The Memory Clinic offers assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for people experiencing memory loss or other cognitive difficulties (such as difficulties in thinking, learning, making decisions and so on).
The Memory Clinic is delivered by the Older Adult Service team here at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS).
How the Memory Clinic works
Assessment
When a person is referred to SPMHS and admitted to the Memory Clinic, their care begins with an assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to define, describe and diagnose any underlying conditions.
The assessment takes place over a number of days. It is usually held as an inpatient service in St Patrick’s University Hospital, or can be held online through our Homecare service if the service user has received care in SPMHS previously.
Before coming into the inpatient or Homecare service, the service user arranges blood tests through their GP and a brain scan is organised for the service user. Reports on the blood tests and scan are shared with the team in the Memory Clinic.
When the service user starts the inpatient or Homecare service, they are assessed by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) over a number of days. The MDT is led by a consultant psychiatrist, with other members including a clinical neuropsychologist, clinical nurse specialist, occupational therapist, and social worker. The service user takes part in a range of assessments and observations with MDT members.
Treatment plan
Following the assessment, the service user is discharged from the inpatient or Homecare service with a plan in place for a feedback meeting. This meeting is typically held one week after discharge, and is attended by the service user, a person or people (such as family members) the service user has chosen to join them, and members of the MDT.
Ahead of the feedback meeting, the MDT meets to discuss a diagnosis, treatment plan, and other recommendations. The results of the assessment; where possible, a diagnosis; the treatment plan and recommendations are then shared and discussed with the service user and their supporter(s) at the feedback meeting.
Treatment plans are tailored to the service user.
Where the service user is diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, a future re-assessment is usually scheduled to track changes over time. If the service user is diagnosed with dementia, medication is prescribed and a treatment plan recommended to the service user’s referrer to follow with them.
Regardless of diagnosis, the service user and their supporter(s) are given advice around lifestyle changes, such as around nutrition, exercise, social connection, and cognitive stimulation (or engaging in activities which promote thinking, concentration and memory skills), which can help reduce the risk of dementia.
Other treatments may be recommended to improve cardiovascular health (or heart health) and treat other medical conditions which may affect memory and cognitive difficulties, such as sleep apnoea.
Information, education, support and advice about local support and care services relevant to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are also provided.
Learn more about memory and older adult mental health
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