Getting a diagnosis privately

[Malcolm Cross]

My aunt has no short term memory and lives alone and has no family. I am her nominated next of kin.
She lives 150 miles away, I am trying to get a diagnosis but her GP won't refer her to the memory clinic as she has been in hospital with a broken hip and is currently in respite care but is going home tomorrow.
I have noticed her short term memory has been getting worse for the past year.
I want a diagnosis as there may be medication that can help the regression.
Does anyone know of a private organisation that can help as going through the NHS is getting me nowhere and taking so long.

 

[Weasell]

Welcome!
@deepetshopboy posted a question vaguely like yours, recently.
Hopefully they will now see you post, and share any knowledge they have acquired with you.
you say she is in respite care but do you mean re hab care ?
what discharge package of care will she receive?
At present I use a face cream called sublimage, £290 a tub. It reminds me a lot of dementia medication. It promises great things but delivery is less easy to ascertain!
Dont build your hopes up!
I wish you well in your quest.

 

[Sarasa]

Hi @Malcolm Cross and welcome to Dementia Talking Point. You'll find this a very supportive place with members with lots of help and experience. Do you know if social services have put any carers in place for your aunt? It certainly sounds like she shouldn't be going home without some on-going help. Have you spoken to the respite home and got their views on how she will cope, as if she hasn't any help I could imagine she may end up straight back in hospital.
As for the GP can you send an email with all your concerns and ask the GP to check your aunt over? I don't have any experience of the value of medication, as my mother has vascular dementia rather than Alzheimer's. However I understand though it might help with the symptoms it isn't going slow down the progress of the disease. I think a referral to the memory clinic might be useful, but as @weasall says it might not make a lot of difference. I never managed to get my mum there, she was diagnosed when her doctor sent a consultant round to her house after she'd had a melt down in the surgery's waiting room.
I'm sure other people who've faced a similar problem will be along in a minute.

 

[deepetshopboy]

My aunt has no short term memory and lives alone and has no family. I am her nominated next of kin.
She lives 150 miles away, I am trying to get a diagnosis but her GP won't refer her to the memory clinic as she has been in hospital with a broken hip and is currently in respite care but is going home tomorrow.
I have noticed her short term memory has been getting worse for the past year.
I want a diagnosis as there may be medication that can help the regression.
Does anyone know of a private organisation that can help as going through the NHS is getting me nowhere and taking so long.

Hi sorry to hear your gp wont listen to your concerns and refer her to memory clinic
Im my case my father has been under memory clinc for 7 yrs and to be frank arent great in any case intially ok at first was happy to give him tablets aricept then big debate stress over mementine then as illness got worse less support and help to the point of begging for help
Anyway yes you and everybody is entitled to pay to see a private psychiatrist or neurologist or similer specialising in dementia and for that dr to write to your aunts dr saying the results of said tests and medications required that they would recommend if dementia/alzeimers is strongly suspected
I googled /checked online and spoke to few provqte hospitals/harly st London
Quotes between £180 /£435 for inttial tests consultation