The diagnosis
The first weeks after the word lands.
A dementia diagnosis is a slow-motion piece of news. It often comes after months of worry, and yet it still feels like a shock when the doctor says the word out loud. Take it one step at a time. There is no rush. Most people arrive here with a word from a doctor. Often that word is Alzheimer’s — about 6 in 10 people with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease. Everything in these guides applies whichever form it is, and you will hear both words used, sometimes interchangeably.
There is no right way to feel
Some people feel relief — finally, a name for what’s been happening. Others feel devastated. Many feel both, often within the same hour. There is no “coping well” with this. There is just you, doing your best with hard news.
Dementia Australia is the first call
Dementia Australia
Call 1800 100 500 · 24 hours, every day
They are free, kind, and used to people who don’t know what to ask. Whether you are the person diagnosed, a partner, an adult child, or a friend — they are for you.
In the first month, gently
- Sit with the news for a few days before making big decisions
- Ask the doctor for written information about the type of dementia
- Join the Dementia Australia mailing list — and a peer group when you’re ready
- Start thinking about an Advance Care Directive while the person can still help shape it
- Make sure an Enduring Power of Attorney is in place (legal, financial, medical)
- Tell only the people who need to know yet — you can widen the circle later
The legal documents that matter most
Three documents become very important in the early stages, while the person can still legally sign them:
- Will — make sure it’s up to date
- Enduring Power of Attorney — for financial and legal decisions
- Advance Care Directive (and/or Enduring Guardian, depending on state) — for medical decisions
A solicitor or a community legal centre can guide you. The official forms for your state or territory are free online, but the rules on who can witness them are different in each state — in some it has to be a lawyer or a court registrar — so check before anyone signs. The person diagnosed needs the legal capacity to sign — which is a reason not to wait too long.
Advance Care Planning Australia — record your choices
Links to the official advance care directive form and the rules for every state and territory. Free advisory line 1300 208 582.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — advance care directives
What a directive is, and why the rules differ between states.
See all 53 guides in Care & end of life →
From bluetulipco.com/library/end-of-life/diagnosis — printed 1 October 2026.
General information only — not a substitute for legal, medical, financial, or therapeutic advice. Read the full disclaimer.
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