Help for those in Prince George newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's or any other form of dementia is just a phone call away.
Laurie De Croos, First Link coordinator, Northern Interior, Skeena & Peace Region, is happy to make the call after a doctor refers a patient to the Alzheimer's Society program.
"With the referral process, we connect with them so we're not waiting for people to walk through our door, " said De Croos. "We are able to connect with them because they're often busy and have a lot on their minds and that's one extra thing for them to do. So with us reaching out to them, we can connect them sooner with the help they need."
De Croos said research indicates that through referral people are accessing support services more than 10 months earlier than people not referred by their doctors or healthcare professionals.
"We're called the Alzheimer's Society but it's a common misconception that we only deal with Alzheimer's patients but we deal with all forms of dementia," said De Croos.
In the four years that First Link has existed in the northern part of the province, there have been 408 referrals.
First Link gets the dementia patient connected early for support that continues throughout their journey. There are support groups and seminars available to family and caregivers as well.
"It's always about providing support, guidance, and connection to services and education," said De Croos. "Even though the patient is referred, we are also here to help their children, friends and spouses and it ends up connecting so many more people."
