Bit of a sore topic for me because it wasn't handled especially well and it's hard not to feel let down.
Mum's GP referred her to Memory Clinic, which went well. The nurse was very kind and patient with mum and she asked questions to me, husband and mum all together and then took mum off by herself.
The actual diagnosis came by telephone (it was the start of Lockdown, so it was understandable)
I felt the doctor either hadn't read what was in front of him, or didn't really appreciate what it is like either living with dementia, or caring for someone with dementia.
I didn't expect to have to explain (with mum sitting right next to me) that mum was no longer capable or able to use the telephone and since she was having one of her 'bad' days, there was no way she would take anything in.
He advised me that mum had Alzheimer's and then asked if the news was a surprise.
I said, "Yes, but in all honesty, I wasn't expecting Alzheimer's because it began with her eyesight, so I was worried about PCA or Lewy Bodies".
He said, "It has to be Alzheimer's because it happened so slowly over time. It could be something else, but we'd have to look inside her brain and we can't do that until Post Mortem, obvioulsy!"
There was no offer of a brain scan; no advice on what to do next - just a promise of some leaflets - so we were just left floundering once again