The Dementia Roadmaps deliver a range of benefits to GPs, primary health and social care professionals, people worried about memory problems, people living with dementia and their carers and families.

The Dementia Roadmaps help people to:

• Introduce questions about memory functioning in scheduled visits and routine health checks and investigations for people identified as potentially at risk.
• Assess and identify patients who present with symptoms suggestive of dementia signposting them to relevant resources or services
• Reassure patients and their carers/families at diagnosis and throughout the dementia journey by signposting them to local resources, information and support.
• Promote positive messages about remaining independent and living well with dementia in local communities.
• Prevent unnecessary admission to hospital for patients with memory problems in crisis.
• Provide support for carers to maintain their health and wellbeing and provide opportunities for respite for the person they care for.
• Support patients more efficiently, thereby reducing multiple / repeat appointments.
• Refer patients onto specialist services where appropriate.
• Keep accurate records, coding patients who present with memory problems appropriately. This improved recognition on the practice register will impact positively on the practice QOF.
• Use case finding approaches with colleagues to identify patients at risk of cognitive decline on the practice register in line with DES guidelines.
• Work together better across professional and organisational boundaries
• Keep people up to date with national developments.