Aim

To describe older persons who had commenced a memory assessment, experiences of living with memory impairment and related symptoms.

Background

Persons with subjective memory impairment are two times more likely to develop dementia over the years than their peers. Older persons seldom seek help from primary health care clinics solely for subjective memory impairment. Of those who seek help, it can take up to 35 months from the person experiencing initial symptoms to referral to a memory clinic. Further research is needed regarding how older persons live with memory impairment with related symptoms before they receive a memory diagnosis.

Method

A qualitative study with 23 participants who had commenced a memory assessment in primary care. Semi-structured interviews were held. During the interviews, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was completed and discussed with the participants. Interview data were analysed using Interpretive Description.

Results

The results are presented under four themes: Conflicting views about the situation, Unveiling the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, Compensating with external and internal strategies to recall and Worrying about self and future. Persons with memory impairment were encouraged by family members or others to seek a memory assessment. Few persons were self-referred as memory impairment was often seen as a part of aging. Polarised viewpoints existed within the families regarding the impact of memory impairment on daily life. The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms appeared unexplored in the participants seeking a memory assessment. In this study, the majority of participants experienced neuropsychiatric symptoms at the time of contact for a memory assessment.

Conclusions

Memory problems experienced were often viewed by the person as being part of an aging process. The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was not acknowledged as being connected to memory impairment. Contextualising ‘memory impairment’ as a part of a ‘cognitive process’ may help the person in identifying the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.