Reviewed by the Help Dementia Editorial Team — our editors review every article for accuracy against guidance from the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association, and peer-reviewed sources.
Yes, free financial planning webinars specifically for families facing a dementia diagnosis are available right now, and many offer expert guidance on protecting assets, managing legal documents, and preventing fraud. Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer Society of Canada, and regional Alzheimer’s chapters host these webinars regularly at no cost. For example, the Alzheimer’s Association is hosting “ALZ Talks: Scam Prevention” on April 2, 2026 at 2 p.m.
CDT, featuring AARP’s Liz Buser discussing fraud prevention and financial protection specifically for people living with dementia. These webinars address the unique financial challenges families face when confronting a dementia diagnosis—from establishing power of attorney to protecting against financial exploitation. This article covers the webinars currently available, what topics they address, how to access them, and when you may need one-on-one financial planning beyond what webinars offer.
Table of Contents
- Where to Find Free Financial Planning Webinars for Dementia Families
- Core Financial Topics Covered in Dementia-Specific Webinars
- Real-World Scenarios: How Families Use These Webinars
- How to Register and Prepare for These Webinars
- When Webinars Aren’t Enough: Recognizing the Limitations
- Supplementary Resources Beyond Webinars
- Taking Action After the Webinar
- Conclusion
Where to Find Free Financial Planning Webinars for Dementia Families
The Alzheimer’s Association maintains an active schedule of free virtual events through their ALZ Talks series, which includes sessions on financial planning, legal protection, and fraud prevention tailored to families dealing with dementia. Their “Scam Prevention” webinar (April 2, 2026) directly addresses financial exploitation, a significant concern because people living with dementia face heightened vulnerability to fraud. The Alzheimer Society of Canada offers “Finances and Dementia – Advice for the Journey” on April 20, 2026, presented by Christine Van Cauwenberghe from IG Wealth Management and Wendy Schettler, CEO of Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, bringing both tax expertise and lived experience perspective to the conversation.
Regional chapters like Alzheimer’s New Jersey host ongoing monthly webinars with guest speakers on legal and financial planning topics. The Alzheimer’s Association also provides free e-learning workshops on financial planning that can be accessed on-demand, not just at scheduled times. A key advantage of these webinars over books or articles is the ability to ask questions directly and hear from professionals who specifically understand how dementia affects financial decision-making—something a general financial advisor may not grasp.
Core Financial Topics Covered in Dementia-Specific Webinars
Dementia-focused financial webinars typically cover establishing legal documents while the person with dementia can still participate in decisions—specifically power of attorney, healthcare proxy, and will updates or creation. A critical limitation is that these webinars, while educational, cannot serve as legal advice for your specific situation; they provide frameworks and point you toward resources, but actual legal documents should be prepared with an attorney who understands your state or province’s laws. However, if your family member was recently diagnosed, attending a webinar can clarify what documents matter most and help you prioritize, so you approach an attorney with informed questions rather than starting from scratch.
The webinars also address asset protection, Medicare and Medicaid planning, and managing joint accounts—particularly important because dementia creates a window where financial decisions must transition from the person diagnosed to their caregivers or designated decision-makers. Fraud prevention is increasingly prominent in these sessions, given research showing people with dementia lose an average of $10,000 to financial exploitation, according to data from major dementia organizations. Scam prevention education, like the April 2 Alzheimer’s Association webinar, teaches families to recognize and stop common tactics: unsolicited phone calls, fake lottery winnings, romance scams, and online shopping fraud.
Real-World Scenarios: How Families Use These Webinars
Consider a family where a 68-year-old parent receives a dementia diagnosis, but the adult children live in different states and don’t know who holds power of attorney or where financial documents are kept. Attending a webinar together (many allow multiple participants from one household) helps the family standardize their understanding of next steps, reducing conflict over whether they should update legal documents immediately or wait. The webinar explains that waiting can be risky—once cognitive decline progresses, the diagnosed person may no longer be deemed capable of signing legal documents—so families leave with urgency and a clearer action plan.
Another scenario: a spouse is the primary caregiver and only recently discovered the diagnosed partner has credit card accounts the spouse didn’t know about. A webinar on financial organization and asset discovery helps the caregiver understand whether those accounts pose liability (e.g., debt that could pursue the household), how to consolidate accounts for easier management, and when to involve a financial advisor or attorney. The caregiver learns practical steps that same day rather than spending weeks trying to research the issue independently.
