Getting a timely diagnosis of dementia

The reason a diagnosis is described as ‘timely’ rather than ‘early’ is because early can sometimes be so early that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to accurately diagnose a person’s dementia.

Diagnosing a person in a timely way should allow for symptoms to become clear enough that accurate records can be used to assist in the diagnosis process. There should be evidence of decline over time (months rather than weeks) to make a diagnosis of dementia.

Contents of this mini book: 

• what is timely diagnosis
  
• why get a diagnosis
  
• what is the assessment process like
  
• how to prepare for the assessment process
  
• getting the most from appointments
  
• diagnosis and people with learning disability
  
• the dementia diagnosis pathway
  
• discussing a diagnosis of dementia: saying the "D" word
  
• enabling more timely diagnosis in the future
  
• carrying out baseline screening
  
• after the baseline is established