Department of Health

We can help patients, their family and carers, and their healthcare professionals provide appropriate care in the person’s home or care facility.

Inform their GP

If we suspect that a patient may be suffering from dementia, we must communicate this to the patient’s GP who will provide ongoing primary care and coordinate diagnosis and management. Provide the GP with results of cognitive and other screening and tests performed during the person’s admission.

Other referrals

Consider referring the person to other relevant services.

Memory clinics are known as cognitive dementia and memory services (CDAMS) in Victoria. These clinics incorporate a range of specialists (such as neurologists, geriatricians, psycho-geriatricians, psychiatrists and neuro-psychologists) involved in diagnosing dementia and provide diagnostic services for all types of dementia. They have more detailed knowledge of memory and behaviour changes associated with dementia and may perform, or arrange, in-depth assessments. In Australia, a specialist must confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease for a patient to be eligible for subsidised Alzheimer’s medications.

Aged care assessment services (ACAS) comprise multidisciplinary professionals who conduct comprehensive, medical assessments for older people needing community services or aged care residential services. They help identify the type of care that best meets the needs of older people and their family and carers, put them in contact with relevant services, make recommendations about the level of care required and approve eligibility for certain services and packages.

Alzheimer’s Australia provides information and support for people and carers with dementia. Their national dementia helpline is 1800 100 500.

Meaningful activities enhance opportunities for social connection and participation. Encourage the older person and their family or carers to make contact with their local library, council or neighbourhood house, or check their local newspaper, to determine what activities might be available in their area.

Discharge summary

Provide patients, family and carers with a written discharge summary, including dates and contact details for any follow-up required.

Reviewed 05 October 2015

Health.vic

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