I took my mom here as she has been exhibiting signs for years of dementia… she had several 5 minute evaluations while at hospital stay by different psychiatrist all of which pointed to dementia… but who wants to believe your 66 year old mom has dementia? So I found that Rush has a memory clinic and schedules 2 – 3 hour full evaluations to help better determine if she has dementia or the on set of it. Well I had to schedule about 3 or 4 months out — which I was ok with. I drive my mom to all of her doctor appointments so she doesn’t question me. When we starting driving into the city she had questions. I told her that her doctor recommended a memory evaluation so we could make sure she was on the right medications. She seemed fine with that. Well the office was very hard to find and I’m pretty familiar with the Rush campus. Turns out it us just off of the street but over a block away from parking. So I jumped out — put my flashers on — walked my mom to a lobby and told her to stay put. I went parked and sprinted back hoping she didn’t wander. Luckily she didn’t so we walked into the office — my heart sunk — I started to have a full on panic attack: every where you looked were plaques on «Dementia» and«Alzheimer’s» and I mean everywhere — I expected to see«Memory Clinic» only as I was lead to believe which would have been fine and I’m sure less stressful for all patients. I should have just turned around and walked her out of there because now she is scared to death — super confused — and super pissed at me because she assumed I was dropping her off«at the funny farm». I don’t regret the diagnosis — I just believe it was really handled wrong and I’m sure others would agree. Think about your patients — do you think they really want to be surrounded by terms that may define them? Somehow I’m thinking doctor offices that treat cancer patients diagnosis don’t have cancer poster spread all over the wall. It really deters peoples hope. So Rush you failed me in that way. Then questioning my mom and I with the door open — watching other patients walk by and staff… pretty sure that isn’t following patient/doctor confidentiality. Finally I was hoping for some information about treatments, support groups, thoughts about possibly exercising the mind a little to help potentially slow down the disease. Got nothing but a lady looking quite pleased with her observations that she shared with me in front of my mom… which just got my mom upset and she refused to talk to me or see me for 4 months. So thanks but no thanks. I visit hospitals and doctors everywhere because of my moms various illnesses and this was hands down the worst experience ever for both me and my loved one. I would not recommend to anyone and hope there is something offered at another facility but much more professional.
