Questions to ask after a dementia diagnosis
Families often realize on the drive home that they did not ask the questions that mattered most. The appointment moved quickly and the diagnosis absorbed all the available attention.
Bringing a written list, and handing a copy to the clinician at the start, reliably improves what you get out of the time.
About the diagnosis
- What specific type of dementia is this, and how confident are you in that?
- What testing led to this conclusion, and is further testing recommended?
- Were other causes of these symptoms ruled out, including thyroid, vitamin deficiency, medication effects, and depression?
- What does this stage typically mean for daily functioning right now?
About treatment
- Are medications appropriate here, and what would we expect them to do?
- What side effects should we watch for, and when should we call you?
- Are there medications currently prescribed that should be reconsidered?
- Are there non-medication approaches you recommend?
About safety and daily life
- Is driving still appropriate, and how should that be reassessed?
- Can this person safely be alone, and for how long?
- Can they manage their own medications?
- What should prompt an urgent call rather than waiting for the next visit?
About what comes next
- What changes should we reasonably expect over the next six to twelve months?
- When is the next appointment, and with whom?
- Is a referral to a specialist, social worker, or memory program available?
- What documentation might we need for benefits, employment, or legal planning?
A practical tip
Bring a second person and assign them to take notes. The person asking questions cannot reliably record answers at the same time.
If the list is long, mark your top three. Clinicians will nearly always get through three well-chosen questions.
Talk it through with a navigator
Bring this exact situation to a 30-minute clarity call.
Free 15-Minute Clarity CallSaharo Dementia Navigator provides non-medical dementia-care guidance and family support. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, emergency assistance, legal advice, therapy, or licensed clinical case management.
Keep reading
- What to do during the first seven days after a dementia diagnosis
- When sudden behavior changes require medical attention
- Home safety after a dementia diagnosis
- How families can prepare for hospital discharge
- What caregiver burnout can look like
- How to divide dementia-care responsibilities among siblings
- Dementia versus delirium: why the difference is urgent
- When someone with dementia should no longer be left alone
- How to prepare for a dementia family meeting