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Planning for the future

What matters most?

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.

Visit our page with information about urgent dementia support and other health information lines.

I need support right now.

National Dementia Helpline

Dementia Australia provide a free 24/7 telephone service providing information and advice to people living with dementia, carers, and health and aged care workers. This service also provides emotional support and can connect you to community services and programs.

Dementia Advisory and Support Service

A free information and support service for people with dementia and their families, as well as support to navigate the aged care system. The service is funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

Alzheimer’s Queensland's 24/7 dementia helpline

A free 24/7 telephone helpline staffed by health professionals. Alzheimer’s Queensland also offers respite services, support groups and a dementia secure unit.

24/7 Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service

Dementia Support Australia offers 24/7 in-home support for carers when the person living with dementia is experiencing behaviours and psychological changes that are affecting their care.

Legal matters

Start2Talk – A Guide to Planning Ahead

A guide providing information about advanced care planning and why you should plan ahead.

Dscussion starters

A link to useful resources offering advice and suggestions for starting a conversation with your family, friends and doctors about what matters most to you in the future.

What is an advance care directive?

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.

Advance Care Planning advisory service

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.

Creating your advance care plan

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).

QLD Advance Health Directive form

The form used to complete your directions about your future health needs.

My Health Record

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.

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?

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.

Enduring Power of Attorney fact sheet

A simple fact sheet answering common questions about the Enduring Power of Attorney.

Enduring Power of Attorney guide and forms

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.

How do I make a will?

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.

Making a will with the Public Trustee

Online information and free phone service to support you with will preparation, power of attorney, enduring guardianship, and storage of wills.

Queensland Law Society information and referral to a solicitor

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.

Information about end of life law

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.

Community legal centres

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.

Legal guardianship applications

A website where you can make applications regarding guardianship, administration, capacity and attorneys.

Financial management

Here are some resources to help you if you need financial advice or assistance with your finances.

Superannuation and dementia

A document providing information about accessing superannuation if you're living with dementia.

Memory loss, dementia and your money

Online tips to help you plan ahead to protect you and your money.

Speak to a financial counsellor

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.

Legal service for elder abuse

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

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.

PalAssist support service

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.

PalliLearn: Education for everyone

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.

Carer Help: A guide to end of life caring

Online resources to support people caring for someone approaching the end of their life.

Common questions to ask palliative care teams

A guide for people and carers working with palliative care teams and common questions you can ask.

Palliative care information

A palliative care knowledge network providing information for patients, carers and health professionals.

Find palliative care

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.

National Palliative Care Service Directory

A directory providing information on service type, location, hours of services and contact details for all palliative care organisations in Queensland.

Palliative care in the Brisbane North and Moreton Bay regions

Palliative care can be offered in three ways:

  • inpatient, specialist—you receive specialist palliative care in a hospital setting.
  • community, specialist—you receive specialist consultancy palliative care in the community.
  • community, general—you receive clinical nursing services from a provider in partnership with the specialist palliative care team.

Home Instead: General community care – Margate

24/7 caring and palliative care services.

Home Instead: General community care – Toowong

24/7 caring and palliative care services.

Beacon Support: General community care – Toowong

Metro North Palliative Care Service: Specialist community care – Chermside

Karuna Hospice Service: Specialist community care – Windsor

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital: Specialist inpatient care – Herston

Wesley Hospital: Specialist inpatient care – Auchenflower

Redcliffe Hospital Palliative Care: Specialist inpatient and community care

Inpatient unit and ward-based consult liaison service.

The Prince Charles Hospital: Specialist inpatient care – Chermside

In-reach medical consultancy.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane: Specialist inpatient and community care – Kangaroo Point

Mater Private Hospital: Specialist inpatient care – South Brisbane

Princess Alexandra Hospital: Specialist inpatient care – Woolloongabba

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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.