GPs and primary health care teams have a key role in ensuring that carers’ needs are understood and addressed, and that their own health and wellbeing is a priority. Carers should,
- be offered an assessment and care plan
- have access to flexible respite care
- and know who to contact for advice, support, and in an emergency, 24/7.
When specialist advice is needed
GPs, primary health care teams and community services may call on specialist dementia services to provide assessment, advice and guidance for patients and carers at home, and in care homes, for example, for
- people with complex psychological presentations or co-morbidities
- indeterminate diagnoses
- people who present with behaviours that challenge
- pain management
- prescribing; medications management
- carers’ support and assessment
- domiciliary care and support
- planning care towards the end of life.
Useful resources
- Access a local directory of community resources and facilities via Our Health
- Reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia
- The Right Prescription: a call to action on the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia (Dementia Action Alliance and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, 2011)
- The Right Prescription: a call to action on the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia. Commitment for commissioners in heath, social care and GP commissioning (Dementia Action Alliance and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, 2011)
- Optimising treatment and care for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. A best practice guide for health and social care professionals (Alzheimer’s Society, 2011)