Dementia Connect - SA

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

PARKINSON’S CAN CHANGE HOW YOU EXPERIENCE THE WORLD

How Parkinson’s Alters Your Senses

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that the world around you doesn’t look, smell, taste, or feel quite the way it used to.

Food seems bland. Bright lights bother your eyes. Your feet feel strange against the floor. You misjudge distances, and sometimes your body doesn’t seem to know exactly where it is in space.

Welcome to another side of Parkinson’s disease that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

Most people associate Parkinson’s with tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. But Parkinson’s is much more complicated than a movement disorder.

It can change how your brain receives, processes, and interprets information from your senses. It can also interfere with the automatic systems that regulate how your body functions.

Some of these changes, particularly loss of smell, can begin years before the first noticeable movement symptoms.

Let’s explore nine ways Parkinson’s can change how we experience the world.

👁️ 1. VISION — WHEN YOUR EYES DON’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY

Parkinson’s can affect vision in several ways.

You might experience blurred or double vision, difficulty focusing, sensitivity to bright lights, or trouble seeing clearly in dim lighting.

Depth perception can become more difficult. Judging the distance between your foot and a stair, for example, may not be as automatic as it once was.

Parkinson’s can also reduce blinking, contributing to dry, irritated eyes.

Some people experience visual distortions, illusions, or hallucinations. These are different phenomena and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

What may help: Improve lighting, reduce glare, maintain regular eye examinations, and remove household tripping hazards.

👃 2. SMELL — THE SENSE THAT OFTEN DISAPPEARS FIRST

Loss of smell is one of the most recognized non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

For some people, it begins years before movement symptoms appear.

You may stop noticing perfume, flowers, fresh coffee, or food cooking in the kitchen.

Sometimes the change happens so gradually that you don’t realize your sense of smell has diminished.

Smell also serves an important safety function. Without it, you might not detect smoke, spoiled food, or the odor added to natural gas.

Loss of smell alone does not mean someone has Parkinson’s. Many other conditions can cause it.

What may help: Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, use appropriate natural-gas detection equipment where needed, and rely on food expiration dates and safe storage practices rather than smell alone.

👅 3. TASTE — WHEN FAVORITE FOODS LOSE THEIR APPEAL

Have you noticed that foods you once enjoyed don’t taste quite the same?

Sometimes the problem isn’t actually your taste buds.

Much of what we perceive as flavor comes from our sense of smell. When smell diminishes, food can seem bland or less satisfying.

Some people also experience dry mouth, changes in saliva, or medication-related taste disturbances.

These changes can contribute to reduced appetite and unintended weight loss.

What may help: Experiment with herbs, seasonings, and different food textures. If appetite or weight loss becomes a problem, discuss it with your healthcare provider or a dietitian.

👂 4. HEARING — WHEN CONVERSATIONS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT

Some people living with Parkinson’s report hearing difficulties, ringing in the ears, or trouble following conversations in noisy environments.

Research is exploring possible relationships between Parkinson’s and auditory processing. However, hearing loss and tinnitus are not established core symptoms of the disease.

Ordinary aging, noise exposure, medications, and other medical conditions may be responsible.

Sometimes difficulty following a conversation involves attention or processing rather than hearing volume alone.

What may help: Have your hearing evaluated, reduce background noise during conversations, and ask others to speak clearly while facing you.

✋ 5. TOUCH — WHEN YOUR BODY FEELS DIFFERENT

Some people with Parkinson’s experience tingling, burning, itching, unusual skin sensations, or changes in how pain is perceived.

Others report numbness in their hands or feet.

This is one I understand personally.

For years, the soles of my feet have felt as though I’m wearing heavy wool socks, even when I’m completely barefoot.

I haven’t lost all sensation. I can still feel things. But there’s a strange layer of numbness between my feet and the ground.

It’s difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it.

And when you’re already dealing with Parkinson’s-related balance problems, having feet that don’t feel quite normal adds another challenge.

Importantly, persistent numbness isn’t necessarily caused by Parkinson’s. Peripheral neuropathy, spinal problems, vitamin deficiencies, and other conditions can produce similar symptoms.

What may help: Have unexplained numbness evaluated, wear supportive footwear, inspect your feet regularly, and take extra precautions on uneven surfaces.

🚶 6. BALANCE AND BODY AWARENESS — WHEN YOUR BRAIN LOSES ITS INTERNAL MAP

Your brain constantly monitors where your arms, legs, feet, and body are positioned.

