Planning for the future is an important step after a diagnosis. Make sure any wishes about health care, finances, and legal matters are organised in the event you or the person you're caring for is unable to make their own decisions.
Dementia affects people differently. Having a diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean you or the person you care for has lost the capacity to make decisions. However, as the disease progresses, decision-making may become more difficult.
It can be challenging to take the time to organise documents about your wishes when you already have so much to manage with the dementia diagnosis. If you need extra support to start these conversations, talk to your GP or contact one of the dementia-specific helplines listed below.
Information about urgent dementia support advice and health information lines.
A free telephone service providing information and advice to people living with dementia, carers, health workers and aged care workers. This service also provides emotional guidance and government support information. Operates Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm.
A free service funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). It can assist you in navigating the aged care system. They can visit your home or work with you via telephone.
A free 24/7 telephone helpline staffed by health professionals. Alzheimer’s Queensland also offers respite services, support groups and a dementia secure unit.
A service offering 24/7 in-home support for carers when the person living with dementia is experiencing behaviours and psychological changes that are affecting their care.
A booklet written to help people living with dementia and their families understand their legal rights and responsibilities in relation to health and finances.
A guide providing information about advanced care planning and why you should plan ahead.
A website offering advice and suggestions for starting a conversation with your family, friends and doctors about what matters most to you in the future.
An advance health directive allows you to state your wishes about your future health care. It will only come into effect when and if you become unable to make your own decisions due to a loss of mental capacity. Click here for more information.
A website outlining step-by-step instructions to help you plan ahead, including advanced planning resources and advisory services. Operates Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
A free state-wide program that assists Queenslanders in planning and sharing their healthcare preferences. You can download and complete the advance care planning documents and send them to the Office of Advance Care Planning to be uploaded to your Queensland Health electronic hospital record (the Viewer).
The form used to complete your directions about your future health needs.
An online summary of your key health information that can be viewed securely online. You can choose to share your health information with your healthcare providers. Advance care planning documents can be uploaded to and stored on your My Health Record. It provides guidance for your family, close friends and medical professionals about your wishes if you are no longer able to make your own decisions or speak for yourself.
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document you prepare so a family member of a friend (you can nominate more than one) can make personal and/or financial decisions on your behalf. Find more information here.
A simple fact sheet answering common questions about the Enduring Power of Attorney.
Comprehensive guides and forms for completing the Enduring Power of Attorney. It steps you through the questions and provides useful information, practical examples and tips.
A will is a legal document with instructions for who you want to inherit your estate, care for your children, and be the executor of your estate when you pass away. Find more information about wills here.
Online information and free phone service to support you with will preparation, power of attorney, enduring guardianship, and storage of wills.
A service that provides online information and can connect you with a solicitor who can prepare your will for a fee. Solicitors are qualified legal practitioners who can advise you about the options available to you and guide you through the process of making a will. Operates Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5pm.
The law is complex and can be difficult to navigate. This section provides an overview of end-of-life law and lists community legal centres where you can get free help.
Online information that provides accurate and practical information to assist you in navigating the challenging legal issues that can arise with end of life decision-making.
These centres provide free legal advice for your situation either by phone or face-to-face. Centres are located in Brisbane North, Pine River and Moreton Bay.
A website where you can make applications regarding guardianship, administration, capacity and attorneys.
Here are some resources to help you if you need financial advice or assistance with your finances.
A document providing information about accessing superannuation if you're living with dementia.
Online tips to help you plan ahead to protect you and your money.
A free, confidential and independent financial advice service you can contact if you're in financial distress, to help manage your finances and any debt you may have.
Free legal and social work support for older persons experiencing elder abuse, mistreatment, neglect or financial exploitation. Operates Monday to Friday, 9am–4.30pm.
Palliative care is a form of care that focuses on improving the quality of life for people with life-limiting illnesses.
It also supports families and caregivers, including through advice on caregiving, practical support and emotional support.
Palliative care is not designed to slow down or speed up the dying process. It helps people live as actively as possible by improving their quality of life until death.
A phone and online support service operated by health professionals to provide information and support for people with a life-limiting illness and their family and carers. The staff can refer to other services, including the PalAssist Counselling Service. Operates Monday to Sunday, 7am–7pm.
An online training course developing community awareness, death literacy and community capacity related to palliative care by providing high quality and easy-to-understand courses.
Online resources to support people caring for someone approaching the end of their life.
A guide for people and carers working with palliative care teams and common questions you can ask.
A palliative care knowledge network providing information for patients, carers and health professionals.
You can care for a person in the palliative stage of their illness in their home, an aged care facility, a palliative care unit or a hospital.
You can find palliative care services in the National Palliative Care Service Directory or through the local Brisbane North and Moreton Bay regions map below.
Doctors can refer patients to specialist palliative care services.
A directory providing information on service type, location, hours of services and contact details for all palliative care organisations in Queensland.
Palliative care can be offered in three ways:
Planning for the future
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connections to land, waterways and culture. We pay our respect to all Australian Indigenous Peoples and their cultures, and to Elders of past, present and future generations.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the healthy ageing advocates, including people living with dementia, older people, families, carers and health professionals, who contributed to the development of this portal. Thank you for sharing your stories and transferring your knowledge to make this portal purposeful and meaningful to support people in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.