I think my aunt (60s) has autism but is afraid to get tested. I’d like to make it as easy as possible for her. she has aetna insurance (medicare)
I don’t mind paying costs out of pocket - I just want her to get help. But I am overwhelmed looking for a place to start.
Has anyone done this? Where should I begin?
Not sure whether this is a starting point, but I’d start with a screening tool with research backing like this one.
https://embrace-autism.com/raads-r/#test
There is good predictability with this, and in my experience will let you know whether a person would likely meet criteria for diagnosis.
As far as a diagnosis, you’d have to find somebody who has experience in that sort of thing, which may be challenging considering most people are diagnosed as children. I would do a web search for autism assessment and just be prepared to call and ask questions. You may end up connecting with local mental health places that don’t offer the service, but often mental health providers are aware of other services in the area if they don’t provide them themselves. (Ie, if the places you call don’t do autism assessment for adults, there is a fair chance they might know who in the area does)