Alzheimer's Society: Increasing access to a dementia diagnosis (September 2021)

Summary

The Alzheimer’s Society has published three reports on dementia diagnosis to identify and address the challenges faced by people accessing a dementia diagnosis. 

Content

Each report seeks to increase the number of people living with dementia with a diagnosis by:

1. reducing regional variation in diagnosis
2. supporting those from an ethnic minority community to access a diagnosis
3. increasing diagnosis for people residing in a care home or hospital setting.

The reports set out a roadmap in how to achieve this change. But a diagnosis is not done in isolation. It requires all health and social care professionals involved in dementia care to recognise the symptoms of dementia and to initiate the process to diagnosis, which itself facilitates access to vital care and support that enables people to live well with the condition.

The recommendations set out in these reports, targeted at Integrated Care Systems, will address the current barriers to diagnosis.