Families Face Delays for Dementia Diagnoses

Why it matters locally: New York, with its large and aging population, is likely experiencing similar diagnostic delays, impacting numerous families seeking care and support services for loved ones with dementia. State and local health agencies, including the New York State Department of Health, face ongoing challenges in ensuring timely access to neurological assessments and geriatric care.

Hundreds of families have encountered delays of several months to multiple years in obtaining a dementia diagnosis for a loved one. These families reported the extended wait times as they sought official medical assessments for individuals exhibiting symptoms consistent with dementia.