Definition
Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, means a definite diagnosis of dementia, which must be characterized by a progressive deterioration of memory and at least one of the following areas of cognitive function:
- aphasia (a disorder of speech)
- apraxia (difficulty performing familiar tasks)
- agnosia (difficulty recognizing objects), or
- disturbance in executive functioning (e.g. inability to think abstractly and to plan, initiate, sequence, monitor and stop complex behaviour), which is affecting daily life.
The insured person must exhibit:
- dementia of at least moderate severity, which must be evidenced by a mini mental State Exam of 20/30 or less, or equivalent score on another generally medically accepted test or tests of cognitive function, and
- evidence of progressive worsening in cognitive and daily functioning either by serial cognitive tests or by history over at least a 6 month period.
The diagnosis of dementia must be made by a specialist.
Exclusion
No benefit will be payable under this condition for affective or schizophrenic disorders, or delirium.
