Hi
@Bearz77
My dad was referred by his GP to the Memory Clinic after sister and I managed to persuade him he needed his GP to do a general annual check up to check his current medications
it was the only way we could get him there. If we had mentioned dementia he would have refused to go.
Prior to all this dad had been admitted to hospital due to being found in the bath by sister on a visit to see him, no water in bath just a very naked and delirious dad. I arrived a few minutes after sister as some days we would meet up at dads together. Dad had a UTI and kidney function was very poor he spent several days in hospital ended up with a permanent catheter and re-ablement service which ended up with permanent carer visits. Dementia and investigation for it came after all this.
We were getting very concerned about his memory and behavior which had been odd and even my mum had been making comments such as he doesn't know what he's doing etc not long before she died.
Mum almost 82 years didn't have dementia was as bright as a button but sadly died of liver cancer due to her Diabetes and long term medications, my mum never drank so definitely not alcohol related.
We had a reasonable expectation that dad was going to be diagnosed with dementia.
A dementia nurse came out to his home and did some tests to see what dad could do clock face a bit of drawing some little arithmetic and remembering address etc both my sister and I were with dad as we were supporting dad as much as we could since our mum had passed in August 2016.
Dad had a scan blood tests etc at the hospital too which was arranged after her first visit.
Dad then received an appointment to go to the Memory Clinic to discuss the results.
My sister and I took dad to the appointment.
The specialist explained to dad and us that he had Mixed Dementia ( Alzheimer and Vascular ) explained a little bit about the results of the scan.
Dad didn't take any of it in but specialist said for him not to worry and said Dementia was just a word given to his condition and dad didn't seem alarmed by what was being said.
There was a bit of nodding and eye indications from myself and sister when explaining some of the things we had noticed the specialist was upfront but nevertheless very kind. We were given a fairly thick book which he underlined a few bits in but dad has never read sister and I read and swapped between us.
With the internet now all the general information is available anyway but the forum is brilliant as we all try and help each other by offering supporting and understanding as our PWD goes through different stages.
The specialist did ask if dad would like to try some medication but he was more or less directing the question towards my sister and I we both said yes. It was the GP that prescribed the medication after receiving the specialists letter detailing dads visit.
Following that appointment the same dementia nurse came back to the house to see how dad was getting along on the medication which was initially started at 5mg ( Donepezil ).
The medication was increased following another visit to 10mg the maximum dose and then finally a third visit from her at which point she discharged dad from the clinic altogether. I think the gap between her visits were around 2-3 weeks.
Dad was officially diagnosed early 2018 he is still living at home with 4 care visits per day plus sister and I give quite a lot of our time too. The dementia has progressed and he is now doubly incontinent and prone to having some outbursts of verbal aggression I don't know how much longer he will be able to live on his own but suspect it won't be more than a few months.
I hope I have been of some help the forum is still quite new to me but joining has given me so much support.
Have added as I almost forgot the specialist did briefly discuss with dad and sister and I about dad doing a Lasting Power Of Attorney. Dad doesn't own any property but it has still made things easier as now he doesn't go out much so I do all his shopping using a POA card and keep all receipts my sister doesn't drive so its easier for me to do.
We obviously had the LPA done after his official diagnosis the specialist said dad still had understanding of what it meant. Mostly people will advise that its best to get one set up ASAP ideally before diagnosis if possible.
As long as there is still some understanding of the meaning of the document it will still be able to be done even if the PWD can't remember later on its the moment they sign and understand what they are doing in that moment that is important. It will be a very valuable document as dementia progresses.