Edited because I sometimes go on and on...
I'm concerned about my mom having psych tests as part of a memory improvement treatment program. The tests will be administered by a clinical psychologist. What if they diagnose her with early dementia or something? She may be slowing down, but I can’t imagine she has anything serious yet. Would a diagnosis mean she had to leave her current residence, even if she seems fine? I guess I’m paranoid, but I’ve always played my own life pretty close to the vest and I’m uneasy about her getting into something that will mess up her life.
A large portion of my professional life was spent in a therapeutic field, and believe me, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
If she is tested, she will have confidentiality rights, and will be able to exercise her own judgment as to what she chooses to share with whom.
Funny story on myself, I am totally incapable of repeating strings of numbers or random letters backwards, from memory. I would have been failing that portion of cognitive testing years ago.
In any case, an assessment is not a diagnosis. The clinical psychologist will take various measurements of various types of cognitive function; but as to the cause of any present conditions - the cause of any apparent problem could be something as simple as your mother's not paying attention or needing the loo. This is NOT going to lead to her losing her driving licence or being forced into memory care; but - doesn't sound like it, but - it could flag up things to keep an eye on. How would that hurt?
By all means check the program's data protection credentials if you're still worried. I personally wouldn't be any more worried about this than I would be about doing a quiz in Good Housekeeping to see if my marriage will last.
Independent living places are unlikely to remove well-behaving residents. My FIL also lives in an independent living community and has mild dementia. He keeps to himself most of the day but participates in exercise classes and meals. He has no behavioral issues that make him a risk to have live there.
Check the lease - the language is probably pretty vague - and until something actually happens I would not worry about it. Our plan for my FIL is for him to continue living there unless he needs to move to the memory care building.
Can your mother elucidate what her hesitancy is?
For us, as a family, it was a valuable experience. It got my brother to quit saying that mom's anxiety was just her having a pity party. It validated the fact that there was cognitive loss.
Can you discuss with the psychologist, prior to the testing session, if s/he would be mandated to report your mother to DMV if there were a certain level of impairment demonstrated on the testing?
I believe this varies from state to state.
Maybe we should ask whether she can skip the psych test. It's her decision, but she has been talking to me about whether she should even participate, and I got to thinking...
Thank you again.
I can't imagine that she would have to move based on tests. I think that behavior and needs would drive that action.
She can not be deemed incompetent without a hearing and a judge would be the only one that could label her as incompetent. Of course they rely on Doctors and test results, behavior and other things to make this determination. It is a BIG deal, people lose their rights with that determination and it is not easy to get.
I can understand your hesitation with all the potential problems involved with mental health diagnosis. We live in a time that costs you some rights and you never know where it will go.
I hope she is okay and you find help for her without having to subject her to more unpleasantness.
Thank you for your understanding and for your reply.
My mom had this sort of evaluation; in the "debriefing" several weeks later, the neurologist who was part of the team gently told my mother that she should no longer be living alone ( she had already moved to an Independent Living facility, so it confirmed that that had been a good idea) and made several other recomme rations for lifestyle changes. She was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment; no scores were ever divulged, to her or to us.
We found it very useful and actionable information. Is your mother currently living alone?
If a person is diagnosed as having mild impairment, does that mean they can't drive anymore?
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I will talk to the psychologist. That's a good idea. I think you area correct that they want to learn where she is so they can help, but I also think they may be conducting a study.
What concerns me about test scores is that she may feel badly if her score isn't as high as others.....leading her to feel badly about herself possibly, you know? Other than that, I don't think these games are designed to diagnose dementia or to threaten her living independently. It's probably more of a money making venture combined with a fun/social activity designed to improve oneself.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
My concern is not really the games, but the psych eval. (I went on too long in my "question".) I don't want her to feel badly -- agree with you especially there -- but I also don't want an official diagnosis to be used against her in some way.
It may not be the big deal I'm afraid it is.
Thank you again!