Dementia Action Week: Getting that diagnosis
This week is Dementia Action Week (16-22 May) and this year the Alzheimers' Society is raising awareness on the theme of diagnosis.
Getting a timely diagnosis for this life-limiting condition is vital as it enables people living with dementia and their families access to information, help and support which can improve their quality of life and help them to plan for their future. It may also enable them to benefit from medication and opportunities to take part in research.
CPFT Dementia Nurse Consultants Alison Skea and Alison Wilkinson said: "Getting a timely diagnosis is something the Trust and Memory Assessment Working Group have been focusing on and working hard to improve. Our teams are fully aware of the reduction in dementia diagnosis rates for our areas and the increasing waiting times for those referred and trying to access the service. We understand the significant impact this has for patient, carers and the wider system.
"We have recently applied for an exciting project to review how residents in care and nursing homes are assessed and working alongside our quality and improvement team are planning to develop the project in the coming months. We hope this will have positive benefits on improving dementia diagnosis rates and waiting times. We look forward to sharing more details with you in the future. For all topics, questions and queries dementia-related, please contact us and look out for the next annual dementia conference coming soon in the late autumn."
Pictured above are (L-R) some of the team from the Cambridge Memory Assessment Service: Pravind Purran, Team Leader; Patience Tagwireyi, Specialist Mental Health Practitioner, and Alison Wilkinson
