Co-designing dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care in New Brunswick

Dementia is characterized by a decline in memory and day-to-day functioning, resulting in life-changing physical, emotional, and psychological stress on persons with dementia and their family. The projected impact of new dementia cases poses challenges for health and social care providers around diagnosing and supporting patients and their families affected by this condition.

Thanks to funding from the Government of New Brunswick’s Healthy Seniors Pilot Project, researchers from the University of New Brunswick Saint John and Horizon Health Network are conducting a study that aims to design, deliver, and evaluate an awareness campaign to improve how health and social care providers diagnose and provide support for persons with dementia and their care partners. This project, titled “COGNISANCE” (Co-designing dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care) is being conducted in partnership with researchers from Canada in Ontario and Quebec, as well as other countries including Australia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Poland.

By exploring the experiences of persons living with dementia, their care partners (family members/friends), as well as health and social care providers (doctors, nurses, social workers, and other allied health professionals), we hope to improve the knowledge of health and social care providers around the diagnosis and delivery of dementia care, and increase awareness of programs and services available to older adults who are at-risk for dementia and their care partners.

To learn more about participation in this project, or to get involved, please contact the project coordinator by e-mail [cognisance@unb.ca], or phone [506-653-2863]. Read more information here: https://www.unb.ca/cric/projects/#cognisance.

Posted by: The Centre for Research in Integrated Care (UNB Saint John)