Too many delay seeking dementia diagnosis, charity says

[Northerner]

More than half of those seeking a diagnosis for dementia have delayed going to their GP by at least a year, according to a survey carried out by the Alzheimer's Society.

The charity says nearly two-thirds of people fear a diagnosis would mean their life is over.

But it says an early diagnosis can actually help people to live as well as possible.

And it wants everyone to confront head-on the challenges posed by dementia.

In a survey of 2,000 adults, almost half thought they would have to stop driving immediately while one in five feared losing their partner or friends if they were diagnosed with dementia.

Nearly 60% thought they would struggle to join in conversations and almost half worried people would think they were "mad" if faced with a diagnosis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36286016

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Sad that people think that way.

My Mum and I think my Dad is in the early stages (he's 87 and getting really forgetful, he already struggles with conversation) and we know there are drugs which would help him now, but he will never see a doctor voluntarily, so short of kidnapping him we just have to wait until things get worse.

 

[pav]

Found that the medical profession don't want to confirm diagnoses either, mom had problems for years and it was not until the final couple of years they said its dementia.

 

[Northerner]

My Mum had a stroke aged 70, but they totally missed the fact and just treated her for a fall. She then developed aphasia and gradually, vascular dementia. It took years of declining health before the doctors even suggested the dementia

 

[Ljc]

Our problem with Mum was mis diagnosis which I believe but cannot prove was deliberate.
Then an absolutely unnecessary fight to get them to prescribe meds for Alzheimer's, we won 🙂.