How do I get my FIL diagnosed?

[Moominsmoo]

He’s definitely losing memory and is frightened. The gp doctor said he needs to keep asking him what he remembers over 6 months or so to diagnose. Its only just clicked that my FIL couldn’t remember the answers to the questions the doctor asked then - things like, ‘when did you retire’
live heard it’s best to catch it early, surely there is a better way to diagnose what’s going on?

We're trying to get a relative diagnosed and its been tough. They have a whole range of different things wrong with them and we just kept on and on at the doctor. In the end we spoke to thd doctor on the phone and mailed them a letter detailing the reasons why we suspect dementia, we listed quite a few incidents of things they'd forgotten too. We then got the relative to book an appointment and the Doc then referred them to the memory clinic and psychiatry for the elderly, a few others too, but less to do with possible dementia and more to do with mobility.

It took a few months, but they've had an appointment. It seemed to go really well, but the relative now seems to think they have been signed off as ok despite there being another appointment in 6 months. They got some of the questions wrong that they really shouldn't have imo.

My understanding is its to establish a baseline, then see if they have deteriorated at a faster rate than is typical for their age.

If I were you I'd keep badgering and keep lists of goings that your FIL gets 'wrong'. A recent one we had was the relative asked after a close relative on the other side of the family that died a few years back. To me thats pretty major.

Thanks the,ovelychebbiemcgee great name.
good idea to keep lists. I don’t know how they establish a baseline in 15 mins, but hey.
ill keep badgering as well. And Ive googled memory clinics near us. It’s come up with the council website which at least gives a list of things to ask the gp.
thank you!

That sounds very annoying OP ( and worring) especially when not all dementia symptoms are memory related!! And wait times for memory clinics can be long. I would try and find out if you can refer directly to a memory assessment service ( you prob can't bit at least push for GP to refer because they are the assessment specialists not your GP)
Also loom through this amd give to GP as extra push for referral to the correct people.https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/dementia-diagnosis/how-to-get-dementia-diagnosis/dementia-symptoms-checklist

If it's not just memory you are worried about you can ask for a neurology referral

Have a look at the NICE guidelines, particularly 1.2 Diagnosis as this goes over what the GO should go or should have done.

I found the book the Twilight Shepherd helpful for information in looking after loved ones as they age and I've not read Contented Dementia but I've seen other MNers say how helpful they've found the approach it suggests.

Thank you everyone! Feeling super isolated today so it’s wonderful to get such lovely responses.