An early Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be overwhelming. It may bring fear or confusion, but it can also offer something essential: a clear realization that it’s time to act.
Early detection allows families to prepare and seek the best support before the disease progresses. It creates space to explore care options or begin planning with the person affected while they can still share their preferences and participate in decisions.
As part of our continuing commitment to families navigating the early stages of cognitive decline, we co-hosted a free-to-all, national online event called “Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease & the Promise of New Treatments.”
We partnered with the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center to discuss the following topics (and many more) on May 7, 2025:
- Where to find help after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
- The dangers of waiting to get help with Alzheimer’s care
- How to support caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s
Here are some basics you need to know about getting help with Alzheimer’s care.
Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
Where to find help after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
After a loved one receives a diagnosis, one of the first questions many families ask is: What now?
Medical professionals
Your first step is to consult medical professionals. For example, a neurologist or memory care specialist can confirm the diagnosis and identify the stage of the disease.
Experts will also discuss treatment options, such as medications that may help manage symptoms or delay decline.
Non-medical professionals
Second, critical non-clinical supports such as care managers, social workers, and dementia care coaches can help you navigate the decisions that must be made and coordinate appointments or daily routines.
Available tools and planning
Early-stage Alzheimer’s care often includes help with medication reminders or meal preparation—simple structures that build stability and preserve independence.
Planning early also gives families the time to create a care strategy that can grow and adapt.
When care begins before a crisis, you’re more likely to preserve quality of life and avoid urgent decisions made under stress.
Why waiting to seek support can make caregiving harder
Many families want to care for a parent at home for as long as possible. That instinct comes from love, but the reality is that the stress of Alzheimer’s caregiving can start affecting your own physical and emotional health.
Without support, exhaustion and caregiver burnout can build quickly. However, when care begins early, families have more time to plan and more options to choose from.
Starting the conversation sooner also allows your loved one to have a stronger voice in shaping their own care.
Room to breathe
Early support isn’t only about logistics. It gives you emotional breathing room to begin to process the diagnosis and make any decisions with greater clarity and less urgency.
When to consider professional Alzheimer’s care
Families often wonder when to consider professional care or what type suits them best.
Assisted living is ideal when your parent needs help with daily tasks but can still participate in routines with some independence.
Memory care, by contrast, is designed specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.
Kensington Senior Living communities offer the best of both worlds. An experienced team of memory care professionals is available throughout our assisted living environments.
Memory care benefits
Dedicated memory care neighborhoods within our Kensington Senior Living communities are built for safety and ease. These spaces are secured and familiar, reducing the risk of wandering or confusion.
Team members are trained in dementia care and know how to respond with patience and compassion to mood shifts or communication changes.
Structured activities are also part of daily life. Programs like music, storytelling, or gardening help residents stay engaged and connected.
Even as memory declines, these activities offer calm and meaning.
Each neighborhood is designed to accommodate different levels of memory care, ensuring our residents can remain here and receive the appropriate care even as their needs progress.
Our Kensington Club neighborhood offers a nurturing environment for new and current assisted living residents with early mild cognitive impairment. Connections provides comprehensive and compassionate care for those in the early to mid stages. Haven is our neighborhood for loving and attentive care for those with mid to late-stage memory loss.
What makes Kensington Senior Living different
At Kensington Senior Living, care begins with a Promise: to love and care for your family as we do our own.
That’s not just a mission statement. It’s our foundational philosophy and how we work every day.
Each Kensington resident receives a personalized care plan that adjusts as their needs change.
Our team includes nurses, caregivers, activity leaders, and wellness professionals who work together to provide consistent, whole-person care.
We keep the lines of communication open and ensure families are always well-informed.
Guidance from experienced hands
We also support you. From family workshops to one-on-one consultations, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the journey.
Whether your parent is preparing to move in or you’re just beginning to explore options, we’ll meet you where you are.
Our communities feel like home, with the safety and structure that memory care demands.
We offer tailored meals, onsite healthcare, family support, and educational events. Every element, from daily routines to social engagement, promotes comfort and preserves dignity.
Recognizing that caregivers need support
Caring for anyone with Alzheimer’s can be deeply rewarding, but the emotional toll it takes can accumulate without you even realizing it. Over time, caregivers often face burnout, stress, and feelings of isolation.
It’s vitally important to recognize that you need support to maintain your well-being and provide adequate care.
Senior living communities and resources like counseling, peer support groups, and respite care can help you better provide Alzheimer’s care.
Services like these enable:
- Caregivers to recharge
- Networking with others facing similar challenges
- An opportunity to gain valuable skills
When you seek support, you can better navigate the demands of Alzheimer’s care while preserving your own health and emotional balance.
Remember, you care best for those you love most when you take care of your own health, too.
Next steps: How to get help with Alzheimer’s care
An early Alzheimer’s diagnosis opens a path forward for your loved one. And you don’t have to walk it alone.
You can contact your nearest Kensington Senior Living community to request a private consultation or schedule a tour. Whether you’re just starting to gather information or you’re ready to explore care options, we’re here to help.
Because when it comes to Alzheimer’s care, love and support are where everything begins.