Community

Your GP will refer you to the service. They will check that your memory or other cognitive changes have been a concern for at least 6 months and are beginning to impact on daily living. They will also undertake the physical health checks needed. This is to ensure and if needed treat any reversible causes that may contribute to your memory concern.

Our service users can expect the following:

• Our practitioners will contact you following receipt of the referral. This call helps us to gather more information and ensures that we are the right service to meet your needs.
• You will be added to the appropriate initial assessment waiting list. Contact will then be made at a later date to arrange a date for an initial assessment. This appointment will be for around 90mins and includes a memory test.
• Appointments are at various locations – see clinics offered below
• A head scan at the local Nuffield Hospital in Ipswich maybe arranged following your initial assessment.
• A further follow up appointment will be arranged to discuss the outcome of your tests and discuss whether there is a dementia diagnosis.
• The offer of medication if appropriate dependent on diagnosis.
• The offer to participation in a group as appropriate.
• We may ask people to take part in service development/research.
• If the assessment highlights further support is needed such as psychology or support worker, than this is considered on an individual need’s basis by the team.

People who use this service are then discharged back to the care of their doctor.

Due to our long waiting list, a referral is made to Dementia Connect (Alzheimer’s society). An advisor will be in touch to find out if you have any questions about your memory difficulties, the memory assessment process, or about support that may be needed while you are waiting for your appointment.  This advisor will be available to you throughout the process and following your discharge from the service.  Although you can choose not to accept this support, it can be a really helpful resource during a difficult time.  The advisors are available for the person living with memory difficulties and their caregivers and families.