What are some things that are considered before someone is diagnosed with dementia?

Are you asking what the diagnostic process is? It depends upon who is doing the diagnosis. An internist might do a "mini mental status exan", ie who is the president, what day is it, count backwards by some number from some other number. A geriatric neurologist has a larger battery of tests, often done in conjunction with a neuropsychologist. If you have extensive testing done, along with brain imaging, you get lots of information about what sorts of activities will help the elder stay well, what kinds of activities are "too much" for them--think driving, bill paying, medication management.

1. Can they feed themselves? 2. Can they prepare meals? 3. Can they bathe and toilet independently.? 4. Are they blind? deaf? 5. Do they require NH care? 6. Can they manage medication? 7. Can they manage finances? 8. Can they dress themselves appropriately? ( taken from VA2680 form)