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He did get a complete check up by family doctor and had blood work and brain scan so will be going back to see results of tests but doctor also suggested seeing a neurologist.
I hope you have your husbands health POA taken care of and either a trust or a financial POA in place. It is difficult to do those things once an impairment diagnosis has been made.
As far as the path you want to take, you will hopefully do some research and reading up on dementia, for it takes its own path. The patient, the doctors and you have no control over the course it takes. Medication of some sort, at many different levels, typically becomes your only option.
One good reason for going to a neurologist now would be to get a baseline of his memory capabilities and to rule out anything else that might become a concern. My mom went for quite a while before being put on any medication and only needed to see the neurologist every 6 months the first 2 years. Now she is on meds and goes every four months.
From my observation, they use those memory tests (word recall, counting backwards) to sort of "score" each patient so they can see if there is any decline and how fast it is progressing from visit to visit. You'll also want to have time to find a neurologist who is the right fit for you and your husband. Best wishes!
A positive identification of the type of dementia can only be made by analyzing the brain after death. (Research is urgently underway to to find noninvasive methods of diagnosis, but we are not there yet.)
In my mind, the value of having a tentative diagnosis as soon as possible is that all dementias are NOT the same, and different treatment plans are appropriate for different types of dementia. For example, one medication often used in ERs is acceptable for Alzheimer's patients but could do permanent damage to persons with Lewy Body Dementia. Having a diagnosis sooner rather than later could be life-saving.
Another value of an early diagnosis is to know in general what to expect. For example, Lewy Body Dementia often involves hallucinations in the very early stages; other types may not involve hallucinations or they may come much later. Knowing what to expect doesn't change anything, but it can help to keep us caregivers calm and better prepared.
Once you have a tentative diagnosis it is easier to find specific help. As a caregiver you'll know which books to read and what support groups to join. This can be enormously helpful!
My husband developed symptoms in his mid seventies. Getting a tentative diagnosis immediately was extremely helpful to both of us. (It has been confirmed upon autopsy, by the way.)
My mother's symptoms developed in her nineties. We are content to deal with symptoms as they come up and don't feel knowing exactly the type of dementia would be as valuable now as it would have been 20 years ago.
If I were you, brit38, I'd wait for the results of the tests your husband has already had, get the legal paperwork done, and then see a behavioral neurologist, or a geriatric psychiatrist, or both, for the best tentative diagnosis you can get.
No matter who you see, there is no cure for progressive dementia. There are effective treatments for many of the symptoms, and that can make a HUGE difference in quality of life, for both the person with dementia and for his caregiver and loved ones.
The other reason to get a diagnosis now is to rule out treatable causes of dementia, like thyroid and low B12. If you don't get those treated, he will be living with dementia unnecessarily.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
As far as the path you want to take, you will hopefully do some research and reading up on dementia, for it takes its own path. The patient, the doctors and you have no control over the course it takes. Medication of some sort, at many different levels, typically becomes your only option.
From my observation, they use those memory tests (word recall, counting backwards) to sort of "score" each patient so they can see if there is any decline and how fast it is progressing from visit to visit. You'll also want to have time to find a neurologist who is the right fit for you and your husband. Best wishes!
In my mind, the value of having a tentative diagnosis as soon as possible is that all dementias are NOT the same, and different treatment plans are appropriate for different types of dementia. For example, one medication often used in ERs is acceptable for Alzheimer's patients but could do permanent damage to persons with Lewy Body Dementia. Having a diagnosis sooner rather than later could be life-saving.
Another value of an early diagnosis is to know in general what to expect. For example, Lewy Body Dementia often involves hallucinations in the very early stages; other types may not involve hallucinations or they may come much later. Knowing what to expect doesn't change anything, but it can help to keep us caregivers calm and better prepared.
Once you have a tentative diagnosis it is easier to find specific help. As a caregiver you'll know which books to read and what support groups to join. This can be enormously helpful!
My husband developed symptoms in his mid seventies. Getting a tentative diagnosis immediately was extremely helpful to both of us. (It has been confirmed upon autopsy, by the way.)
My mother's symptoms developed in her nineties. We are content to deal with symptoms as they come up and don't feel knowing exactly the type of dementia would be as valuable now as it would have been 20 years ago.
If I were you, brit38, I'd wait for the results of the tests your husband has already had, get the legal paperwork done, and then see a behavioral neurologist, or a geriatric psychiatrist, or both, for the best tentative diagnosis you can get.
No matter who you see, there is no cure for progressive dementia. There are effective treatments for many of the symptoms, and that can make a HUGE difference in quality of life, for both the person with dementia and for his caregiver and loved ones.
wait to take him to neuro until we
have things organized with the
elder law lawyer...
Yesssss, and before you start complaining to the dr about anything.