Approach to assessing a patient with dementia

Assessing a patient with dementia includes determining the dementia subtype and severity, and assessing for behavioural and psychological symptoms to:

• help confirm the diagnosis of dementia
• guide individualised management
• provide a baseline to compare findings of repeat assessments.

Many patients with dementia fail to present to a doctor for treatable conditions. For newly diagnosed patients or those entering residential aged-care facilities, undertake a comprehensive assessment. This includes:

• nutritional status (see Malnutrition and Overview of vitamin, mineral and trace element deficiencies)
• dental and gum health
• sleeping habits
• checking for depression.