Benefits of a formal diagnosis?

I'm 64, female, waiting for a diagnosis.

I guess I had several reasons for seeking a diagnosis, I don't think it will make much difference to the way I live now and I don't expect any support afterwards.  I'm lucky in that I am at a stage in life where I can arrange things so I have time to recover if I have to interact with people a lot.  It's made a lot of difference just calling myself autistic without a proper diagnosis but I did finally decide to go for it after hesitating for a while.

My first reason is perhaps a strange one.  I've seen both my mum and dad with terminal illnesses, and they were treated well by the medical staff.  But maybe a little too touchy feely for what I could cope with if I was in the same situation and unable to express my needs. I cartainly would not want to be hugged and kissed by the care staff in the way they were, and I hope a formal diagnosis might help with that.  I know I can write a formal statement of how I want to be treated anyway, but want a diagnosis to back it up and make it a bit more understandable for some care staff.

Secondly, we moved to a new town several years ago.  When I started to get to know people I found some were telling me that they were autistic, or knew a lot of autistic people or had autistic family members.  I was slow to catch on, but later thought they were trying to find out if I was autistic myself.  But not having a formal diagnosis, I just did not reply.

Lastly, I know I can self-describe, but I would like to be sure.  I have several friends who are sceptical anyway about neurodiversity, so I again I want a way to say "I'm not imagining things."

I'm 64, female, waiting for a diagnosis.

I guess I had several reasons for seeking a diagnosis, I don't think it will make much difference to the way I live now and I don't expect any support afterwards.  I'm lucky in that I am at a stage in life where I can arrange things so I have time to recover if I have to interact with people a lot.  It's made a lot of difference just calling myself autistic without a proper diagnosis but I did finally decide to go for it after hesitating for a while.

My first reason is perhaps a strange one.  I've seen both my mum and dad with terminal illnesses, and they were treated well by the medical staff.  But maybe a little too touchy feely for what I could cope with if I was in the same situation and unable to express my needs. I cartainly would not want to be hugged and kissed by the care staff in the way they were, and I hope a formal diagnosis might help with that.  I know I can write a formal statement of how I want to be treated anyway, but want a diagnosis to back it up and make it a bit more understandable for some care staff.

Secondly, we moved to a new town several years ago.  When I started to get to know people I found some were telling me that they were autistic, or knew a lot of autistic people or had autistic family members.  I was slow to catch on, but later thought they were trying to find out if I was autistic myself.  But not having a formal diagnosis, I just did not reply.

Lastly, I know I can self-describe, but I would like to be sure.  I have several friends who are sceptical anyway about neurodiversity, so I again I want a way to say "I'm not imagining things."