Next steps after a dementia diagnosis
About dementia diagnosis
There is lots of help and support available for people affected by memory problems and dementia.
In this section:
Usually, a memory clinic concentrates on making the diagnosis and advising on first steps in support and treatment.
After that a person goes back into the care of their GP practice, where doctors and nurses will advise on longer term help, support, and treatments.
The GP practice should also let your local adult social services team know of your diagnosis so they can arrange an assessment of your care needs.
Sometimes you might need to ask them for this referral or make it yourself.
It’s important that someone diagnosed with dementia sees their doctor regularly for a general check-up. This can be every six to 12 months.
There is currently no cure for any type of dementia.
For people with Alzheimer’s and dementia with Lewy bodies, there are medications that can help your memory and thinking for a time.
People with other types of dementia may be given general advice about how to keep their brains as healthy as possible.
There are also therapies that may help, like physiotherapy and speech therapy.
Below you can hear about from Deborah about her experience after both of her parents were diagnosed with dementia, 20 years apart.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about memory and thinking, talk to your doctor or use the link below to find details of organisations that offer support.
When you or someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, it’s not unusual to feel scared about the future. But it’s important to remember that there are lots of organisations offering support and advice to help you.
Whether you need medical, legal, financial, or care advice, you can find contact details by clicking the button below.
Following a diagnosis it’s important to think about planning for the future. You may want to update your will or look into Lasting Power of Attorney. You can find out more about this below.
Getting a dementia diagnosis
Find out more about symptoms of dementia and how to get a diagnosis through your GP.
Order health information
Alzheimer’s Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
This information was updated in August 2025 and is due to be reviewed in August 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
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