Charleston Senior AdvisorWhat should a family do first after a dementia diagnosis?
Put legal and financial authority in place while the person can still take part: a durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, an updated will, and a list of accounts, passwords and insurance policies.
An elder law attorney can prepare the documents and explain how Medicaid planning works if long-term care may be needed. Ask the diagnosing doctor what stage the disease appears to be and what changes to watch for, and whether driving should stop now.
How do we keep a parent with dementia safe at home?
Remove or lock away car keys, firearms and dangerous medications, disable or monitor the stove, add door alarms if wandering starts, and set up a daily routine with check-ins; wandering is the most common reason home stops being safe.
Adult day care offers structure for the person and a break for the caregiver. The three counties have 10 DPH-licensed adult day care centers, licensed for 658 participants in all. Ask each center how it handles wandering and toileting before enrolling.
When does a parent with dementia need memory care?
Usually when exit-seeking or getting lost begins, when the person no longer recognizes danger, or when a family caregiver can no longer cover nights; South Carolina memory care means a building DPH flags for an Alzheimer's special care unit.
On DPH's licensing data (as of November 6, 2026), 21 of the 56 senior-serving CRCFs in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties carry an Alzheimer's special care unit flag, 4 more report Alzheimer's care without a unit, and 1 of the 19 licensed nursing homes carry an Alzheimer's flag. Ask every program for the written disclosure the Alzheimer's Special Care Disclosure Act requires, and ask how many staff are on the secured unit overnight. Touring before a crisis lets the family compare calmly and join a waiting list if needed.
Where can caregivers get support around Charleston?
The Trident Area Agency on Aging's Family Caregiver Support Program (843-554-2275) offers information, respite help and support for people caring for a relative with dementia, and the Alzheimer's Association runs a free 24-hour helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
Caregiver exhaustion is the most common reason a family moves a parent sooner than planned. Use respite before you need it, not after.
Side by side
| In the first months, do | In the first months, do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | Sign powers of attorney while the person can take part | Wait until capacity is in doubt |
| Safety | Address driving, stove and wandering risks | Assume problems will announce themselves |
| Care | Try adult day care and in-home help | Move in a rush unless safety demands it |
| Memory care | Tour flagged units and read disclosures | Rely on the phrase memory care in an ad |
Sources: S.C. Code Regs. 60-84, DPH Healthcare Quality, SCDHHS bulletins and charts, CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables, as cited in each answer. See our editorial standards.
