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Dementia

What Doctor Should I See for A Dementia Diagnosis?

John Trevey on Mar 19, 2023
How fast does Alzehimer's progress - Bader House Georgetown and Plano
Table of Contents
  1. What is the best doctor for dementia?
    • Specialists who can diagnose dementia and Alzheimer’s
  2. Can a psychologist diagnose dementia?
    • How do you get diagnosed with dementia?
    • Methods for diagnosing Alzheimer’s and dementia

If you’re wondering if you or someone you love has dementia, the process of getting a proper diagnosis can feel overwhelming.

Who do you talk to?

Which doctor?

How will they determine if you have dementia or if it’s something else?

Most people haven’t been to the types of doctors who are equipped to diagnose dementia or Alzheimer’s, so you probably don’t even know where to begin. Your primary care physician, a psychiatrist, a neurologist?

We’re here to answer the most common questions people have when it comes to receiving a proper and accurate dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

What is the best doctor for dementia?

Symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s include memory loss, confusion, disorientation and change in mood or behavior. If you’ve noticed these symptoms in yourself or someone else, your first step is to set up an appointment with your primary care physician. A primary care physician cannot diagnose you with dementia, but he or she can help determine if your symptoms could be dementia-related or something else, such as a mood disorder like depression, or if a medication could be causing these behaviors.

Your primary care physician can then refer you to a specialist who can offer a proper diagnosis.

Bader House Thank you Card from Maury, daughter of patient P. Lawson

Specialists who can diagnose dementia and Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of specialists who can diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s. These specialists include:

1. Neurologists
Neurologist - What Doctor Should I See for A Dementia Diagnosis? - Bader House

Neurologists specialize in treating diseases in the brain, spinal cord and nervous system. Most are trained in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

2. Neuropsychologist
What Doctor Should I See for A Dementia Diagnosis? - Bader House

A neuropsychologist is not a medical doctor but is trained to observe how a brain injury or illness is affecting a person cognitively, physically and socially. They specialize in test administration and diagnosing illnesses that could be affecting someone’s ability to function in daily life, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

3. Geriatricians
What Doctor Should I See for A Dementia Diagnosis? - Bader House

Geriatricians are primary care physicians who specialize in older adult care (age 65 and above). They are able to diagnose dementia as well as other existing medical issues.

4. Geriatric psychiatrist
What Doctor Should I See for A Dementia Diagnosis? - Bader House

Geriatric psychiatrists specialize in mental health and aging. They can help determine if you’re developing dementia or if your symptoms are related to another mental health issue.

Dementia diagnostic centers, Alzheimer’s disease centers and Alzheimer’s disease research centers have specialists on staff who can diagnose dementia and Alzheimer’s. To find out if there’s a center near you, contact your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter here.

Can a psychologist diagnose dementia?

A psychologist can assist with making a dementia diagnosis but because psychologists are not medical doctors and Alzheimer’s is a physiological disease, the psychologist will likely work with your medical doctor, whether that’s a neurologist or geriatrician, to make a proper diagnosis.

Psychologists can also support you or a loved one through a diagnosis, which can be emotionally overwhelming, and help provide care during the earlier stages of dementia. Having someone to process your emotions with during this time can be incredibly beneficial.

As the American Psychological Association points out, a psychologist can also work with the family of the person living with dementia, helping guide them on the best plan of care for their loved one. Even when someone living with dementia or Alzheimer’s is in a long-term care facility, psychologists can help with behavioral challenges that may arise from the disease or a side effect of a medication.

Having a psychologist on board as part of your broader care team can be greatly beneficial for those who are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s or are caring for someone who is.

How do you get diagnosed with dementia?

There is not one single test that can diagnose dementia or Alzheimer’s. Instead, several different types of mental and physical tests can be run that point doctors to a definitive diagnosis.

Methods for diagnosing Alzheimer’s and dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of specialists who can diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s. These specialists include:

1. Cognitive testing

During these tests, a doctor will evaluate your thinking and reasoning ability, judgment and language skills among other skills and cognitive abilities.

2. Neurological evaluation

In addition to memory and language, doctors can use these evaluations to test your movement, balance and reflexes.

3. Psychiatric evaluation

A psychiatrist can run tests to determine if your symptoms are related to something other than dementia or Alzheimer’s, such as depression, anxiety or another emotional disorder.

4. Brain imaging

Brain imaging can be especially useful for an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. There are a few different types of brain imaging, including MRIs and Pet Scans.

Structural imaging using an MRI can show if there has been any sign of neurodegeneration, such as shrinking in the hippocampus, a part of the brain crucial to retaining memory. An MRI can also show if something else is causing memory loss or cognitive function issues such as a tumor, stroke, head trauma or fluid in the brain.

Functional imaging performed by a PET scan or a functional MRI can reveal if there is reduced brain cell activity in certain areas of the brain that would indicate Alzheimer’s disease.

Molecular imaging tests, which can be performed by a PET scan, can detect the beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain (tangles of these proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease) determining if someone has Alzheimer’s before the structure of the brain indicates presence of the disease.

4. Lab testing

Blood tests can determine if something other than dementia is causing memory loss such as low B-12 levels. Blood tests may also be helpful with early Alzheimer’s detection. A recent study found that a blood test called p-tau17 was successful at detecting the tau protein in blood, helping determine if someone had Alzheimer’s.

In addition, spinal fluid can be tested for pathologic amyloid plaques, tangles and neurodegeneration, a testing framework known as ATN, which can also aid in an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

If you’re worried you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s, don’t wait to seek a proper diagnosis. Set up an appointment with your primary care physician so she can rule out any conditions other than dementia that could be causing your symptoms and point you to the right specialist. The earlier you can receive a diagnosis, the earlier you can develop a plan of care and get on the right medications or treatment interventions, which will greatly improve your quality of life as you progress through the disease.

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Call us for more information

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Plano, TX 75075

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at Bader House!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

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