Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Elderly parents
Original poster

Memory "clinic" assessment problems/questions

35 replies

FiveFoxes · 15/01/2024 15:45

Sorry this is long...

My Mum has been having memory problems for a couple of years now which have got progressively worse (she can't tell the time, forgets important information, is forgetting how to write..). She lives alone. She finally agreed to speak to GP about her memory, who did a mini test, which my Mum failed spectacularly, so referred her to the Memory Clinic.

The Memory clinic in my area seems to be run by a completely different NHS trust that just deals with mental health. Anyway, after the GP appointment I received a call from someone wanting to make an appointment. Her English was very poor and I struggled to understand her and she struggled to understand me. Eventually she managed to make an appointment. Then called the next day with a garbled answerphone message and I had to call back. Eventually established the appointment time and date. It turned out that the Memory "clinic" would involve them visiting my Mum at home, which was very odd.

The appointment came. Unfortunately it was the same lady with poor English plus a supervisor. She was a healthcare assistant I think. The tests were a complete farce. She was struggling to ask the questions, I was struggling to understand her and was then trying to interpret for my Mum. The supervisor kept interrupting telling the lady that the question need to be asked in a different way. Some things were completely skipped over, such as following instructions, due to all this. My Mum became increasingly distressed by it all.

It turns out the next step is that someone (a doctor?) reviews the notes which they made and refers her to a CT scan. Then will give a diagnosis and these ladies will then return to break it to my Mum and I. Not sure how she gets prescribed some medication?

I really want to complain about how this test was conducted in the worst most unprofessional manner. And I know it sounds awful, but I think being able to speak and understand English well should be a criteria for the job. How can you assess understanding when there is a language barrier?

I know my Mum has a problem and I know it's probably Alzheimer's. But I feel so let down with this system. I was expecting that we'd go to an appointment in a hospital and see a doctor for assessments, not this. It doesn't change the outcome, but it has made the process so awful.

I needed to share to get this off my chest and to see if this was a normal way to diagnose vulnerable people with a life-changing condition.

OP posts:
alladvicegratefullyappreciated · 15/01/2024 16:19

I’m sorry you are going through this @FiveFoxes. I do understand. My DM has been slowly declining with dementia for over ten years. She refused any diagnosis until v recently via Power of Attorney. Normal for them to come out to you. No scan has ever been done and I don’t think they have the resources. Medication via GP. My DM is still under the Community Mental Health but that’s because she has sadly become quite aggressive (and I kicked up a massive fuss). Do complain, it sounds a distressing experience all around. Also Age UK are very helpful IME

CalMeKate · 15/01/2024 16:12

I would go to PALs and also cc in the service manager. The supervisor will support what you say if they also had to make comments.

I would happily write it for you in a format that gets you an answer. (I have to respond to PALs emails as part of my job so I know what to say to get the output you need).

confusedbythesystem · 15/01/2024 16:11

My Mum was visited at home by someone from a memory clinic. Dementia (likely Alzheimers) was diagnosed and Mum was put on medication from the GP. No CT scan done or suggested.

The Memory Clinic person said their service had a very high threshold and would not see Mum again unless depressed or aggressive. So for the next five years the only review for Mum's dementia was through the GP. She was not actually seen in person by a GP during this time. The review turned out to be an annual blood test with the practice nurse. Any medical appointments for other ailments were a discussion by phone with me (LPOA for Health) and issue of a prescription.

It's really shocked me that there's no diagnosis or review from a dementia consultant, as you'd expect with other serious conditions. People with dementia are just left to slowly decline without support until they have a crisis.

BassoContinuo · 15/01/2024 16:07

I don’t think it’s racist if the issue was that they couldn’t communicate adequately with your mother. HCAs surely need to be able to adapt how they communicate as they’ll be working with a lot of people with different communication needs.

Original poster
FiveFoxes · 15/01/2024 16:01

I don't think there are any hospitals in the Trust. It just does Mental health, Learning Disabilities, Drug and Alcohol services apparently.

They do have a PALS though. Not sure about complaining, even though I want to, as part of it just sounds racist - that she couldn't speak/understand English very well.

OP posts:
winewinewine23 · 15/01/2024 15:59

That sounds dreadful, and distressing for your mum and for you too.

Agree that a home visit is a good idea as then your mum is in a place she's more comfortable with so her answers are likely to be more realistic (being stressed in a strange place means my mum can't answer simple questions).

But I completely agree about the need to being able to speak and understand English clearly. How on earth can they think that was acceptable??!! Complain to PALS.

BelindaOkra · 15/01/2024 15:56

But yes contact PALS.

BelindaOkra · 15/01/2024 15:56

Visiting at home makes sense - less stressful for the person being assessed. The language issue sounds a problem though. It shouldn’t matter that it was a HCA doing the tests, but the fact it wasn’t done well is not great.

DustyLee123 · 15/01/2024 15:54

Do they have PALS at the hospital where the staff came from?

DustyLee123 · 15/01/2024 15:53

My MIL was visited at home by the memory clinic people.