The diagnosis of dementia is too often a dialogue of the deaf. An older person starts to become forgetful but, when they take their fears to the family doctor, both parties have a vested interest in minimising the issue. The patient seeks reassurance. The GP is unwilling to proffer a diagnosis that could result in demands for expensive drugs that could delay the progress of the condition, especially when early diagnosis is notoriously tricky. Patient and doctor edge around the subject and eventually the doctor declares the belief that the patient's memory problems are "just part of growing old". The encounter ends with a handshake and smiles. It is only after much angst and several appointments that the patient is finally diagnosed and referred.
The diagnosis of dementia is too often a dialogue of the deaf. An older person starts to become forgetful but, when they take their fears to the family doctor, both parties have a vested interest in minimising the issue. The patient seeks reassurance.
