Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Dementia Matters
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • Who are we
    • Values
    • Where we work
    • Meet the team
      • Our team
      • Trustees
    • Contact us
    • Blog and opinion
  • About dementia
    • Types of dementia
      • Alcohol-related dementia
      • Fronto-temporal dementia
      • Lewy body dementia
      • Mixed dementia
      • Vascular dementia
      • Alzheimer’s disease
      • All types of Dementia
    • What to expect
      • Is it Dementia?
      • Getting a diagnosis
      • Planning after diagnosis
      • Living with a Dementia diagnosis
      • Telling friends and family
      • Who do I need to tell?
      • All what to expect
  • Our services
    • Services overview
    • Advice centre
      • A guide to managing stress for carers
    • Home support
    • Day centre
    • Residential and respite
  • Support us
    • Donate to us
      • Single or monthly donation
      • Our appeals
      • Other ways to give
      • Where your money goes
    • Corporate Fundraising
    • Visit our shop
    • Fundraise for Dementia Matters
  • Work for us
    • Why work for us
    • Employee case study
    • Current opportunities
    • Apprenticeships
    • Volunteer for us
  • News
    • News
    • Policy updates
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)

Getting a diagnosis

When memory problems get worse and they affect daily life, it’s important to visit a GP for a checkup. The first step is to visit your GP. Your GP will ask about general health and will probably do some routine tests, such as taking blood and urine samples. These will be to check whether there are other conditions that could be causing the symptoms. Questions by the GP may include asking about sleep patterns, appetite and feelings of anxiety or being under pressure. This is to discover if stress or depression could be a cause. The doctor will ask specific things about any particular concerns and about memory. That is why it’s useful to have jotted down a few notes beforehand. The doctor will then do some simple tests to find out more about memory and understanding. One of these is called a mini-mental state examination (MMSE). The doctor may also ask a family member, friend or carer what changes they have noticed. Don’t be afraid to ask for explanations of anything. The doctor may then organise a referral to a specialist consultant or a memory clinic. Don’t be afraid to ask for second opinion if your GP does not refer you through but you feel there is something going on.

What does it mean to be ‘referred’?

If your GP feels there is a need for further assessment or investigation, you will usually be ‘referred’ to a consultant psychiatrist who is a specialist in memory problems, sometimes based at a Memory Clinic. He or she is highly experienced in the diagnosis and, if required, treatment of dementia. The consultant may be supported by a dementia specialist nurse who will also be able to help to advise you on any additional help you may need. Memory Clinics operate throughout the country at main community locations and offer assessment, information and advice to those with memory problems and their carers.

What happens when I’m referred?

This appointment involves a doctor or nurse talking with the individual and a relative (or close friend), who is able to explain the difficulties or problems being experienced and their effect on daily living. The team will carry out some tests to find out the strengths and weaknesses of memory, so it is important to take along reading glasses or hearing aids if these are used. It also involves gathering detailed information about the individual’s background, past medical history, any current medical problems and medications currently being taken. They may have a conversation with the person with dementia and their family/friend separately if they feel this will support in their diagnosis. Sometimes, you will be asked to have an MRI scan or blood tests.

The first appointment may take between 1 and 2 hours. It is difficult to be precise about timing as all cases and circumstances are different and may need varying amounts of time. By the end of the appointment the clinic team aim to have completed an assessment, discussed the results and helped plan any future treatment or care. Details of other services which may be helpful will also be made available.

A follow-up appointment will usually be made after three months to undertake a progress review. This appointment takes about half an hour and is an opportunity to discuss any concerns and assess the benefits of any advice or medication that has been given. The memory clinic will often discharge when things are settled and medication is being tolerated well. However if things change you should go to back to your GP, and they will refer you back into the system and to the appropriate teams to give you the support you need. As soon as you need support you should seek help, do not leave it too late.

Published: 3rd December, 2018

Updated: 11th February, 2019

Author: Greg Robinson

Related topics:
  • What to expect
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • A guide to managing stress for carers

    A guide to managing stress for carers

    Helping carers to manage their stress

  • Bev Reid

    Bev Reid

    Bev is our interim Chief Executive Officer

  • CEO Vacancy

    The Dementia Matters Board are seeking to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer to lead our organisation into the next phase of its work

  • Christmas campaign 2020 #rememberme

    Our 2020 Christmas campaign #rememberme

Related

  • Who do I need to tell?

  • Telling friends and family

  • Living with a dementia diagnosis

  • Planning after diagnosis

  • Is it dementia?

Most read

  • CEO Vacancy

    The Dementia Matters Board are seeking to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer to lead our organisation into the next phase of its work

  • Christmas campaign 2020 #rememberme

    Our 2020 Christmas campaign #rememberme

  • Home Support Care & Support Worker

    Dementia Matters Home Care & Support Workers

  • Safety is the key to re opening

    Safety is the key to re opening

    Service users can rest assured that we are working incredibly hard to ensure that when Day Care does open, it opens safely and compassionately.

  • A guide to managing stress for carers

    A guide to managing stress for carers

    Helping carers to manage their stress

  • Edith's Story

    Edith's Story

    With your support we can help more people with Dementia like Edith and her family.

  • Adjusting to the new normal in HR

    Adjusting to the new normal in HR

    HR in the care sector is never an easy role, but HR in the care sector in the time of Covid19 has kicked up some unique challenges!

  • Alzheimer’s disease

    Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

  • Fundraising through these challenging times

    Fundraising through these challenging times

    Our challenge is to tap into those people and get them to donate to us rather than the national.

  • Alcohol-related dementia

    Alcohol-related dementia (including Korsakoff’s syndrome) is caused by a lack of vitamin B1

Make a donation
Please select a donation amount (required)
Set up a regular payment Donate

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Useful links

  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Admin login
  • My details
  • Log out

Get in touch

Connect with us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Email: [email protected]

Dementia Matters is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 2980817 and registered as a Charity number 1045517
Registered office The Bradbury Centre, Darrell Street, Brunswick Village, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 7DS. © Copyright 2018 Dementia Matters. All rights reserved.