I was
appalled to hear on the local news for my area that some GPs are refusing to
take the necessary steps to diagnose patients with dementia, as they feel it
‘pointless’ due to there being no cure available.
As someone
who has had to fight to get a diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimers for an
elderly relative I am really shocked by this attitude. Admittedly there is no
cure, however medication is available to slow down the process and support
services exist, which will often only step in when there is a formal diagnosis.
I fought
for a year to get the diagnosis for my relative,which was needed in order to access the
right help. We saw different doctors, wrote letters etc and I would encourage
others to do the same. Diagnosis, as with many things in the NHS can be a postcode
lottery, but perseverance can pay off.
Indeed, television
adverts advise that we do seek help as soon as we suspect a loved one is
suffering from the condition and GPs and other healthcare professionals need to
back this up.
Since
receiving a proper diagnosis at a ‘memory clinic’, my relative has started
medication, been assigned a nurse to monitor her and generally been given the
chance to enjoy living at home independently (be it with a little support) for
longer than probably would have been the case without that vital diagnosis.
So do
follow the advice of the TV ad, don’t give up or tolerate being turned away by
a GP and help your loved one as best you can. Dementia needs to be diagnosed,
understood and managed to allow sufferers the best chance of carrying on with
their everyday lives for as long as possible.
Let me know
your experiences of diagnosis of dementia. comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk
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