Dementia Care Delays Pose Challenges for Families in Denmark

Patients in Denmark wait nearly six months for a dementia assessment. Danish law sets the legal limit at 30 days. Last year, the average waiting time was 165 days nationwide. That is five times longer than the legal limit. Nearly 25,000 people waited longer than 30 days over four years. This finding comes from Denmark's National Audit Office, reported by CPH Post.

The Public Accounts Committee sharply criticized all five Danish regions for these delays. It noted that 84 percent of patients do not get assessed within 30 days. The committee used its second-highest level of official criticism. Waiting times also vary greatly depending on where you live in Denmark. In the Region of Southern Denmark, the average wait was 133 days. In Region Zealand, patients waited an average of 244 days.

The audit revealed another clear pattern regarding social background. Patients with strong social backgrounds receive faster care than others. This group includes people with higher education, wealth, and supportive family networks. On average, their assessment process was 24 days shorter. In contrast, patients with debt or no partner faced much longer delays. The committee demanded a formal investigation into these unfair gaps.

Danish Regions chairman Mads Duedahl admitted the criticism was justified. He promised that authorities will work hard to fix the bottleneck. He noted that long delays cause heavy stress for patients and their families. The regions are looking at new ways to expand assessment capacity. One option is allowing general practitioners to handle more assessments. If you care for elderly relatives, expect long waits for specialist dementia care.