Physicians’ corner: Canadian doctors share their most-used dementia-care tools

Canada

Recently, we worked with the College of Family Physicians of Canada to survey doctors nationwide. And we asked family physicians to share the dementia-care tools they currently use most. Here's what they told us.

A group of doctors around a table

There are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of webpages and tools available worldwide about dementia — but which ones are actually useful to family physicians in Canada?

Given that family doctors are the health-care providers most often responsible for dementia diagnosis and care in Canada, this is a vital question.

So last year, the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada surveyed family physicians across the country as part of a research study on how dementia care in Canada can be improved.

One of the questions we asked doctors was about the top tools and resources they currently use most in supporting people living with dementia and their care partners. 

The family physicians in our survey identified roughly 40 tools and resources that were of significant use to them. Topics include driving, pain and cognition, among others. 

We have compiled and shared these tools in list form below. We have also, at the end of this article, pointed to some other resources Canadian family physicians might find helpful. 

In the months to come, we will be working to create more tools and resources specifically designed to meet the needs of physicians.

Cognition tools 

Education tools 

Function and Frailty tools 

Pain tools 

Mood and Behaviour tools 

Driving tools 

Care Planning/Prognosis tools 

Pharmacotherapy tools 

Other dementia tools and resources for family physicians to be aware of

Are you a family physician who would like to recommend a tool or resource? Do you have other feedback or wish to participate in future surveys or studies? Email [email protected] with any questions, suggestions or concerns.