How To Get A Dementia Diagnosis: 4 things

Hey there Careblazer! Welcome back to Careblazers TV, the place where we talk about everything dementia. If you are caring for a loved one with any type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, or vascular dementia, then this is the place for you! I post a video every Sunday on the topic of dementia caregiving.

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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. In my job, I help people with dementia, and their caregivers, by visiting them in their own homes and helping them cope through the many struggles of caring for someone with dementia. I have always wanted to help more people than is possible for me in a work day. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I do this in my spare time. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacaregiver

[karlac]

This is such valuable information. I learned a lot and think more videos like this would be so helpful. My dad had issues with all six cognitive domains long before his diagnosis at age 86. We had no idea he had dementia. We just thought the problems were due to aging, his "normal quirks" and some medications he was taking. My dad passed away in June, almost 6 years after his diagnosis, but I still follow your channel and watch your videos because I have made it my mission to try to help others, because we had no help at all when it came to his dementia. I found your channel in my desperate search for information and guidance and it was such a huge help, and a comfort to not feel quite so alone in the journey.

[advocateagainstantisemitism]

I've recently been diagnosed with dementia and going thru the process of trying to figure out which one, but due to hallucinations think it's lewy Your videos are very helpful, I've watched several but really liked this one where you break down the different areas and how each one affects a person's behavior differently.

[forrestscott]

This was the best description of diagnosis criteria I have heard. I have struggled with getting the right and accurate information regarding my wife for so long. This video helped me retract a lot of things in the years past and pug issues in. For a long time I felt there were problems but could not get her to pursue getting help and have never had any help so time and life progressed and about one and a half years ago overnight she exhibited such things that it was evident. Although it doesn’t change her condition it helps me to be able to connect the dots. I’m like that, I’m a HVAC technician so I always want to fix things. It’s killing me that I can’t fix her. Thanks for your passion and knowledge.

[lorraineknickle]

Great information. I would be interested in more videos like this . Thank you . You have been so helpful understanding my husband's Alzheimer's struggle .

[bonniebuchanan]

This is very helpful, thank you. Please share more, especially about specific types of dementia.

[lyric]

This video is very informative. I have a relative with early dementia and I want to understand as much as I can.

[maypalmer]

Wow! The timing of this particular video is UNREAL!! My husband has his brainscan tomorrow and I was asking myself what criteria would they be basing their diagnosis on. I know the technician/doctor won't see on the brainscan what you just cited but, at least I know now what to look for. Thanks be to God for your great, informative videos!! They have enabled me to learn and prepare for what is ahead. The Lord Bless you!!

[rainbows_trees_clouds_dais]

My father and I have ADHD (me, diagnosed; him, undiagnosed but textbook/definitely has it). We tick so many boxes for dementia through ADHD symptoms. In fact my father had a reaction to his Covid shot, affecting his mental health due to severe insomnia. I had to take him to a psychologist to help him work on anxiety and sleep hygiene/help him understand what was going on as he was freaking out. Everyone kept saying "ooh, sounds like dementia"... and i had ro point out, those symptoms were his baseline/totally normal (his whole life... including stories as far back from when he was a toddler), just exaggerated with the lack of sleep that started after his Covid shots. I now wonder if dementia is really hard to pick up in people with ADHD?? Our executive functioning is terrible, we lose things all of the time, we get lost/completely forget were we parked the car if in acrush, use "thingo" and "what's its name" all of the time, blurt out really inappropriate stuff if we're stressed or multi tasking etc.... im covered in bruises that i have no idea where i got them (constantly running into table corners and doors etc)... my Dad knocked off two car doors in two days when he was rushing to prepare for a long outback trip (reversed out of the garage with door open... yes, twice!).... we both drive off with stuff on the roof of the car etc. I was working from home to meet a deadline/really busy and stressed + couldnt find my document hole punch anywhere (absolutely needed as was doing hardcopy records for the Accountants)... i found it about a month late in my fridge 😂. How on earth with either of us ever get picked up early for dementia (touch wood we dont get!)/early intervention?? Or is there a chance we'd get misdiagnosed with dementia (when it's regular ADHD with natural cognitive decline of aging)? Are people with ADHD more prone to dementia? This is a topic that might be helpful to discuss further? Thanks!

[kayokolindenberger]

Yes, more please! I found this to be very helpful in understanding my mom's vascular dementia. And most likely this has been going on for some time, but my dad and I didn't recognize what was going on as a part of dementia. Thank you!

[chrismcgatha]

Really great information. Although I am a retired OR RN Clinician with some 5 years of psych thrown in, much of this is new to me. My younger sister has dementia and early onset Alzheimer's. I've recommended your page to her son as well as my brother. We're all learning...

[megangreene]

It seems possible that my 52 year old husband has some of this. He struggles with trying to remember words, and with learning new things. He was previously very sharp with his cognitive skills. He was unable to take on a different job than what he already does because he was unable to learn the technology required for it.
My husband's dad died of Alzheimer's disease two years ago.

[jancoleman]

Hindsight is 20/20 and this explains so much about my mom’s early symptoms. Wish I’d known more then but live and learn! And this is so helpful going forward. PS Mom is scheduled to have a geropsychiatric evaluation on August 30.

[AlbertD]

This was a very informative video. I can now see how my wife's behaviors relate to her dementia. It has been way more difficult to distract her lately and carry on a conversation. She will drift off into a completely different subject mid-sentence. Yesterday I showed her a cute video of a friend's new dog. She said, "he's cute, that's why I need more blue pens". She can't hold a subject for more than a few seconds it seems.

[lynnblack]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you! My husband had a fall/ brain bleed, like a stroke and now has dementia.

[lauriewooderson]

This is very helpful! My husband had a boating accident early Aug. followed by a broken tibia, surgery, plates pins and so much confusion. Fast forward 3 months and he is diagnosed with Cerebral Amyloid Antipathy CAA. His symptoms emulate Dementia with memory, complex tasks, talking about things that have not happened. He is only in his 60s💔 I’m learning a lot from your channel and am taking it a day at a time. Thank you!

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I'm grateful for your channel, thank you for this great info.

[juddie]

👏Thank you, I learned from this! More videos like these would be very helpful in my journey💪❤️

[marygood]

Yes, I would like more info like this

[pattyp]

This is very helpful. It has helped me understand what is happening on so many different levels beyond memory issues.

[ya]

I probably could not pass a cognitive test. I have a good memory, I can learn new things and I remember important stuff like schedules and numbers, but I can't learn verses and often the need to recall is impaired, but later I remember. This has been a life-time issue. (age-68)