This ability is called proprioception.

Normally, you don’t have to look at your feet to know where they’re located.

Parkinson’s can interfere with the integration of sensory information and the automatic control of movement and posture.

You might misjudge distances, feel unstable while turning, or have difficulty navigating uneven surfaces.

Balance problems are complex. They can involve movement control, postural reflexes, vision, sensory processing, and other factors.

What may help: Parkinson’s-specific physical therapy, balance exercises, appropriate assistive devices, and reducing fall hazards at home.

🌡️ 7. TEMPERATURE — WHEN YOUR INTERNAL THERMOSTAT ACTS STRANGELY

Have you ever felt unusually hot when everyone else was comfortable?

Or experienced chills when the room wasn’t particularly cold?

Parkinson’s can affect the autonomic nervous system, which regulates automatic bodily functions, including sweating and temperature control.

Some people sweat excessively. Others sweat less than expected.

These difficulties may fluctuate with medication timing or periods when Parkinson’s symptoms are more pronounced.

What may help: Dress in layers, maintain hydration when appropriate, avoid overheating, and discuss excessive sweating or unusual temperature intolerance with your doctor.

🫀 8. INTERNAL SENSATIONS — WHEN YOUR BODY’S SIGNALS CHANGE

We don’t usually think of hunger, fullness, bladder pressure, or digestive sensations as senses.

But they’re part of how the brain monitors what’s happening inside the body, a process called interoception.

Parkinson’s can affect internal bodily functions, often through changes in the autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

Problems may include constipation, bloating, nausea, urinary urgency, and changes in bladder control.

Some people experience dizziness when standing because their blood pressure drops.

Not all these problems represent altered sensation. Some occur because the organs and automatic systems themselves are functioning differently.

What may help: Track symptoms, maintain appropriate hydration and fiber intake, discuss bladder or bowel changes with your provider, and have recurrent standing dizziness evaluated.

⚡ 9. PAIN — WHEN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM CHANGES THE RULES

Pain is another complicated part of Parkinson’s.

Some people experience muscle aching, painful stiffness, dystonia, cramps, or burning sensations.

Others describe sharp, electric shock-like feelings.

Parkinson’s can influence pain processing, but not every painful sensation is directly caused by the disease.

Arthritis, neuropathy, spinal disorders, and other conditions may also contribute.

Pain can sometimes become worse during medication OFF periods, when stiffness and dystonia increase.

What may help: Keep track of when pain occurs, whether it relates to medication timing, and which activities make it better or worse. Share that information with your neurologist.

Pain deserves evaluation and treatment. It shouldn’t simply be accepted as an unavoidable part of Parkinson’s.

WHY DOES PARKINSON’S AFFECT SO MANY SENSES?

Parkinson’s involves much more than the loss of dopamine-producing neurons responsible for movement control.

The disease can affect multiple brain networks and neurotransmitter systems involved in sensory processing, attention, perception, and autonomic regulation.

This helps explain why two people with Parkinson’s can have remarkably different experiences.

One person may struggle primarily with movement.

Another may be more troubled by vision changes, pain, constipation, or temperature intolerance.

Someone else may experience a combination of these problems.

There is no single Parkinson’s experience.

And an important reminder: Not every new symptom is necessarily caused by Parkinson’s.

Sudden vision loss, facial drooping, new one-sided weakness or numbness, or difficulty speaking may indicate a stroke. Call 911 immediately.

Other new, persistent, or worsening symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

After living with Parkinson’s for approximately eleven years, I’ve learned that this disease can change much more than how we move.

It can change how we experience the world around us.

Things that once happened automatically may now require concentration and effort.

Sensations we once took for granted may become unfamiliar.

And sometimes we struggle to explain these changes to people who have never experienced them.

That’s one reason I believe Parkinson’s education is so important.

When we better understand what might be happening, we’re more capable of asking the right questions, seeking appropriate treatment, and adapting to our changing circumstances.

We also become better at explaining our experiences to family members, friends, and caregivers.

Parkinson’s doesn’t just change how we move through the world. Sometimes it changes how the world feels to us.

But the person experiencing those changes is still the same person, deserving of understanding, dignity, happiness, and a full life.

Different senses. Same you.

LET’S TALK: Which of your senses has Parkinson’s affected the most? Have you experienced changes that surprised you or that you never realized might be connected to the disease?

