North Saskatchewan Dementia Assessment Outreach Team

Introduction

The North Saskatchewan Dementia Assessment Program is comprised of the Dementia Assessment Outreach Team and a short-stay in-patient unit located at Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon. Our service area includes Saskatoon and rural communities in northern and central Saskatchewan. The program supports clients and caregivers to manage responsive behaviours related to dementia. Referrals can be generated from the community, acute care, or long term care homes.

Dementia Assessment Outreach Team

The Outreach Team provides support to individuals with a primary diagnosis of dementia who are experiencing responsive behaviours that are not being managed in their current living environment. Referrals are first reviewed by the Outreach Team, with access to geriatric psychiatry, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work. The Outreach Team completes an interdisciplinary assessment and provides intervention recommendations, with the goal of stabilizing responsive behaviours in the client’s current location. If behaviours cannot be resolved through outreach services, the team may consider the client for admission to the Dementia Assessment Unit located at Parkridge Centre.

Dementia Assessment Unit (Parkridge Centre, Saskatoon)

The Dementia Assessment Unit is a 5-bed secure unit housed within Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon. Services include: assessment, observation, care, and treatment planning for up to 90 days. In order to access the unit, clients must first be assessed through the Dementia Assessment Outreach Team. Clients admitted to the Dementia Assessment Unit will be evaluated by a team of interdisciplinary professionals, including geriatric psychiatry, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, pharmacy, recreation therapy, nursing/care staff, and general physician services.

Referral criteria

• Primary diagnosis of age-related degenerative dementia with responsive behaviours
• Medically stable
• Require enhance behavioural support in their current care environment
• Exclusionary criteria:
  • delirium
  • primary diagnosis of Acquired Brain Injury

To make a referral

• Referrals may be generated from the community, acute care, or long-term care
• Any healthcare provider may complete the referral form
• Physician or Nurse Practitioner must be involved
• North Saskatchewan Dementia Assessment Unit Outreach Team Referral Form

Accompanying documentation

**Important: Include ALL Referral Criteria when submitting the referral form**

• Direct Observation System (DOS) – form attached

• Medication Administration Record (MAR)

• PRN Medication Sheet – form attached

• Blood Work (< 3 months) including CBC, Renal and Liver panel, TSH, B12 and folates, HgA1c, Blood glucose, Calcium, Vitamin D, Urinalysis, Urine C&S

• Most Recent MDS report including Outcome Scales and CAP reports (if available)

If you have any questions, please email dementia.assessment@saskatoonhealthregion.ca or call: 306-655-3844.