Dementia Support Line
Share your diagnosis story
We want to show decision-makers across the UK the realities of seeking a dementia diagnosis.
Share yours or a loved one's diagnosis story today and we'll add it to our story wall.
Let's make dementia a priority.
Iain had always been good at knowi...
I’m 87 but I’m quite fit so that h...
Took my partner for diagnosis and the doctor confirmed she has Alzheimer's. This was 10 years ago. She is now in a care home which I am happy with. But, she has never h...
I kept forgetting words and I said...
Dad first became aware of somethin...
Nurse asked about memory at annual check up and did basic paper test. Said result was borderline. Referred to clinic a few months later. Continued during Covid. Saw con...
Although it only been a year since my wife was diagnosed with dementia we have felt that we are not important or an urgent case, Social Services keep tell us that they ...
Lockdown seemed to be the downfall...
As I write this I can’t help but cry my mom is now in a care home as we could not care for her safely at home. What an amazing human being she has four children of her ...
I was diagnosed about a year ago n...
It took 5 awful years from my dad going to the GP about his memory, until getting a diagnosis of vascular dementia. He was told repeatedly that it was anxiety and depre...
I began to think that I wasn't able to remember my spelling , having always being proud of my good brain ! I saw a Doctor twice and each time I was told there was nothi...
Iain had always been good at knowing where places were and driving there unerringly. Suddenly he could no longer do this and his memory was obviously affected. Couldn't remember having visited his daughter's flat, where he had stayed several times. He was invited to the memory clinic in our surgery in the autumn of 2020 but told it was minor memory loss, no diagnosis - then Covid struck and no more memory clinic appointments.
Finally, it was when he was in hospital after a fall that the Dr kept complaining that he was not diagnosed with dementia that we obtained a diagnosis. Then the wonderful Alzheimer's Society was available with all their help and advice and local groups to meet others to hear how they cope. Socialisation is so important, both for me and especially for Iain.
Finally, it was when he was in hospital after a fall that the Dr kept complaining that he was not diagnosed with dementia that we obtained a diagnosis. Then the wonderful Alzheimer's Society was available with all their help and advice and local groups to meet others to hear how they cope. Socialisation is so important, both for me and especially for Iain.
Priscilla
I’m 87 but I’m quite fit so that helps a lot.
Some time ago, I fell over in a park, and hit my head, and I think that was the beginning….since it caused damage to me brain.
But I’ve never experienced anything serious, apart from one thing: serious memory loss. If I move about at home, (say, from the kitchen to the living room) I often forget what I’ve changed rooms for!
And I get into terrible trouble, trying to remember the name of so many things, people, places, activities, whatever….
But I have to tell people I have Alzheimers because they don’t understand my funny behaviour! But I find most people still treat me as ‘ordinary’ and forget that, actually, I am disabled!
Some time ago, I fell over in a park, and hit my head, and I think that was the beginning….since it caused damage to me brain.
But I’ve never experienced anything serious, apart from one thing: serious memory loss. If I move about at home, (say, from the kitchen to the living room) I often forget what I’ve changed rooms for!
And I get into terrible trouble, trying to remember the name of so many things, people, places, activities, whatever….
But I have to tell people I have Alzheimers because they don’t understand my funny behaviour! But I find most people still treat me as ‘ordinary’ and forget that, actually, I am disabled!
Gerry
Took my partner for diagnosis and the doctor confirmed she has Alzheimer's. This was 10 years ago. She is now in a care home which I am happy with. But, she has never had a scan and therefore struggled to accept the diagnosis - and so did I and the family.
Irene
I kept forgetting words and I said to my wife, "Why am I forgetting all these words?" and she suggested I told my doctor. I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was 65 and must have got it when I was 60, so have been told it is young onset dementia. I was introduced to the Alzheimer's Society and going to events they organise is helping me live with my dementia.
Graham
Dad first became aware of something being wrong when he could not remember the roads around him. He would get confused very easily. Trips to the doctors made little difference. It was only when he tried to turn right into traffic at a roundabout that things came to a head. Once he was finally able to get to a referral, they confirmed what we as a family already knew. Alas this was the start of an endless and stressful battle with GPs and specialists to try get appropriate and timely treatment.
Mark
Nurse asked about memory at annual check up and did basic paper test. Said result was borderline. Referred to clinic a few months later. Continued during Covid. Saw consultant and had CT scan same day. Then saw neuropsychologist a few months later who gave diagnosis. Took 3 months for MDT to agree medication!
Jessie
Although it only been a year since my wife was diagnosed with dementia we have felt that we are not important or an urgent case, Social Services keep tell us that they are aware but not forthcoming with any help. it is sad that I no longer seem to be married to my wife of 44 years. each passing day i am just left to cope with the changes, worst of all is I cannot understand what she wants, While it may seem like there is a lot of help out there it can be confusing while the person who need help is classed as able to make their own choices...
Mike
Lockdown seemed to be the downfall of Mums health. I noticed more and more that she was forgetting or repeating things. There were such obvious signs. I finally persuaded her to see her Doctor which then created another battle. The Doctor offered no support, didn’t really believe me and I felt completely let down. Only after pushing for help after another hospital stay after falls, was I listened to. The hospital pushed through tests and results eventually proved positive. After trying to keep mum at home and struggling to get carers she is now in a care home. The hardest decision I have ever made. Never doubt you. You know your loved ones better than anyone. More should be done to prioritise this horrendous and soul destroying illness.
Hazell
As I write this I can’t help but cry my mom is now in a care home as we could not care for her safely at home. What an amazing human being she has four children of her own and fostered around 30 children and babies in her lifetime. We had to fight to get a diagnosis and help. More needs to be done to help with early diagnosis treatment and help for families caring for dementia patients they deserve and have the right to receive the best care.
Louise Cherry
I was diagnosed about a year ago now. My wife and son noticed I was repeating myself quite a bit and also forgetting things. I went to the doctors, who went through the usual names address etc. I didn't do too well, so had an appointment with a geriatrics specialist. I was then sent for a brain scan which confirmed my diagnosis. All in all it took a few months for me to be told I had alzheimer's. I was shocked as were my family. I'm not doing too bad right now and am still driving. I enjoy my singing which helps very much and I do jigsaw puzzles with my wife. I am taking Donepezil and have been on them for over a month now. Apart from initial side effects I seem to be ok on them.
Although understanding alzheimer's is getting better, I think more needs to be done to make people aware of the condition and that it can affect anyone.
Although understanding alzheimer's is getting better, I think more needs to be done to make people aware of the condition and that it can affect anyone.
Robert Evatt
It took 5 awful years from my dad going to the GP about his memory, until getting a diagnosis of vascular dementia. He was told repeatedly that it was anxiety and depression, not dementia. He couldn't complete the first memory test due to a panic attack, which cemented the view that it was anxiety, not dementia - dad was so down because he was so sure it was different. Referrals were initially lost and then took excruciatingly long to come back. When he finally got the diagnosis (5 years after first going to the GP and his 2nd round of assessments), it took 4 months to get a follow up letter confirming the diagnosis (also sent to his GP) that was so full of jargon and acronyms it was virtually unreadable. Those 5 years not knowing, and fighting to be believed that something was wrong (and that it wasn't anxiety) were so awful, I can't even think about it without crying.
Emily
I began to think that I wasn't able to remember my spelling , having always being proud of my good brain ! I saw a Doctor twice and each time I was told there was nothing wrong with my brain ! A year later the doctor told m I had Alzheimer's
Nathalie
Share your diagnosis story
Share your diagnosis experiences with us, so we can show decision makers the realities and issues people are facing.