Waiting Months for a Dementia Specialist? Do These 8 Things Now | Dr. Khushboo Verma

Waiting months for a dementia specialist or memory clinic appointment can feel helpless—but there are high-impact steps you can start today that may improve day-to-day function and make your neurology visit more productive. In this video, Dr. Khushboo Verma shares the 8 practical things she reviews in a first dementia consultation—most of which you can begin before you ever see a specialist. In this video: 8 things to do while waiting for a dementia specialist 1. Mood (anxiety/depression support) 2. Sleep (sleep hygiene + “falling asleep vs staying asleep” clues) 3. Hearing (hearing testing and hearing aids when needed) 4. Vision (glasses update, cataracts/glaucoma checks) 5. Swallowing safety (coughing/choking → swallow evaluation) 6. Balance/fall prevention (PT + cane vs walker decisions) 7. Medication review (identify meds that worsen cognition; discuss tapering safely) 8. Chronic pain (pain steals attention; treat pain to support thinking) ✅ Caregiver action: Comment below—which of these 8 feels most urgent for your family right now: sleep, mood, falls, meds, or swallowing? 1. Make your appointment count (bring this) 2. A symptom timeline (when it started, stepwise vs gradual, biggest changes) 3. Current medication list (dose + why it’s taken) 4. A short list of safety concerns (falls, wandering, choking, driving) 5. Any sleep observations (snoring, gasping, daytime sleepiness) Medical Disclaimer: This video is for general education only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for care from your clinician. Do not start, stop, or change medications without speaking to your prescribing clinician. If your loved one has sudden or rapidly worsening confusion, new severe agitation, fever, new weakness, repeated falls, or trouble breathing/swallowing, seek urgent medical care or call local emergency services. Keywords: waiting for dementia specialist, memory clinic waitlist, what to do while waiting for neurology appointment, dementia appointment preparation, memory loss evaluation, caregiver tips dementia, sleep apnea and memory, hearing loss dementia