"Memory Assessment"

My mum has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which raised concerns about early dementia and mild cognitive impairments since there was already a history of cognitive issues. I didn't know what to expect during the assessment, and my mum didn't realise what the process would entail. The term "assessment" can mean many different things, so we found ourselves uncertain about what to expect.

We received a letter before the assessment instructed us to bring certain items, including an advanced care plan. We were unfamiliar with what this was, so I visited the Dementia website and printed the necessary forms. I had to ask my mum some uncomfortable questions and make a special trip to fill out these forms, which caused her and myself a lot of stress before even attending the appointment. Additionally, my mum doesn't live with me, so I had to leave her at home after completed the forms, which contributed to the negative feelings we had toward the assessment process, because of the nature of the questions, it was just awful leaving her.

I was confused as to why we were asked to bring these forms, especially since the nurse seemed surprised that I had completed them.

I feel better now that I've been able to talk to someone about this experience. I hope to find a way to explain the process more clearly and help prevent other families from experiencing the distress that my mum and I did.