Booklet - 2003

Professional Support by Penelope Roques, PDSG

Professional Support

Social services are the main route of access to community and home based care for people with dementia and their carers. Obtaining a referral to social services should be considered early in the illness, even if services are not obviously immediately needed. An early comprehensive community care assessment can facilitate obtaining benefits and the transition to day care and eventually residential care as the illness progresses.

Help can be obtained from:

• Community Psychiatric Nurse: contacted through the GP and offers advice and support
• Social Worker: can offer help obtaining benefits and services.
• Admiral Nurse: not employed in every H.A. but are great support for carers
• General Practitioner and Practice Nurse: have medical knowledge and are essential contacts to services
• Speech and Language Therapists: can give help with speech and swallowing problems
• Occupational Therapist: life can be very much easier and safer with the right practical help and gadgets.

If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

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