
- Talk about driving; protect finances from scams.
- Day programmes give company to the person and a break to the family.
- Tour memory care early; on the Lower Cape it is scarce.
Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod — free
Near you: dementia caregiver groups and memory cafés on the Cape, with days and times.
Key facts
| Alzheimer’s Association helpline | 800-272-3900, 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Certified memory care on the Lower Cape (Sept 2026) | Maplewood at Brewster only |
What should happen this month?
- Call the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod. Free support, education and caregiver groups around the Cape.
- Ask the doctor which type of dementia it is, what to expect over the next year, and for a copy of the notes.
- Sign or update the health care proxy and power of attorney now, while the person can still sign. This is the single most time-sensitive step.
- Talk about driving. See when driving gets harder.
- Look at the money quietly: automatic bill payments, and a trusted person with view access to the accounts. Scams target people with memory loss — see scams.
How do we keep home safe?
- Stove: an automatic shut-off, or knobs removed when no one is home
- Medicines in a weekly organiser, with someone checking
- A plan if the person gets lost: a recent photo, an ID bracelet, and neighbours who know
- Falls: see fall-proof a Cape house
- Firearms: remove them or lock them away
Who helps, free, on the Cape?
| Local support, education and caregiver groups Alzheimer's Family Support Center of Cape Cod (AFSC) | 508-896-5170 |
| Round-the-clock helpline Alzheimer's Association — MA/NH Chapter | 800-272-3900 |
| Cape Cod Healthcare caregiver support Cape Cod Healthcare — Caregiver Support | (774) 552-6080 |
| Assessment, and what might pay for care at home Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands (ESCCI) | 800-244-4630 |
What are day programmes and respite?
Adult day programmes give the person company, activity and care during the day, and give the family a break. On the Lower Cape these include Rock Harbor Respite at the Orleans Senior Center and the Ryders Cove Respite programme in Chatham; there is also an adult day health programme in Harwich. All adult day programmes.
What about the person doing the caring?
Most caregivers burn out before they ask for help. Book respite before you need it, join a caregiver group, and tell the doctor how you are — your health is part of the plan. Caregiver and dementia support.
What can wait, but should be planned?
Memory care. On the Lower Cape, certified memory-care units are scarce — as of September 2026 the only ones were at Maplewood at Brewster, with others in the Mid and Upper Cape. Tour before you need to, and ask about waiting lists. See which kind of place is it?
The house. If care costs will one day depend on the house, the power of attorney is what lets it be sold without a court case. See staying or going?
Mistakes families make
- Waiting to sign legal papers until they can no longer be signed.
- Keeping the diagnosis secret from close family and friends who could help.
- Letting driving continue unchecked.
- Doing all the caring alone until you break.
- Leaving memory care until a crisis, when there is no bed nearby.
For professionals and organisations
Primary care, neurology offices, Councils on Aging: this is a first-month plan to hand over with a diagnosis. It prints on two pages and names no private provider. We welcome review by a care manager or RN — see how reviewing works.
Common questions
Who should I call first after a dementia diagnosis on Cape Cod?
The Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod, which offers free support, education and caregiver groups around the Cape. The Alzheimer’s Association helpline, 800-272-3900, is available 24 hours.
What legal documents are needed after a dementia diagnosis?
A health care proxy and a durable power of attorney, signed while the person can still understand them. Without them, the family may need a court guardianship or conservatorship later.
Is there memory care on the Lower Cape?
Very little. On the state register in September 2026 the only certified memory-care units on the Lower Cape were at Maplewood at Brewster. Other options are in the Mid and Upper Cape.
What is respite care?
Short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break, such as an adult day programme for a few days a week or a short stay in a residence. On the Lower Cape, day programmes run in Orleans, Chatham and Harwich.
General information about how things work in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures and rules change: the date each fact was checked is at the top of the page. How we check facts · Report a mistake.