RaDAR Specialist Rural and Remote Memory Clinic

Provides clinical services to Saskatchewan residents with a focus on diagnosis and management of atypical and complex cases of suspected dementia, where an interdisciplinary team assessment is most needed.

• The clinic streamlines assessment and diagnosis in order to reduce repeated travel over long distances and to shorten the time to diagnosis by coordinating an interdisciplinary assessment on one day.
• Following assessment, patients and family members meet with the neurologist and neuropsychology team and are are provided with information about the probable diagnosis, feedback based on the clinical assessment and investigations, and recommendations for management and care. Where appropriate, referrals are made to local support groups or services. Team clinicians prepare individual written reports that are collated and sent to the referring physician.

Objectives of the clinic include:

• Increase the availability and accessibility of dementia care in rural and remote areas
• Determine the acceptability of the one-stop clinic and of telehealth versus regular follow-up
• Develop culturally appropriate assessment protocols for assessment of dementia in Indigenous older adults.

The Rural and Remote Memory Clinic receives funding from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to provide clinical services to Saskatchewan residents.