Memory clinics - what do they do?

There are different types of dementia. My MiL had vascular dementia caused by a series of small strokes. She too insisted there was nothing wrong with her and cancelled appointments at the memory clinic. By the time she was persuaded to go she was too far along the line for medication.

Mr Aka has inherited his mother's genetic tendency and was discovered to have had a 'silent' stroke following a brain scan. But he wouldn't have been referred for the scan had I not have gone to the GP with him and been quite assertive persistent. He is now on medication to help prevent further damage. How successful this will be remains to be seen.

Belated thanks to Mishap, kittylester, Jendurham, ninathenana, sallybee123 and FlicketyB for your responses.

It is worth going to a memory clinic just for the diagnosis. Once you have that; what the problem is and it's cause, it is much easier for family and patient to decide how ordinary life should be adapted for the changed circumstances.

When I cared for my uncle and understood that his only problem was memory loss, I was able to play to his naturally well organised military mind by writing everything down like a list of instructions. I left the instructions in places he could see, kitchen worktop, coffee table etc. In that way we were able to keep him at home when his wife and carer went into hospital. He constantly consulted these lists so would be ready to go out when I came to take him shopping or visit his wife in hospital.

I would give him a list of what family member of friend would be calling in and when. It worked very well. When his wife developed dementia we had to develop different strategies to cope with her diagnosis of a different type of dementia and naturally ditzy personality.

The other possible causes of behavioural changes and memory loss can be depression, medication, stroke, COPD, lung problems, kidney and bladder infections, fever, drink (lots of elderly people drink to reduce pain), dehydration, malnourishment etc.

Hi

Hey, hold your horses everyone! Memory clinics are not just for Dementia type memory loss! It is quite possible that your Mum has a physical problem.

I am 51, and was under the Memory clinic from October last year until August this year as I was experiencing significant memory loss, problems with recall, language, and even remembering the next step in familiar tasks.

They carried out some baseline tests (which i failed), and then for an MRI of my brain. The MRI was assessed by a specific centre at Charring X hospital and was able to confirm that I do not have Dementia, but have had a number of strokes.

My memory loss is as a direct result of acquired brain injuries caused by the strokes. I used to see a speech therapist, and OT at the memory clinic and I have improved. My speech is still poor if I am stressed or very tired, and I don't run the bath (flooded twice), I don't cook when alone in house alone (I sit down and forget I'm cooking and as I am on other sedating meds I can fall asleep).

Fortunately my husband is brilliant at charades, and is brilliant at translating 'thingummys', 'whatsits', and 'doohdahs'! But I suspect that I would have more difficulties had I not had the help of the memory clinic!

Sorry that should be lewy bodies

[Kitty] whether or not medication is effective depends on the diagnosis i.e. Vascular, Lew Bodies, Alzheimers. My mum had vascular dementia for which there is no effective medication. Earliest possible treatment is advised if it's to be effective.

My mum was diagnosed 5yrs before she passed away. She attended a memory clinic only once in that time. I couldn't tell you exactly what hhappened as my brother took her.

ILoveLindt, if your mum is on medication, could it be the medication that is causing memory problems?
I do not mean for the memory, but for hypertension, etc.

Mum was given a memory drug (which for the life of me I can't remember the name of ) which she still takes, bafflingly. She was not given any strategies at all Mishap. We left notes all over the place and rang her on as a reminder for various things but, as I say, I think we got to it too late.

I do not know whether memory clinics now advise on drugs as a possible means of curtailing or delay mental deterioration, but when I was involved with people with dementia and brain injury the basis of the clinic practise was to help the person devise strategies to deal with memory impairment: diaries, charts, calendars, labels, beepers, electronic reminder devices etc.

Belated thanks kitty.

My mum was referred to a memory clinic but I suspect we were too late. we asked about private referral and were told that there are very few to be had.

I have posted on here about the difficulties we have had actually getting a psychologist to see Mum even when she has been really bad so I would get your Mum referred as quickly as possible and ask them to ring you! It seems reasonable, if someone is referred to a memory clinic that their next of kin should be involved so they should not have an issue with that.

People who are seen before the problem becomes too severe do have good results from the medication.

Good luck - it's a hard road.