t’s a good idea to tell your family doctor or nurse practitioner, as well as specialists and other healthcare professionals (e.g. your dentist, optometrist, physiotherapist, etc.) that you have a neurocognitive disorder, as this could affect other aspects of your health. See section 3 Managing symptoms and changes.
However, some health and social care providers may not have much experience with Dementia, and you and the person with a Dementia will sometimes need to tell them how you would like them to help you. It can be helpful to bring a list of questions to your appointments. It’s important to advocate for yourself and the person you’re caring for.
Be assertive so that you are involved in decisions about your care
Caregivers have told us that some healthcare providers treat people with cognitive impairment as incompetent and do not support them in making decisions about their care and their lives. It’s important to make it clear that people with neurocognitive disorders need to be able to participate in decisions about their care. Ask the provider if he or she has given you and the person you’re helping all the information, or if there are other possibilities. This way, they’ll know your wishes and preferences.
If you or the person you’re caring for feels that your health or social care provider isn’t giving you enough information, or is speaking too quickly, you may need to ask for clarification and repeat the explanation. You don’t have to agree to anything until you fully understand your options and their risks and benefits.
Be assertive in asking for dementia treatments
Although many doctors are very familiar with the care of Dementia, new approaches to care are emerging regularly. It’s often helpful to discuss your questions, or share a new topic you’re wondering about. You can then discuss with your doctor whether or not this is useful for you.
A good example is rehabilitation for Dementia. Rehabilitation (such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech therapy) can help a person function on a day-to-day basis, so that he or she can remain independent for longer. You’ll find information on rehabilitation approaches on this website, and you can talk to your doctor if you find that it might be right for you. A family doctor or specialist may be able to refer the person with a neurocognitive disorder to the appropriate health professionals, such as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech therapist or psychologist, to help them meet their specific needs. If these health care services are not covered by your provincial health insurance plan, you may need to use private services for a fee. If you have private health insurance, some costs may be covered.
Learn more about being assertive with doctors and other professionals
- This Dementia Alliance Webinar recording gives suggestions on how a person with dementia can talk with their doctor about dementia
- Although this article is not about dementia it has some helpful tips on how to be assertive in talking to the doctor. The strategies shared in this article and the Dementia Alliance Webinar can be used with other health care providers.