You may be referred to the Older Adult Community Mental Health Team for support after a diagnosis of dementia, either through your Psychiatrist or GP. This is to help you adjust to your diagnosis and its likely impact, both emotionally and practically. This should also help you plan for the future, work through key issues and identify available support, allowing you to live well with dementia in your home and local community for as long as possible.
This support is individual to you and aims to help you to understand your diagnosis and make plans for now and in the future.
The Scottish Government guarantees that every person newly diagnosed with dementia will be offered a minimum of a year’s support from a named and trained person working in one of the three Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams across Aberdeenshire.
This is usually a member of the Community Mental Health Team called a support worker, but can also sometimes be a Community Mental Health Nurse, who is a specially trained.
A Community Mental Health Nurse can offer a person-centred approach to support for you if you are living with dementia. They are specially trained to support you to manage and understand the symptoms of your dementia. This approach considers your individual needs and circumstances. A Community Mental Health Nurse may be involved in your initial assessment, diagnosis, ongoing management, or provide your Post Diagnostic Support. They work closely with the Psychiatrist and other members of the Community Mental Health Team.
The 5 Pillars Model is a framework for people living with dementia, their families and carers providing tools, resources and plans to allow them to live as well as possible with dementia and prepare for the future.
Alzheimer Scotland’s website has more information about what the 5 Pillars Model of Post Diagnostic Support involves.