Gnosall Primary Care Memory Clinic: Eldercare facilitator role description and development

Abstract

The Gnosall Primary Care Memory Clinic has been operating since 2006 and adds the skills of a specialist old age psychiatrist to the extensive skills and knowledge available in primary care. Key to the organisation and function of the clinic is the eldercare facilitator, a new role situated in primary care and linking with the specialist and a wide range of other agencies and people. In order to facilitate replication of the model elsewhere, the function, role and competencies of existing and previous eldercare facilitators in the clinic have been reviewed, clarified and related to a competency framework and to similar initiatives in the literature. The selection and training of people with the attributes and skills required to become an eldercare facilitator will determine whether extension of the model is successful elsewhere.

Primary care-led dementia diagnosis services in South Gloucestershire: Themes from people and families living with dementia and health care professionals

“…Thus the model adopted in Gnosall, Staffordshire, involved integration of a monthly memory clinic within every GP practice (Greening, Greaves , Greaves & Jolley 2009). A consultant psychiatrist was available for contact at all times and main coordinator of care was appointed, labelled as the 'eldercare facilitator' (Greaves et al 2013). The Croydon Memory service (Banerjee et al 2007) is a complementary service involving professionals from health, social and voluntary services within the area to provide individually-tailored approach of assessing and managing people with dementia.…”

Improving diagnosis and management of dementia in primary care

“…Although the article in this issue does not specify the details about resource use, another article by the authors about the elder- 4 states that the eldercare facilitator works two sessions per week and the psychiatrist one halfday per month supplemented by telephone advice and consultations. This seems a small amount of time bearing in mind the extent of the responsibilities.…”

“…In their article on the role of the eldercare facilitator, the authors state that 75 per cent of those referred are subsequently given a diagnosis of dementia. 4 Interestingly, only 40 per cent of people were referred for a scan.…”

Closing the diagnosis gap and improving care: the primary care memory clinic

“…Dr Benbow and colleagues describe their innovative primary care memory clinic model in Gnosall, Staffordshire, and the benefits it has brought in terms of increasing diagnosis, improved patient care and cost savings. tion to the primary care memory clinic, 2 and involving co-ordination with the GP, the specialist old age psychiatrist and a wide range of other agencies and people. The eldercare facilitator arranges to meet the patient, usually at their home and with a family member or another appropriate supporter.…”