Dementia Specialty Team

The Dementia Specialty Team (DST) helps Islanders living with dementia and their care partners.

The team includes a geriatrician, an occupational therapy lead, and a physiotherapy lead. Together, they provide a consultative service that promotes evidence-based, best practice dementia care. They aim to give Island residents living with dementia the best quality of life possible.

Am I eligible for a consultation?

To be eligible for a consultation with the DST, you must:

• be a resident of PEI with a valid PEI Health Card;
• have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia; and
• experience changed behaviours secondary to your diagnosis of dementia which significantly impact your ability to complete your day-to-day activities, for example: frequent searching, exploring, getting lost; physical and verbal expressions of risk; sexual expressions of risk or potential risk; agitation; anxiety; etc., which cannot be met by existing resources or by another service.

Note: Clients with acute medical issues will be excluded until the acute medical issues are resolved.

What services does the DST provide?

The DST provides:

• Mobile Behavioural Support Outreach. This includes complex behavioural support, assessments and care planning for clients in the community, acute care and long-term care.
• A Behavioural Support Plan created with the individual, family, care partner(s) and clinical team, which can be incorporated into the existing care plan.
• Virtual behavioural consultations between the DST team and other health care providers.
• Transitional support for complex discharge planning.
• Other referral requests that will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Recommendations and implementation of programs aimed at reducing the risk for people living with dementia.
• Education to health care providers.

Do I need a referral?

Yes, you must be referred to the DST by a physician or nurse practitioner.

The Provincial Geriatric Program triages all referrals for a DST consultation.

Who can I contact for information about the DST?

Provincial Geriatric Program
243 Heather Moyse Drive
Summerside, PE   C1N 5R1

Telephone:  (902) 432-2860
Fax:  (902) 432-2859
Email:  geriatricinfo@ihis.org