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Families face long waits for dementia diagnoses
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Health & Science

Families face long waits for dementia diagnoses

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Families reported waiting months or years for dementia diagnoses, with Keith Andrews saying his family waited almost a year for his wife Sue’s diagnosis.
  • Nine in 10 surveyed families said a formal diagnosis made at least one aspect of life easier, including understanding symptoms and accessing support.
  • The Department of Health and Social Care said it would strengthen dementia and unpaid-carer support and appoint a new dementia tsar.

Keith and Sue Andrews met at 15 and have been married for 57 years. Sue’s condition has deteriorated to the point that she now lives in a care home, but Keith says the family had to wait almost a year for a diagnosis.

The diagnosis did not make the situation easy, he said. It did, however, give the family a clearer sense of how to proceed. “I won't say it's easy, but you know where you're going, and you know where you're heading and you feel a lot more confident in what you're doing,” Keith said. “Because you know you're doing the right thing, but before that diagnosis, you don't know if you're doing the right thing or what to do even. And it's a horrible time, a horrible time.”

I won't say it's easy, but you know where you're going, and you know where you're heading and you feel a lot more confident in what you're doing.

— Keith AndrewsAndrews described how receiving his wife’s diagnosis gave the family more confidence in managing her condition.

Keith’s experience reflects findings from a survey of families affected by dementia. Nine out of 10 respondents said receiving a formal diagnosis made at least one part of life easier. They cited a better understanding of symptoms and behaviour, greater ability to support the person living with dementia, improved access to information and more informed discussions with healthcare professionals.

Because you know you're doing the right thing, but before that diagnosis, you don't know if you're doing the right thing or what to do even. And it's a horrible time, a horrible time.

— Keith AndrewsHe explained the uncertainty his family experienced before the diagnosis.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said the government would strengthen support for people affected by dementia and the family members who care for them. The department said it was bringing forward the timetable for Baroness Casey’s commission on social care reform and appointing a new dementia tsar, as recommended by Casey.

The government also said it was implementing a new action plan for unpaid carers, intended to provide them with greater support and recognition for their work.

This Government is determined to strengthen the support that is available both to individuals affected by dementia, and the family members who look after them.

— Department of Health and Social Care spokespersonThe spokesperson outlined the government’s response to families’ concerns.
About this summary

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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