I was thinking today, if I could go back to diagnosis day of my mother’s dementia at the doctor‘s I would certainly be much more proactive and ask questions because I have found nothing was said which is of any help or support.
1. I should have asked what type of dementia it was - I was only told it was vascular and mixed two years after diagnosis and only by accident when my mother was in hospital.
2. I should have asked for some info on how the dementia might develop, things to look out for.
3. There should have been some kind of support or advice for dealing with the downright denial of both my parents, which still continues even though my mother is now very confused.
4. I should have asked what the challenges ahead might be.
What do others think about the help and support (or lack of it) after diagnosis? For this has been and continues to be like walking up a blind alley! I’ve gone from being a very positive person to feeling as though I am in a knife edge the entire time, waiting for the next thing to happen or the next battle with my elderly parents as they deny they need help, deny they forget things and the general confusion is so disturbing.
I am keen to find out what others think because I suspect there is a massive lack of help in the initial stages and that clearly leaves us all in a vulnerable situation when we are trying to care for our loved ones while they face dementia.
1. I should have asked what type of dementia it was - I was only told it was vascular and mixed two years after diagnosis and only by accident when my mother was in hospital.
2. I should have asked for some info on how the dementia might develop, things to look out for.
3. There should have been some kind of support or advice for dealing with the downright denial of both my parents, which still continues even though my mother is now very confused.
4. I should have asked what the challenges ahead might be.
What do others think about the help and support (or lack of it) after diagnosis? For this has been and continues to be like walking up a blind alley! I’ve gone from being a very positive person to feeling as though I am in a knife edge the entire time, waiting for the next thing to happen or the next battle with my elderly parents as they deny they need help, deny they forget things and the general confusion is so disturbing.
I am keen to find out what others think because I suspect there is a massive lack of help in the initial stages and that clearly leaves us all in a vulnerable situation when we are trying to care for our loved ones while they face dementia.