Memory Assessment Service – Information leaflet

You, or someone close to you, have noticed that you have been having some difficulties with your memory, concentration or another aspect of your thinking. Your doctor (who may be your Family Doctor or a Specialist Doctor) has suggested that you have this assessment to try and find out why this is.

It is important to mention at this stage that a diagnosis of dementia is only one of the possibilities.

The assessment requires you to answer a number of different questions. Each of these is designed to look at different parts of your brain’s abilities. Some of the questions you may find easy, some of them may be difficult. Very few people can complete all the tasks perfectly.

A health professional from the Memory Assessment Service will arrange an appointment with you to carry out the assessment. Nurses, doctors and psychologists have been trained to do these assessments with patients, and to make sense of the results.

We will arrange an appointment with you to carry out the assessment. This may either be in your home or at a local clinic. If the assessment is taking place in your home, you will need to find somewhere quiet, where you will not be disturbed. It is also helpful to if you have a table or desk to work on.

The clinical assessment usually takes up to two hours. During the first appointment we will usually meet and answer your questions about the assessment. You will also be asked about the problems you are having and about your life in general.

We would like you to attend with a family member or friend if possible.

If you wear glasses, or use a hearing aid, you will need to bring these to be able to do the assessment. It would also be helpful if you could provide a list of your medication as it helps to know if any of these might impact on how you do on the tests.

Another appointment will be arranged to meet with you after the assessment has finished to talk through the results. Some people prefer not to know the results of the assessment. This is your choice, and you can talk it over with the health professional who undertakes your assessment.

We will write to your GP and the person who referred you to let them know the results of the assessment. The information may help your GP to find out why you are having these difficulties. You will also be given a copy of this assessment unless you say otherwise.

Sometimes it is helpful to have the assessment repeated a few months later. This helps to see if there has been any change in your skills and abilities in that time. This will be discussed with you if appropriate.

Finding the cause
The testing may result in a possible explanation for your cognitive difficulties. Often people find it a relief to know what is happening to them, and this can reduce anxiety. This can also help people and their families plan for the future and make adaptations in their lives to make things easier.

Offering intervention
There may be an intervention that could help. For example:
• Access to specialist services, support, and possibly extra benefits.
• Access to psycho-social interventions i.e., individual or group support/cognitive remediation.
• Medication for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Some people are very concerned by the thought of being told they have cognitive problems. This is a normal reaction. We will give you time to talk over your worries and concerns.

If you have any immediate questions or concerns about your assessment, you can contact the department who has sent you the appointment.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk (click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab)
• telephone the Complaints Department 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected] Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
• We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
You can provide feedback in the following ways:
– the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
– complete a Points of You survey, available from staff.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2021 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/399/0621 June 2021 V5
www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2024