Information

Who can provide professional help after a dementia diagnosis?

When you’re diagnosed

Different specialists at the memory service could help after your diagnosis:

• Getting your medication right – consultant old age psychiatrists or specialist nurses can prescribe and adjust any dementia medications.
• Dealing with your diagnosis – clinical psychologists may offer emotional support.
• Building skills and knowledge – psychologists, occupational therapists or support workers will run a cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) course.
• Getting information – dementia support workers or dementia advisers might work at the memory service, or at another local support service.

Ongoing help

Keep in touch with your local GP and community health services to help you stay as well as possible.

At the GP surgery, you’ll normally see a GP, physician associate or advanced nurse practitioner. A standard appointment tends to be about 10 minutes, so tell them you may need more time when you book it.

Most GP surgeries have other professionals who support people with long-term conditions like dementia. These vary, but might include:

• Care coordinators liaise with different health services and can point you towards other support.
• Clinical pharmacists help you with medications – these should be reviewed at least once a year.
• Mental health practitioners help if you have severe or complicated mental health problems.

Others who can provide ongoing help include:

• Community nurses can visit regularly if you need nursing care at home.
• Social workers, usually from the local authority, may assess needs, arrange support and help with some costs.
• Social care or homecare workers help with tasks such as preparing meals, dressing and washing.

As things come up

Call the GP surgery for an appointment if you have a new health problem, or if an existing problem is getting worse. 

Other professionals can help with:

• Problems communicating, eating, drinking or swallowing – speech and language therapist.
• Maintaining skills and independence – occupational therapist, adult social care team or telecare team.
• Problems moving around and staying active – physiotherapist.
• Foot care problems – podiatrist or chiropodist.
• Eyesight and vision problems – optician or optometrist.
• Hearing problems – audiologist, often at a high street optician.
• Difficulties with mood or behaviour – old age psychiatrist, specialist mental health nurse or clinical psychologist. Creative therapists can also provide music or art therapy.
• Relationship problems – counsellor or clinical psychologist.
• Nutrition problems – dietitian.
• Toilet and continence problems – continence adviser or community nurse.

When you’re not sure

A Dementia Adviser can help you work out what help you need and where to get it – call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.