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Dementia assessments

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If you care for someone with dementia, your doctor can help arrange an assessment for that person or you can arrange one directly through My Aged Care.

This assessment will work out what support the person needs, ranging from help with basic tasks at home to more intensive aged care services.

There are also care packages and other services that can be organised, based on individual need, which you can access to help you in your caring role. For more information, visit the My Aged Care website.

Last reviewed: November 2016

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Dementia Australia | Culturally appropriate dementia assessment tools

Resources developed for screening and diagnostic assessment of people from non-English speaking backgrounds. In Australia a significant and ever growing proportion of the elderly population are overseas born with English as a second language. Standard assessment tools, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) are not easy to translate and administer to this population. Culturally appropriate dementia assessment tools, however are available.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Dementia Australia | Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)

Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is a short cognitive screening instrument designed to minimise the effects of cultural learning and language diversity on the assessment of baseline cognitive performance.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Dementia Australia | Culturally and linguistically diverse resources

Dementia resources for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale Culturally Appropriate Dementia Assessment Tools are available for screening and diagnostic assessment of people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Dementia Australia | Choosing a residential facility

After the ACAT assessment Looking at residential facilities Good design in a residential facility for people with dementia Deciding on a facility Contact us

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Clinical Assessment

The clinical assessment of a patient needs to be impeccable, comprehensive, systematic and ongoing. A structured approach to assessment is preferable.

Read more on CareSearch website

Dementia Australia | Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment Tool (KICA)

A joint collaboration between Dementia Australia NT, University of Western Australia and National Ageing Research Institute, written by Gail Marsh, Marilyn Inglis, Kate Smith and Dina LoGiudice.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Caring for a resident with dementia

Residents with dementia may not be able to tell people if they have pain or other problems. Residential aged care staff use assessment tools and guidelines, as well as their experience and knowledge of each person, to help them know when a resident is in pain, or if their pain is getting worse. These tools help residential aged care staff to give residents the right care at the right time. Families can talk to residential aged care staff about the kind of assessment tools they use to help plan t

Read more on CareSearch website

Dementia Australia | Informing the person with dementia

Preparing for the diagnosis The person undergoing the assessment for dementia should be allowed to decide if they want to know if the diagnosis is confirmed. In general, if a person is aware that they are going for a diagnosis they will be able to make that choice. It is recommended that a person with dementia be told of their diagnosis. However, a person has a right not to know their diagnosis if that is their clear and informed preference.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Dementia Australia | Deciding on residential care

Where to begin Types of residential facilities Getting assessed for residential care Planning for the move Taking care of yourself Contact us

Read more on Dementia Australia website

Dementia Australia | Informing the person with dementia

Preparing for the diagnosis The person undergoing the assessment for dementia should be allowed to decide if they want to know if the diagnosis is confirmed. In general, if a person is aware that they are going for a diagnosis they will be able to make that choice. It is recommended that a person with dementia be told of their diagnosis. However, a person has a right not to know their diagnosis if that is their clear and informed preference.

Read more on Dementia Australia website

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