EARLY DIAGNOSIS
African Caribbean and African people in the UK are 22% more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s compared to their white counterparts, yet we are diagnosed at far later stages of the disease, leading to grave outcomes, living for shorter periods and dying at earlier ages than our white friends and neighbours with the same condition.
Presenting oneself to the GP and getting an early diagnosis is ESSENTIAL. Early diagnostic certainty allows people with dementia and their care partners to:
- Plan and make choices
- Delay care-home admission
- Maximise your quality of life
- Play a more active role in their care
- Demystify and destigmatise your condition
- Gain access to information, resources and support for yourself and those close to you
- Facilitates access to specialist services, support and treatment, reduces costly and disruptive crises
- Benefit from support and available drug and non-drug therapies that may improve your cognition
- Explain to wider family, friends and colleagues what has changed in their life and how they can help you
The key to improving the lives of people living with dementia begins with diagnosis. Diagnosis means access to care, treatment, and support. It means knowing what condition you have and being able to plan for the future.
We believe that continuing with the same approach will continue to yield disproportionate late diagnosis results among people of African descent.
Collaboration is crucial, and as a result, we have taken the initiative to collaborate with various statutory partners. Our goal is to come together, share knowledge and make a difference for those who are worried about the possibility of being affected by dementia. We are launching a campaign to encourage members of African descent communities who are concerned about ‘forgetfulness’ and dementia to visit their GP surgeries for timely and effective diagnosis.
As part of this campaign, we plan for GP surgeries to be mailing out specially designed culturally appropriate dementia awareness materials along with a letter to targeted individuals, encouraging them to make an appointment once they have any concerns. The focus on meaningful, sustainable involvement of those affected by dementia must always be central.