I am assuming that you mean someone who is newly diagnosed and is in the early stages of the disease. If this is the case, and the person has a lot of reasoning ability and cognition remaining, then, yes, definitely if this is something the person wants. Also beneficial might be a Licensed Social Worker trained in life transitions. There are a lot of things that must be planned for and considered, a lot of plans that family may want to be involved in including future care plans and placement. My brother was diagnosed at 83 with probable early Lewy's Dementia. We were Hansel and Gretel together in all the dark woods of life and so I was with him for the planning and talk therapy about everything from what to expect, what plans to make, how to best keep safe and comfortable as things progressed. He said he was so glad to know what was happening in his brain and the "why" of things. Why the poor balance, why the occasional troubling hallucinations, why his eyes saw the world differently. He feared the future, but said he was glad to know he could make plans, and plans we did make. While he lived only about a year after is diagnosis, and died of sepsis unrelated to his diagnosis, had I not been there then a therapist could have helped him I would think. So, if this person WISHES to do this, then it should be considered. You don't give us a lot of details, so I can only tell you my own experience. I wish you the best.
Depending on how 'far gone' they are, if they want to talk, if they can actually take an active part in therapy, if they can remeber what they've talked about..the list goes on.
What is your 'goal' in this? B/C I personally have been through therapy a couple times and it is HARD WORK. The therapist is just a sieve through which you channel your issues and they often give you 'homework'--could your LO do that?
Sadly, early onset dementia is always follwed by worsening dementia.
My brother was diagnosed at 83 with probable early Lewy's Dementia. We were Hansel and Gretel together in all the dark woods of life and so I was with him for the planning and talk therapy about everything from what to expect, what plans to make, how to best keep safe and comfortable as things progressed. He said he was so glad to know what was happening in his brain and the "why" of things. Why the poor balance, why the occasional troubling hallucinations, why his eyes saw the world differently. He feared the future, but said he was glad to know he could make plans, and plans we did make. While he lived only about a year after is diagnosis, and died of sepsis unrelated to his diagnosis, had I not been there then a therapist could have helped him I would think.
So, if this person WISHES to do this, then it should be considered. You don't give us a lot of details, so I can only tell you my own experience. I wish you the best.
What is your 'goal' in this? B/C I personally have been through therapy a couple times and it is HARD WORK. The therapist is just a sieve through which you channel your issues and they often give you 'homework'--could your LO do that?
Sadly, early onset dementia is always follwed by worsening dementia.
You can always try.