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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| A national survey of memory clinics in the Republic of Ireland | | Author(s) | Suzanne Cahill, Maria Pierce, Vanessa Moore |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 26, no 4, April 2014 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, April 2014 |
| Pages | pp 605-613 |
| Source | journals.cambridge.org/ipg |
| Keywords | Memory and Reminiscence ; Memory disorders ; Dementia ; Psychiatric treatment ; Geriatric out-patients clinics ; Ireland. |
| Annotation | This national survey investigated the location, resourcing, staff composition, treatments, waiting time and numbers of patients attending memory clinics (MCs) in the Republic of Ireland. It also explored Directors' attitudes to future service development including their views about the advantages and disadvantages of quality standards for MCs. An audio-taped telephone interview was conducted with the Directors. A total of 14 MCs were identified across Ireland, ten of which were hospital-based. Of these, most offered diagnostic services and were located in Dublin. Nine MCs were medical consultant led and operated under the direction of either Old Age Psychiatrists or Geriatricians. Results showed wide variation regarding the location, team size, service availability and numbers of patients attending. The average number of patients attending in 2011 was 126. Only six clinics employed dedicated Allied Health Professionals. Less than half of the clinics were research active. Whilst most Directors welcomed the availability of national standards, several expressed concern that standards might, in the absence of funding, result in the closure of the most poorly resourced services. This survey provides valuable data on the main characteristics of all of the 14 MCs delivering services in the Republic of Ireland and raises critical and fundamental questions about the goals and outcomes of MC services. The survey data collected can be used by other countries for cross-national comparison. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-150529291 A |
| Classmark | DB: EH: EA: LP: L6G: 763 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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