Seven pieces of information that you should expect to receive after being diagnosed with dementia
Over 850,000 people in the UK have dementia, and someone develops the disease every three minutes.
NICE has put together a quick guide to discussing and planning support after diagnosis.
Seven pieces of information you should expect at diagnosis
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Your type of dementia and how it will affect you.
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Any further tests, treatment, activities or therapies that might help you.
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Who will provide your care and how to contact them, including the professional who will coordinate your care.
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Support groups and charities that can help you.
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How dementia can affect your driving and what you need to do.
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How your employer should support you if you work (or are looking for work).
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Any research studies you could take part in.
What does the guide include?
Planning for now
The guide looks at the immediate actions that should be taken upon diagnosis and what you should expect to happen next.
After your diagnosis, you should be directed to the services that can give you more information and support. You should also be given the name of a professional who will coordinate any care and support you might need.
Planning for the future
The quick guide also provides advice on planning ahead. Thinking ahead can feel overwhelming, but the support is there for when you are ready to talk about it.
Support for carers
Support for carers is also included. As a carer, it is important to think about your own health and wellbeing. It is a large adjustment, so you should take a look at the options available to you. These can include:
- Training
- Support
- Advice
Other useful information:
- Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers (NICE guideline)
- The dementia guide (Alzheimer’s Society Telephone helpline: 0300 222 1122)
- After diagnosis of dementia: what to expect from health and care services (Department of Health and Social Care)
- Living with young onset dementia (Young Dementia UK)
- Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline (telephone: 0800 888 6678)
- Dementia (SCIE)
- Join dementia research (National Institute for Health Research)
- Making decisions (Office of the Public Guardian)
- Dementia Carers Count (Royal Surgical Aid Society)
If you need help accessing services, need further advice or have any questions, please contact us.
info@healthwatchrichmond.co.uk
020 8099 5335