The Parkinson’s Disease Battle Page

11/10/2026

Parkinson’s Dementia Explained: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What We Need to Know

There are certain words associated with Parkinson’s disease that frighten people more than others.

Dementia is probably near the top of that list.

I’ve lived with Parkinson’s for more than a decade, and I’ve experienced my share of brain fog, short-term memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.

Sometimes I walk into a room and forget why I went there. Other times, I struggle to remember something someone told me just a few minutes earlier.

Multitasking, something I once did without even thinking about it, has become considerably more challenging.

And yes, sometimes I wonder what the future might hold.

But I’ve learned something important that I want everyone living with Parkinson’s to understand.

Having Parkinson’s does not automatically mean you will develop dementia. And having memory problems does not necessarily mean you have dementia.

There is a tremendous difference between occasionally forgetting where you put your keys and losing the cognitive abilities necessary to manage your daily life.

Let’s explore this subject because understanding it can help replace some of our fear with knowledge.

1. What Is Parkinson’s Disease Dementia?

Parkinson’s disease dementia, commonly called PDD, occurs when changes in thinking, memory, attention, and other mental abilities become significant enough to interfere with everyday independence.

It generally develops after someone has already experienced the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s for several years.

But here’s something that surprises many people.

Parkinson’s dementia doesn’t necessarily begin with memory loss.

Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which frequently begins with difficulty learning and remembering new information, Parkinson’s dementia often affects other thinking abilities first.

These may include:

* Attention: Difficulty concentrating or following conversations
* Processing speed: Taking longer to understand information or respond
* Executive function: Difficulty planning, organizing, and making decisions
* Visual-spatial abilities: Trouble judging distances, navigating, or interpreting visual information
* Memory: Difficulty recalling conversations, appointments, or recently learned information
* Judgment: Problems making decisions or recognizing potentially unsafe situations

As these difficulties become more significant, a person may struggle to manage medications, handle finances, prepare meals, or complete familiar activities independently.

That interference with everyday functioning is an important distinction between dementia and milder cognitive problems.

2. Why Does Parkinson’s Cause Dementia?

Parkinson’s affects much more than the dopamine-producing cells involved in movement.

The disease can gradually affect networks throughout the brain responsible for thinking, attention, memory, and behavior.

One important feature is the accumulation of an abnormal protein called alpha-synuclein.

This protein can form structures known as Lewy bodies, which are associated with disruptions in normal brain function.

Changes involving other neurotransmitters and brain systems also contribute.

Some people with Parkinson’s dementia have additional brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The result can be a complicated combination of cognitive symptoms that varies considerably from person to person.

3. Is Parkinson’s Dementia the Same as Alzheimer’s?

No, although the conditions can share symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease often begins with prominent memory difficulties.

Parkinson’s dementia frequently involves problems with attention, mental processing speed, planning, and visual-spatial abilities.

Memory loss can certainly occur, but it isn’t always the earliest or most noticeable symptom.

There’s also another related condition called dementia with Lewy bodies.

Doctors traditionally distinguish the two partly by when symptoms begin.

If someone has established Parkinson’s movement symptoms for more than a year before dementia develops, the diagnosis is generally Parkinson’s disease dementia.

If dementia appears before or around the same time as parkinsonian movement symptoms, dementia with Lewy bodies may be diagnosed.

These conditions share important biological features, but the distinction can help doctors understand the clinical history.

4. Early Warning Signs

Cognitive changes often develop gradually.

Possible warning signs include:

* Increasing difficulty following conversations
* Forgetting recent information more frequently
* Becoming confused while performing familiar tasks
* Trouble managing medications or paying bills
* Difficulty organizing daily activities
* Getting lost in familiar surroundings
* Problems judging distances or interpreting visual information
* Noticeable changes in reasoning or judgment
* Significant fluctuations in attention or alertness

Some people also experience visual hallucinations, such as seeing people, animals, or objects that aren’t actually present.

However, hallucinations can occur in Parkinson’s without dementia, sometimes because of medication effects, visual problems, or other factors.

A hallucination does not automatically mean someone has dementia.

And sudden confusion developing over hours or days should never simply be attributed to Parkinson’s dementia. It can indicate an acute medical problem requiring prompt evaluation.

5. Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Not the Same as Dementia

This may be the most important distinction in the entire article.

Many people living with Parkinson’s experience mild cognitive impairment, commonly called PD-MCI.

