Free senior care guidance for Indianapolis-area families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (463) 208-0977
Indy Senior AdvisorPeople • Places • Possibilities

We just got a dementia diagnosis

What to do in the first month, and what can wait longer than you think.

Quick answer

What to do in the first month, and what can wait longer than you think.

Get matched freeCall (463) 208-0977
Home›By Situation›We just got a dementia diagnosis

The first month after a diagnosis is mostly about slowing down. Very little has to be decided immediately.

Short answer

What to do in the first month, and what can wait longer than you think.

What to do, in order

  1. Slow down. Very little has to be decided this month.
  2. Get the specific diagnosis. Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia progress differently and respond differently to medication.
  3. Do the legal work now, while capacity is clear. Power of attorney, medical power of attorney, directives.
  4. Call the Area Agency on Aging serving your county. CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions covers every county in this metro -- one call reaches the same agency regardless of which county you are in.
  5. Understand what memory care will require later. Indiana requires a written Alzheimer's and Dementia Special Care Disclosure, not a separate certification -- ask to see it by name when the time comes.

Questions families ask

Is Indiana's Medicaid expansion (HIP) the same as long-term care Medicaid for seniors?

No. The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Indiana's ACA expansion effective February 1, 2015, covers adults 19-64 based on income. Long-term-care Medicaid for seniors uses a separate, non-MAGI aged/blind/disabled eligibility pathway with different asset and income rules. The two are frequently and incorrectly conflated.

Is there a waitlist for Indiana's PathWays Waiver?

Yes, historically. At the program's July 2024 launch, 9,015 people were on the PathWays waiting list statewide out of 39,842 total slots. Current waitlist figures change; confirm today's status with CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, the Area Agency on Aging serving this region.

What is Indiana's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program?

Indiana's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) recovers amounts Medicaid paid on a recipient's behalf after age 55, from probate and certain non-probate assets. As of July 1, 2025, the state has 9 months after death to file a claim, and recovery does not proceed while a spouse survives or a child is under 21, blind, or disabled.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free