Dementia Evaluations Near Me

So you know something has changed in your loved one. It’s time to take action. Right now. Today.

And strap in. This is going to be a long, bumpy journey.

Consider a few statistics.

· One person gets diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nearly every 60 seconds. 7,000,000 people are living with it in the US, and Alzheimer’s will nearly double in the next 25 years.

· As far back as 2019, the American Academy of Neurology admitted that nearly every US state faces a shortage of neurologists.

· Florida has over 23,000,000 people. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 680 neurologists in Florida.

· The average wait time for a person with Medicare to see a neurologist is 34 days, and 1 in 5 people waited more than 90 days.  

What these statistics mean for you is that you are already actively competing with your neighbors for that one appointment that is likely 90 days out. And both wait times and the progressive nature of dementia are only going to get worse. Ninety days is a long time to worry about dad leaving the stove on, mom getting lost while driving, or your spouse forgetting names of family and friends.

Do not wait to make an appointment. Do it now. The way that you can perceive the wait time in a positive way is you will have plenty of time to gather data. See my blog post “ADL’s Defined” to learn a bit more about what exactly to write down and keep track of over these next few months.

And definitely write things down. The more examples you raise with neurology, the easier it is to understand what’s going on. Check out my free Caregiver Checklist here at the bottom of my homepage to get yourself organized.

Here is your homework: google “dementia evaluation near me.” Today, call the neurology practice closest to you. Ask them what the wait time is for a new patient memory evaluation. Then ask them when the next available appointment is after that. My guess is you’ll hear 3-6 months for the next available, and then the next one is months after that.

Stay tuned for season 2 of the Minding After Podcast to learn more about the specifics of diagnostics, and why you should prepare yourself for a months-long journey.