Checklist development
1. The co-production process
2. What we initially found out
3. Participants and aspirations
4. What was already available
5. Creating the first draft
6. Changes and improvement
7. Version 2
8. Testing
1. The coproduction approach
This Checklist has been co-developed by people living with
dementia and their carers, supporting organisations and
medical professionals, using the SILK co-production
approach
2. What we initially found out
“I went to the doctor with a memory problem, it took two
or three more goes to make him understand. That’s only
because that’s who I am, but some people can’t stand up
for themselves and can’t be forceful to make the doctor
understand”, SILK Insight Report (2012) carried out with people
living with dementia, their carers and frontline workers.
Diagnosis was sometimes difficult. People wanted
something that could support them when talking to their
doctor about the symptoms they were experiencing.
3. Participants & aspirations
Participants included:
People living with dementia, a carer’s group, a day centre
group for people living with dementia, and professionals
working in the field, including GPs and charities
Participants agreed a new document needed to:
Provide people with an understanding of the symptoms
Prepare people for meeting with their GP
Signpost people to additional support if they needed it
4. What was already available
Participants reviewed examples of
symptom checklists from the
Azheimer’s Society (UK) and the
Alzheimer’s Association (USA):
Alzheimer’s disease: 10 warning
signs
Recognising the signs and symptoms
of dementia
Worried about your memory
Know the 10 signs
Preparing for your doctor’s visit
5. Creating the first draft
A prototype was designed based on the needs and
aspirations identified in the review discussions
This first prototype was shared with all contributors so far
and the Kent and Medway Dementia Collaborative Board
to share with their organisations
The feedback was used to refine the design of the
Checklist
6. Changes and improvement
Calling the document Concerned about your memory?
Re-phrasing some of the text so that it applied to the
person concerned and also family members and friends
Changing or removing some of the questions
Creating space for people to add any other symptoms,
changes or questions
Including a question about current medication
Adding the Kent 24 hour Dementia help line number
7. Version 2
8. Testing
A pilot area was identified, Tunbridge Wells, where there
was a low 37% diagnosis rate. There was an opportunity
to link with the Prime Minister‘s Challenge project for
primary care diagnosis.
People referred to secondary care prior to assessment
were sought to test the checklist
We worked with Community Mental Health Teams to
target people who have not yet sought help by accessing
other areas GP Surgeries, Pharmacies etc
9. Evaluation
The checklist is about to undergo a formal evaluation by
the Kent, Sussex and Surrey Demetria Care Innovation
Hub
If you would like to take part in the evaluation or for more
information please contact silk.team@kent.gov.uk