Many Alzheimer's Patients Not Told About Their Diagnosis

One in five Canadians suffers cognitive impairment over the age of 65. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the more prevalent conditions and the patients are often not told of this diagnosis.
Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms don’t begin appearing until the mid- to late stages of progression. If the disease were diagnosed early enough and the patient informed of it, steps can be taken to slow the progression and help the patient and his family work through the disease. Yet according to a study conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association only 45% of people with Alzheimer’s have been told of their diagnosis! This leaves 55% of those diagnosed not being told by their physician.
The study goes on to reveal the reasons doctor are not disclosing to their patients the diagnosis and they fall into three general categories; not wanting to cause emotional distress, lack of support services and not enough time to discuss treatment options. It is also mentioned that the stigma surrounding the Alzheimer’s diagnosis prevents patients from being told.
As the disease progresses patients are more likely to be told of their diagnosis creating a real dichotomy in care, because if they had been informed in the earlier stages, care and steps could have been taken to prepare and being told in later stages, the nature of the disease makes it more likely to be forgotten.
In the U.S. doctors are not required by law to disclose the diagnosis which raises the question of morality of informing someone of a fatal disease yet being told of other fatal diseases the numbers increase significantly to the 90 percentile so this is endemic to Alzheimer’s.
Taking the stigma out of Alzheimer’s is a primary goal to enhance treatment in Alzheimer’s disease and make the transitions easier for the patient and family. There should be no stigma around a fatal disease and support can be found with Alzheimer’s clinics like AGE Matters Clinic in Toronto.
At the AGE Matters Clinic, a leading Alzheimer’s Clinic in Toronto, we believe in working with the patient to provide the necessary tools to optimize life with Alzheimer’s.
AGE Matters Clinic realizes there is a lack of support services and is filling the gaping support hole. They specialize in the many phases of Alzheimer’s and the memory impairment that progress with the disease. Complete cognitive and memory assessment is performed and an individualized treatment plan put in place for the patient and family.