Sharing the News of your Diagnosis with Friends

Download the Sample Letter Template for people living with dementia here

Download the Sample Letter Template for care partners here

After receiving a diagnosis of dementia, it can be hard to imagine sharing this news with others due to the stigmas and myths around this disease. Some Nova Scotians describe the stigma as so overwhelming that they hesitate to disclose their diagnosis to friends and loved ones, which can intensify their feelings of isolation.  

Stigma and myths around dementia can present a barrier for those diagnosed when it comes to disclosing the diagnosis, leading them to keep quiet and isolate themselves. However, silence and isolation “feed” stigma while social connections are essential for living well with dementia. Some research even suggests that staying socially active might help slow the progression of dementia symptoms. 

The decision of whether or not to disclose a diagnosis of dementia is intensely personal. For those who feel ready, disclosing the diagnosis to those close to you can be both a way to tap into the support of your social network and to fight stigma. Sharing in this way can help create a world where others feel safer to share their difficult news. 

Ideally, the choice to disclose a diagnosis of dementia will be agreed upon by both the person living with dementia and their care partner. People living with dementia may have valid concerns about telling others, so it is important to listen with understanding, talk through these concerns, and work together to find ways to address them. At the same time, care partners need support themselves and should be able to confide in a trusted person who will respect the privacy of the person living with dementia.

In a situation like this, it can be hard to know what to say. While there is no wrong or right way to share the news of a diagnosis with friends and loved ones, it can be helpful to have a template to help you navigate disclosure. Linked at the top of this page, we provide two sample disclosure letter templates; one designed for a person living with dementia and one for a care partner. These templates can be adapted to suit your unique situation. 

Tips to consider:  

• Know your audience. You are the expert on your relationship. You might be selective in who you choose to tell, perhaps starting with the most supportive and dependable friend in your social circle. It is possible that some friends might react badly to this news due to a lack of understanding, fear, or feeling unsure of what to say. Your best judgement about your relationship should be your guide.  

• Consider your timing. Some will want to share the news soon after receiving their diagnosis. Others will need time to absorb and reflect on this life-altering diagnosis before they feel ready to talk about it with friends and loved ones. You are the expert on your own situation.

• Consider having someone you trust deliver the letter. You might be comfortable delivering the letter and having the initial conversation with your friend yourself. On the other hand, you might prefer to have a trusted third party, like a family member, support you with this first step

If you want to dispel some common harmful beliefs your friends may have about dementia our website has fantastic information on the myths and realities of dementia that you can refer friends to. This link will take you to the page: https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/stigma-against-dementia/myths-realities-dementia