How to inform the person with dementia of the diagnosis?
If you feel that the person would want to know their diagnosis, you might nevertheless find it difficult to approach the subject. Some people would prefer to be told privately on a one-to-one basis, whereas others might find it more reassuring to be told in the presence of their family, who could give them moral and emotional support. Another possibility is to arrange for the person’s doctor to tell them. You could arrange to go to the doctor together or for the person to go alone. The doctor could then answer any questions that you and/or the person with dementia might have. It is extremely important to consider the person’s individual preconceptions and prejudices about the disease and to anticipate how they might react to certain information, as well as their ability to understand. Some people might understand an explanation of what the disease is, how it tends to progress and the consequences for daily living, whereas others might only be able to grasp that they have a