You might notice that:

* Your thinking seems slower.
* You struggle to multitask.
* Your short-term memory isn’t as sharp.
* You need more reminders.
* Concentrating requires greater effort.
* Learning something new takes longer than it used to.

These changes can be frustrating and sometimes embarrassing.

But with mild cognitive impairment, a person generally remains capable of managing everyday activities independently, even if tasks require additional effort or compensatory strategies.

Dementia involves cognitive changes severe enough to significantly interfere with independence.

And not everyone with mild cognitive impairment progresses to dementia.

So please don’t assume that every forgotten appointment or misplaced wallet is evidence of something much more serious.

6. How Common Is Parkinson’s Dementia?

The risk of dementia generally increases with age and the number of years someone has lived with Parkinson’s.

Some long-term studies have found that a majority of people with Parkinson’s eventually develop dementia, particularly when followed over many years.

However, estimates vary considerably depending on the population studied, age, duration of illness, and how dementia is diagnosed.

Some people develop significant cognitive problems relatively early.

Others live with Parkinson’s for decades without developing dementia.

There is no reliable way to predict exactly what will happen to every individual.

Your Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a guarantee that dementia will become part of your future.

7. Can Parkinson’s Dementia Be Treated?

Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment proven to reverse Parkinson’s disease dementia.

However, there are ways to manage symptoms and support quality of life.

Medication: Rivastigmine is FDA-approved for Parkinson’s disease dementia and may provide modest improvements in thinking and daily functioning for some people.

Medication review: Certain medications can worsen confusion, hallucinations, or cognitive difficulties. A physician may recommend adjustments.

Exercise: Regular physical activity supports overall brain and physical health.

Mental stimulation: Reading, conversation, music, games, and learning new skills can provide meaningful engagement.

Social interaction: Maintaining relationships and participating in activities may support emotional and cognitive well-being.

Better sleep: Treating insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disturbances may improve daytime thinking and alertness.

Consistent routines: Calendars, medication organizers, reminders, and familiar schedules can help people maintain independence.

One important point deserves emphasis.

Although these activities support general health and functioning, none has been conclusively proven to prevent Parkinson’s dementia.

Someone who develops dementia should never be made to feel that they simply failed to exercise enough, eat properly, or keep their mind active.

This is a neurological disease, not a personal failure.

8. How Can Dementia Affect Relationships?

This is something families need to understand.

Cognitive changes can affect much more than someone’s ability to remember information.

They may change how a person communicates, responds emotionally, interprets situations, or makes decisions.

Someone who was once organized and independent may begin needing assistance with ordinary tasks.

A person who previously handled family finances may become confused by bills.

Someone who was patient and easygoing may become frustrated, suspicious, or anxious.

Family members sometimes interpret these changes as stubbornness, laziness, indifference, or intentional behavior.

But the person may be struggling with neurological changes that make familiar situations difficult to understand.

For caregivers, this can be emotionally exhausting.

You may find yourself repeating explanations, correcting mistakes, or taking responsibility for things your loved one previously managed independently.

Patience matters.

So does maintaining dignity.

Speak calmly. Allow extra time for responses. Avoid unnecessary arguments. Offer assistance without automatically taking control of everything.

And remember that caregivers need support, companionship, and opportunities to rest.

Dementia may change a person’s abilities, but it does not erase their humanity or their need to feel loved and respected.

9. How Do Doctors Diagnose Parkinson’s Dementia?

There isn’t one simple blood test or brain scan that confirms Parkinson’s disease dementia.

A neurologist evaluates cognitive symptoms, daily functioning, medical history, and other possible explanations.

Screening tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, commonly called the MoCA, may help identify areas of difficulty.

More detailed neuropsychological testing can evaluate memory, attention, reasoning, language, and visual-spatial abilities.

Doctors may also investigate other conditions that can worsen thinking, including:

* Medication side effects
* Depression or anxiety
* Sleep disorders
* Vitamin deficiencies
* Thyroid problems
* Infections or other medical illnesses

Identifying treatable contributing factors can sometimes make a meaningful difference.

10. My Personal Perspective

After living with Parkinson’s for more than a decade, I’ve learned that uncertainty is one of the hardest parts of this disease.

We don’t know exactly which symptoms we’ll develop.

We don’t know how quickly they’ll progress.

And we don’t know what our abilities will look like five or ten years from now.

I certainly notice changes in my own thinking.

My short-term memory isn’t what it used to be. Multitasking has become difficult. Sometimes my brain seems to operate at a completely different speed than the rest of the world.

