1. Dementia Diagnosis in Care Homes
By Alex Stephenson
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
RMN

2. What is Dementia? Syndrome which is chronic and progressive in nature
Deterioration in cognition and functional skills
Affects older adults mostly
Not normal part of ageing

3. Types of Dementia Alzheimer’s disease Vascular dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Mixed type dementia (Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia)
HIV related dementia
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

4. Recognising Dementia Changes in memory Repetitive Misplacing items
Communication difficulties
Psychotic symptoms
Mood changes
Movement problems
Sleep disturbances
Personality and behavioural changes
Thinking skills

5. How is Dementia Diagnosed?
LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Cognitive testing
Scanning – MRI or CT
Neuropsychology

6. Benefits of a Dementia Diagnosis
Advanced care planning
Risk of delirium
Explanation
Deprivation of liberty
Help for the care home staff
Missed out residents
Treatment
Involvement of services

7. Referral for Assessment
Consent GP
Community Matron
Dementia Service Care Home Liaison

8. How to Access Care Home Liaison
Telephone number – Ask to speak to Alex, Mike or Kirstie with patient name, date of birth, NHS number (if known) and brief reason for referral Referral form Memory assessment only

9. Thank you for listening
Any Questions?