South Wiltshire Dementia Service

The team

People are referred to the team by GP’s, care homes and other professional if there are concerns with memory and symptoms, behaviour related to this.

We offer memory assessments that can advise on a diagnosis, treatment and signpost to other services.

We can offer advice and recommendation to the person living with memory problems and a diagnosis of dementia. We can also support/advise care home staff, carers who support people living with dementia.

We visit people in care homes and their own homes. Our length of involvement depends on each individuals needs.

Who we are

We are a team of mental health professionals experienced in working with people with memory concerns and dementia. Our team is made up of:

Doctors
Nurses
Support workers
Occupational Therapist
Consultant Psychiatrists
Admin

Our Aim

To respond to the referral in a timely manner depending on level of urgency.

To agree a plan with the referrer/patient and carer as appropriate.

We may invite you to attend a clinic at a local health establishment or we can offer appointment by virtual means, as appropriate or in your own home.

We will seek your consent to liaise with your GP, other health care professionals and family in terms of treatment/recommendations in terms of cognition, memory and mental well-being.

We may work alongside other professionals in order to establish best outcome of treatment and advice.

We may advice GP’s in terms of medication for memory/mental health well-being. Our doctors can prescribe certain medication for memory if they feel it may be beneficial.

We may offer a short term period when we will come to see you more regularly at home if we feel that this is beneficial and want to keep a closer eye on how things are. If we are concerned about you we may need to escalate this concerns to appropriate services.

What we do not do

We do not provide funding in terms of care packages or care homes.

How long we provide support

This depends on individual needs and treatment. It may be that following assessment you are discharged from the service back to your GP/care home with a letter of recommendations to you, carer and the GP.

It may be that we will follow you up at home and maintain a level of monitoring following an admission to Hospital or that your needs are more complex that may benefit from a further layer of support.

If you on medication prescribed by our team then we will offer a review of this medication to ensure you are stable on it and then look towards your GP taking over the prescribing.

Our aim is to work alongside you and people that care for you to gain the best outcome.

Your named worker is: