Introduction
A Who’s Who of Help - a quick reference to health care professionals who can provide support.
Your GP can refer you to the following hospital and community services.
Hospital Services
- A psychiatrist – medical doctor specialising in mental illness for any age group.
- A neurologist – specialist in diseases of the brain and nervous system.
- A geriatrician – specialist in diseases of older people.
- A clinical psychologist – specialist in mental and behavioural functions of the brain.
- An old age psychiatrist (used to be called psycho-geriatrician) – specialist in mental health illness among older people.
Community Services
- A district nurse provides nursing care at home.
- A health visitor provides general health advice at home (you can ask to see one for yourself at your local health centre or clinic).
- A community psychiatric nurse provides nursing care for mentally ill people at home. Sometimes there are aids for practical care.
- A continence adviser offers advice about the management of incontinence.
- A chiropodist provides foot care.
- An annual health check offered by the general practice to look at the needs of people over 75.
This information has been extracted from the 'Who Cares?' booklet from the Department of Health (2007). You can download the booklet or telephone 0300 123 1002 for more details.
Memory Clinics
Becoming forgetful does not necessarily mean that a person has dementia so it is worth discussing concerns with your G.P.
Making a diagnosis of dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages, so G.P.s will often refer to a Memory Clinic for assessment.
CPNs and Community Mental Health Teams
Most people, once they have been diagnosed, will be discharged back to their GP for ongoing support. For more complex dementias they may be referred to their Community Mental Health Team, support from this team will be through a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN). The CPNs are key members of the Community Mental Health Teams, which may also include occupational therapists. They visit people with mental health problems and dementia in their own homes to carry out assessments, and provide treatment, care and support. They can advise people with dementia and their carers on ways of coping, and of improving their health and quality of life.
Health Advice
For most health concerns your GP will be your first point of contact. In emergencies you can of course ring 999 for an ambulance. If the person with dementia has a minor injury, such as a cut that you think may require stitching, it may be better to seek your GP's advice initially rather than attend A&E, as casualty departments may involve long waits in a potentially confusing environment. If the person with dementia does need to attend A&E make sure that staff are made aware of the dementia diagnosis.
NHS Direct
If you are unsure about whether something needs medical attention, or would like general health advice, you may find it useful to visit the NHS Direct website.
The NHS Direct website is part of the National Health Service, and aims to provide high quality health information and advice.
If you are feeling unwell you can telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for individual advice and information, given by nurses, 24 hours a day.
Continence Care
As dementia progresses people may experience continence problems with bladder or bowels. This may be because they are unable to find their way to the lavatory anymore: leaving the door open so the lavatory is visible can help, and measures such as a highly visible red seat may help for a time, the lid should be raised so that the shape of the seat is visible and can trigger recognition of what the lavatory is used for.
Continence assessment and care is provided through the District Nurses. Everyone is entitled to free continence care on the NHS, including provision of pads if required.
Further Information
You may find the Alzheimer's Society factsheet How health professionals can help of interest.
