Dementia Pathway

Guidance on key stages of dementia

A diagnosis of dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of symptoms associated with many different conditions affecting the brain. 
Because these symptoms usually develop slowly it may be some time before a diagnosis can be confirmed. To do this, doctors usually arrange for their patients to have some tests, the results of which are carefully considered by a specialist doctor before they can determine a diagnosis. This may be for a specific brain condition, for example, Alzheimer’s disease, or vascular dementia, but if the symptoms are mild, and no specific condition is identifiable, a person may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is not a diagnosis of dementia.

Symptoms of dementia

Because there are so many conditions of the brain that can lead to dementia, which usually have their own characteristic symptoms, and because symptoms can change over time, and be affected by people’s other health conditions, it is very difficult to specify what symptoms a person is likely to have. Generally however, symptoms are likely to be mild initially, but over time may change, or a person may experience new symptoms, which may have an increasing impact on their life. These may include forgetting people’s names or recent events or finding it increasingly difficult to manage the activities of daily living. People may also find it difficult to manage conversations, and may become anxious, agitated or depressed, and because our brains control 
all our body’s systems, dementia can sadly affect a person’s ability to eat, continence and mobility.

Dementia Pathway

Notes:

1. Dementia is an umbrella term used for the symptoms of many different conditions that affect the brain. The most common of these are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, though these and others may affect people quite differently.
2. Dementia does not have a linear pathway but like many other life-limiting illnesses and long-term conditions it does have a start and an end.
3. This pathway considers not just the needs of the person with dementia, but also the carers, family and community and the many services involved in caring for and supporting a person in Jersey.
4. The six colour-coded elements described in this pathway embrace the complexities across the dementia journey from beginning to end.
5. The pathway will guide you on the range of support and services available throughout the journey.
6. Contact details for all the agencies to which you can self-refer are shown below. Otherwise, referrals are via a GP or other  health professional.

Printed copies of our Dementia Pathway are available to collect from our office: Email info@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519

Dementia Jersey – Who we are and what we do

Dementia Jersey is a team of highly skilled professionals supported by trained volunteers. The charity provides:

  • Information about dementia and what we can do to reduce our risk of developing dementia
  • Support, advice and counselling for people with dementia and their family and friends
  • A range of tailored therapeutic activities and events
  • Support to family and friends following the death of a person with dementia
  • Signposting to other sources of help and support available


Our services are available for people with dementia and the family or friends supporting or caring for someone with dementia. You can contact us by email info@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519

Useful Contacts

Citizen’s Advice
Tel: 01534 724942 
or freephone 08007350249
Email: advice@cab.org.je
Website: www.citizensadvice.je

Community and Local Services
(Including Social Security)
Tel: 01534 444444
Email: customerservice@gov.je
Website: www.gov.je

Government of Jersey www.gov.je

Home Care Agencies and Care Homes
Details via Jersey Online Directory (JOD)
Website: www.jod.je

Jersey Hospice Care
(Bereavement Support)
Tel: 01534 285144
Email: bereavement@jerseyhospicecare.com
Website: www.jerseyhospicecare.com

Long Term Care
(Social Security)
Tel: 01534 445505
Email: longtermcare@gov.je
Website: www.gov.je

Judicial Greffe
(for Power of Attorney)
Tel: 01534 441300
Email: JGRProtection@Courts.je
Website: www.gov.je

Memory Assessment Service
Tel: 01534 444830
Website: www.gov.je

Occupational Therapy
Tel: 01534 443068
Website: www.gov.je

Single Point of Referral (SPOR)
Tel: 01534 444440
Email: SPOR@health.gov.je
Website: www.gov.je

Speech and Language Therapy
Tel: 01534 444500
Website: www.gov.je

 

Did you know?

Dementia has physical, psychological, social and economic impacts, not only for people living with dementia, but also for their carers, families and society at large.

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