How to Register and Prepare for These Webinars
Registering for webinars is straightforward: most require visiting the hosting organization’s website (Alzheimer’s Association, regional chapters, or Alzheimer Society of Canada), finding their events calendar, and entering an email to receive the Zoom link or meeting details. The Alzheimer’s Association maintains a dedicated resource page for ALZ Talks at alz.org/help-support/resources/alz-talks-virtual-events where you can see upcoming schedules. Preparation is minimal—you only need internet access and a quiet space where you can take notes or screen-share with a family member.
Before attending, consider writing down 2–3 specific financial questions or concerns your family faces. Webinar moderators typically reserve time for Q&A, and having questions prepared lets you maximize that opportunity. However, if your financial situation is unusually complex (significant business interests, multiple properties, previous marriages with ongoing obligations), a webinar may only partially address your needs, and you’ll likely need to follow up with a fee-only financial planner or elder law attorney afterward. Webinars work best as a first step to understand the landscape and identify which professional you actually need.
When Webinars Aren’t Enough: Recognizing the Limitations
Free webinars provide general education but cannot replace personalized legal or financial advice tailored to your state, provincial, or tax situation. For example, the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s webinar applies to Canadian tax law and probate rules, while U.S. families need advice specific to their state (which can vary significantly on guardianship, Medicaid spend-down rules, and estate taxes).
If your family has significant assets, owns business interests, or faces Medicaid planning (because long-term care is expensive), you’ll need to consult an elder law attorney or certified financial planner who can review your specific situation. Another limitation: webinars happen at scheduled times, so if you need urgent guidance—for example, a family member is being pressured into a financial decision right now—a webinar won’t help immediately. Additionally, webinars assume some baseline financial literacy; families with language barriers, learning disabilities, or extreme financial stress may benefit more from one-on-one counseling than from a group presentation. Many Alzheimer’s chapters offer free care consultations or financial guidance sessions one-on-one, sometimes with social workers or certified counselors, which may be more appropriate than a webinar for families needing more hands-on support.
Supplementary Resources Beyond Webinars
The Alzheimer’s Association offers free e-learning modules on financial planning at alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/plan-for-your-future/financial_planning, accessible 24/7 on your own schedule. These complement live webinars for families who can’t attend at scheduled times or who want to revisit material.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at nia.nih.gov provides evidence-based guidance on managing money problems for people with dementia, addressing everything from recognizing financial confusion early to handling bill payment and account management. CaringKind (formerly the Alzheimer’s Community Care organization) in New York maintains a legal and financial planning library and also hosts educational events. Many chapters also provide printed guides and downloadable checklists to help families organize financial documents and prepare for conversations with attorneys or financial advisors.
Taking Action After the Webinar
After attending a webinar, families should act within a reasonable timeframe—ideally within 2–4 weeks. Create an action list: which documents do you need to create or update first? Who needs to be involved in those conversations? Do you need to consult a lawyer, financial advisor, or both? Webinar materials often include resources lists and can point you to attorneys in your state or professionals who specialize in elder care planning.
The landscape of dementia financial planning support is expanding; more webinars and resources become available each year as the number of people living with dementia increases. Starting with a free webinar is a low-barrier way to educate yourself and your family on next steps, rather than waiting until a crisis forces hurried decisions.
Conclusion
Free financial planning webinars for families facing dementia are readily available through organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, regional Alzheimer’s chapters, and Alzheimer Society of Canada. These webinars address essential topics—legal documents, asset protection, fraud prevention, and Medicaid planning—in a format designed by people who understand dementia’s unique impact on families. They’re most effective as a first step: they educate, clarify priorities, and help families decide which professionals they need to consult next.
The key is to act on what you learn. Dementia progresses on its own timeline, and delaying financial and legal preparations can limit your options later. If you’ve received a dementia diagnosis for a family member, registering for an upcoming webinar costs nothing and provides clarity that can guide everything else that follows.
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- Why Every Adult Over 50 Should Have a Dementia Financial Plan Even if They Have No Symptoms
For more, see NIH MedlinePlus — dementia.