But I also recognize that having these difficulties doesn’t automatically mean dementia is developing.

I believe we should pay attention to cognitive changes and discuss them openly with our neurologists.

We should take advantage of available treatments, remain physically and mentally active when possible, and make reasonable plans for the future.

But I don’t believe we should spend every day worrying about something that may never happen.

I still have things I want to accomplish.

Places I want to visit.

People I want to spend time with.

Experiences I want to enjoy.

And I refuse to allow fear of an uncertain future to steal the life I have today.

One Final Thought

I don’t want to minimize Parkinson’s dementia.

For those experiencing it, and for the families caring for them, the challenges can be enormous.

Some families face heartbreaking changes that require extraordinary patience, sacrifice, and love.

They deserve our understanding and support.

But I also don’t want someone newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s to read about dementia and immediately assume their future has already been decided.

It hasn’t.

Every Parkinson’s journey is different.

Knowledge helps us recognize problems, seek appropriate care, and make informed decisions.

Fear alone accomplishes very little.

We cannot control every aspect of this disease.

But we can continue making the most of the abilities and opportunities we have today.

Parkinson’s may create uncertainty about tomorrow, but we still have a life to live today.

I’d Like to Hear From You

Which cognitive challenge has affected you most since developing Parkinson’s?

A. Short-term memory problems

B. Brain fog and slower thinking

C. Difficulty concentrating

D. Trouble multitasking or planning

E. No significant cognitive changes

If you’re a caregiver, you’re welcome to share your observations as well.

Let’s discuss this important subject openly, respectfully, and without fear or judgment.

Sometimes understanding what we’re experiencing makes it a little less frightening.

The Parkinson’s Disease Battle Page

11/10/2026

Rose Buhr: I’m ready to share real life stories, honest conversations and hope
Rose Buhr: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fnhal4tvlfo?si=Pmm1rxbliVWewDfx

11/10/2026

Rose Buhr: I’m ready to share real life stories, honest conversations and hope
Rose Buhr:

This short clip gives you a peek into a difficult life lesson I lea...

28/09/2026

Support Groups are safe place where you can ask questions, meet & connect with like minded people to help you on your journey with Parkinson’s. There are no cots and the duration of meetings 45-60 minutes.

21/09/2026

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day. 💜

It’s a moment to increase understanding, challenge stigma and recognise everyone whose life is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – including the family and friends providing care every day.

Dementia carers should never feel invisible or alone.

We’re here to make sure carers are seen, heard and supported.

If you’re caring for someone with dementia, support is available.

🔗 Find out how we can support: https://dementiacarers.org.uk/

19/09/2026

𝗝𝗢𝗨 𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗠𝗔𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗙 𝗦𝗔𝗔𝗠 𝗠𝗘𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗨 — 𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗔𝗧 𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗗

𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿, 𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴 𝗺𝗼̂𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗮́ 𝗷𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗶𝗲. 𝗗𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀.

~ ONS GOUE JARE - https://www.facebook.com/OnsGoueJare

Pa sterf op ’n Sondagoggend. Ma weet die elektrisiteitsrekening moet betaal word. Die dogter het al jare lank Pa se volmag en doen gereeld sy banksake. Sy het die bankkaart, die rekeningbesonderhede en selfs toegang tot internetbankdienste.

Dit voel dus vanselfsprekend: sy gaan maar voort soos altyd.

Maar dit is juis hier waar baie families eers ná ’n sterfte ontdek hoe die reg werklik werk.

𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗠𝗔𝗚 𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗚 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗗

As algemene reël eindig ’n volmag wanneer die persoon wat die volmag gegee het, sterf. Die gevolmagtigde tree immers namens die volmaggewer op. Wanneer daardie persoon sterf, kan die gevolmagtigde nie bloot voortgaan om namens hom of haar transaksies aan te gaan nie. Suid-Afrikaanse regspraak bevestig die algemene beginsel dat die mandaat of volmag by die dood van die volmaggewer tot ’n einde kom.

Dit beteken dat ’n volmag wat jou seun, dogter, lewensmaat of vriend vandag gebruik om jou sake te bestuur, nie vanself in ’n soort “boedelvolmag” verander wanneer jy sterf nie.

𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗩𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

Die Departement van Justisie stel dit duidelik: wanneer iemand sterf, word die oorledene se boedel gevries. Niemand mag sommer geld uit die oorledene se bankrekening onttrek of met boedelbates handel sonder die nodige bevoegdheid nie. Indien die persoon binne gemeenskap van goed getroud was, word die gemeenskaplike boedel geraak — iets wat vir ’n langslewende eggenoot ernstige praktiese probleme kan veroorsaak.

Dit is waarom ’n gesin nie moet aanvaar dat die oorledene se bankkaart nou maar gebruik kan word om kruideniersware, munisipale rekeninge of ander uitgawes te betaal nie.

Selfs met die beste bedoelings kan iemand met geld werk waartoe hy of sy nie meer regtens toegang het nie.

𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗘̂ 𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗘𝗞𝗦𝗘𝗞𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗦?

Ja — maar daar is ’n belangrike verskil tussen iemand wat in ’n testament as eksekuteur benoem word en iemand wat reeds die wetlike bevoegdheid het om as eksekuteur op te tree.

Die benoemde persoon moet deur die Meester van die Hooggeregshof aangestel word en die toepaslike aanstellingsdokument ontvang. Vir groter boedels word ’n eksekuteursbrief uitgereik. By boedels van R250 000 of minder kan die Meester onder bepaalde omstandighede ’n verteenwoordiger ingevolge artikel 18(3) aanstel en ’n magtigingsbrief uitreik.

Die testament is dus uiters belangrik, maar dit is nie op sy eie ’n lisensie om die oorledene se bankrekening leeg te maak, die motor te verkoop of die huis aan iemand oor te dra nie.

𝗪𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗚𝗘𝗟𝗗 𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗘?

Nadat die Meester die eksekuteur of boedelverteenwoordiger aangestel het, is dit daardie persoon se taak om die boedel volgens die wet en, waar daar ’n geldige testament is, volgens die testament te administreer.

Die eksekuteur identifiseer die bates, stel skulde vas, hanteer geldige eise teen die boedel en sorg uiteindelik dat die oorblywende bates aan die erfgename oorgedra word. Erfgename kry dus nie noodwendig onmiddellik ná die begrafnis beheer oor “hulle” erfporsie nie.

Waar daar geen geldige testament is nie, word die boedel volgens die Wet op Intestate Erfopvolging verdeel.

𝗘𝗡 𝗪𝗔𝗧 𝗩𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗡𝗜𝗦?

Dit is nog ’n praktiese probleem. Daar kan duisende rande in die oorledene se bankrekening wees, maar dit beteken nie dat die familie bloot die kaart mag gebruik om die begrafnisondernemer te betaal nie.

Daar bestaan prosedures waardeur redelike begrafniskoste uit ’n oorledene se rekening betaal kan word. Standard Bank verduidelik byvoorbeeld dat toestemming van die Meester ingevolge die Boedelwet verkry kan word om bepaalde redelike begrafniskoste uit die rekening te laat betaal.

Dit wys waarom families vooraf moet weet hoe die proses werk.

𝗡𝗢𝗚 ’𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗝𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗜𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗡𝗜𝗘

Aftreefondsvoordele is ’n goeie voorbeeld. By geregistreerde aftreefondse bepaal artikel 37C van die Pensioenfondswet in die algemeen hoe sterftevoordele tussen afhanklikes en genomineerdes toegeken word. Die trustees van die fonds het ’n statutêre verantwoordelikheid en kan nie bloot die testament se verdeling kopieer nie.

Dit is waarom ’n mens nie net ’n testament moet opstel en dan aanvaar alles is afgehandel nie.

𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗞𝗦𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗞𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗜𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗘

Maak seker jou naasbestaandes weet waar jou oorspronklike testament is. Hou ’n eenvoudige rekord van jou bankrekeninge, eiendom, voertuie, polisse, beleggings, skuld en aftreefondse. Maak seker die korrekte begunstigde- en kontakbesonderhede is op datum.

En praat met jou gesin.

Want die slegste tyd om uit te vind dat ’n volmag verval het, die bankrekening ontoeganklik is, niemand weet waar die testament is nie en die persoon wat almal gedink het “alles sal hanteer” nog geen wetlike bevoegdheid het nie, is die week waarin daardie familie reeds besig is om iemand te begrawe.

’n Bietjie beplanning terwyl jy leef, kan jou familie maande se onsekerheid bespaar wanneer jy nie meer daar is om die vrae te beantwoord nie.

Hierdie artikel verskaf algemene inligting oor Suid-Afrikaanse boedeladministrasie en is nie persoonlike regs- of finansiële advies nie.