Quicker diagnosis of Alzheimer’s could enable more people with the condition to access the benefits of their cover, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Laura Clark, senior corporate development manager at the organisation revealed that one of the biggest challenges people with Alzheimer’s have is securing a diagnosis, and this can impact on insurance claims.
“A lot of providers will require a diagnosis that has been confirmed by a consultant,” Clark told an Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) event.
“Most people living with dementia will not see a consultant before that diagnosis. They may have been to a clinic or their GP. Most don’t see a consultant, so it’s that step earlier.
“And if we can make diagnosis more widespread and more accurate and easier to get, then that hopefully will open up the potential for people to access cover without people having to go to the extremes of a consultant’s diagnosis.”
Insurable cost
Benedict Burke, chief client officer – global client development at Crawford & Company and founding member of the IUAD, also maintained that the insurance industry needs to think more creatively around developing solutions for people with dementia.
“If I have a dementia diagnosis I can live well with support for two, three, four years on average,” Burke said.
“But there is a cost to that. Why is that not insurable? One in three people will suffer from this. It’s an option to buy into that cover.
“There is an additional, it can’t all have a charitable basis. So I think there’s actually a commercial value in that provision as well as a caring value.
“Ultimately, there’s an ROI on that but we have to be imaginative over what that looks like.”
During her presentation Clark, also outlined some of her top tips for communicating with people with the condition.
These include:
- listening and repeating back what they have said so you and they are clear on what has been said;
- reducing distractions such as turning off the television or going to a quieter area;
- speaking at a slower pace and clearly and calmly and using shorter sentences;
- using clear body language – ensuring eye contact and that facial expressions matches what you are saying;
- using aids such as words or objects;
- and most importantly – treating people with respect.