Family advocates for timely dementia diagnoses after long wait at Slagelse Hospital in Denmark

The first sign of illness for Britt Jensen’s mother was intense body tics, which made it difficult for her to control her arm movements and find peace. Shortly thereafter, significant gaps in her memory began to emerge, transforming a previously articulate woman into someone who sometimes spoke nonsensically and was nearly incomprehensible.

Britt Jensen, along with her sister and father, witnessed their mother rapidly deteriorate. Concerned about these drastic changes, the family sought assistance at Slagelse Hospital to understand what was happening. However, Jensen recounts a long and frustrating path to diagnosis.

“We struggled for months just to initiate an evaluation for dementia. When we finally insisted on action, my mother was given a follow-up appointment scheduled more than a year and a half away. I truly believe it is unacceptable, putting us in a position where she suffers more, and we exhaust ourselves in the process,” Britt Jensen said.

During the waiting period, Jensen observed her mother’s symptoms worsening. “We have lost so much of her while waiting for a diagnosis. I am sure that if she had been seen sooner, we could have slowed the disease’s progression and had more time with her while she was still herself.”

The wait times have drawn severe criticism, especially as Britt Jensen’s mother waited from spring 2021 until November 2023 for a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Reports indicate that nationwide, waiting times have increased significantly, with many patients now facing over a year of delays. Recent data shows that only 18% of dementia patients were evaluated within the recommended 90 days last year, the lowest percentage recorded since monitoring began.

The situation remains concerning, particularly for those like Jensen, who advocate for more timely diagnoses in the future.