Our Auckland City Memory Service is held in the Home Health and Older Peoples Health Building (Building 17) at Greenlane Clinical Centre. The Memory Service offers an in depth screening and problem-solving service to people who have mild memory problems. We aim to encourage the independence of people with memory difficulties. We offer support and practical advice to clients and carers, such as recommendations on medication, memory aids, driving ability and/or referral to other specialist agencies that work with people with memory problems. What to Expect Your GP or a specialist will refer you to this service due to changes that you, or others close to you, have noticed in your memory and/or your daily functioning. The waiting times for clinics range from 1 week to 2 months, depending on the urgency of the condition described in the referral letter. Please contact the Contact Centre on the numbers listed above to confirm your appointment. Please arrive in the Department on the time. Every effort will be made to keep to the appointment time, but delays may be experienced. What to Bring to your Appointment - A list of your current medications - Any spectacles you are currently using - Any other aids (e.g. hearing aid) - CT head scan reports and any x-rays - Other medical information which may be relevant to this appointment An assessment usually takes around 2 hours. It consists of a detailed interview with yourself and a person who is close to you who can provide information about memory problems you might be having. After the interview you will undergo a brief pen and paper memory test. Brain imaging tests may be requested. In some cases we may recommend further memory assessment to help with diagnosis. A report will be sent to your GP. You will also be offered a follow-up appointment 3-4 weeks later to receive results from the assessment. During your appointment you will be seen by some of the following: Clinical Nurse, Nurse Specialist, Geriatrician, Psychogeriatrician, Psychologist. Should an interpreter be required for you because you do not speak English as a first language, the interpreter will be arranged prior to your appointment.

There are several types of memory problems people can have. If you are referred because of memory concerns it is very helpful to bring along a family member. It is also very important to bring all of your medications with you as these can often affect memory. A full medical examination will be done and you will be asked some questions to test your memory and concentration as well as mood. You are likely to have blood tests looking for some causes of memory loss and, depending on your history, you may be referred for a CT scan of your brain. This is a computerised x-ray, which involves you lying down for about 15 minutes while a machine passes over you. People with memory problems might be referred to our Day Assessment – Auckland City Memory Service. Please go back to the main page to read more about the Service.

This is a condition of gradual loss of memory and other functions of awareness or thinking such as concentration, over time. There are several types of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, which is due to the same sort of illnesses that cause stroke. People with dementia and memory problems might be referred to our Day Assessment – Auckland City Memory Service. Please go back to the main page to read more about the Service.

A stroke is where the blood supply to an area of the brain is interrupted causing damage to brain cells. This happens either with a clot in the blood vessel or the blood vessel bursting. The effects of a stroke depend on where in the brain, and how big, the interruption to blood flow is. Most people who have had a stroke are admitted to hospital. If the stroke has had significant physical effects you may be admitted to our rehabilitation unit aimed at increasing your independence, preventing complications from stroke and preventing further strokes. For more information on stroke a very useful website is the New Zealand Stroke Foundation site www.stroke.org.nz People who suffered a stroke might be referred to our Day Assessment – Stroke Clinic. Please go back to the main page to read more about the Clinic.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting movements such as walking, talking and writing. Parkinson's has three main symptoms: tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement (bradykinesia). The cause of Parkinson's is not completely understood. A group of nerves in the brain called the substantia nigra slowly degenerate and cease to produce a chemical messenger called dopamine. When more than half of dopamine is lost, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease are produced. Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and generally involves medications which attempt to replace the dopamine that is lacking. There is a no single test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. In its early stages a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be very difficult even for an experienced doctor. If Parkinson’s disease is suspected, a referral to a neurologist (nervous system specialist) may be recommended. Even then a period of observation and reassessment may be needed before the diagnosis is confirmed. The diagnosis is based on: • the person’s medical history and symptoms • the neurological and physical examination • imaging techniques such as computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to rule out other conditions People with diagnosed Parkinson’s disease might be referred to our Day Assessment – Parkinson's Clinic. Please go back to the main page to read more about the Clinic. Parkinson's Disease - Nutrition & Swallowing Clinic (PDF, 3.1 MB)

These are not a natural part of aging. There are many reasons why people fall over and a review of your medical problems and medications may well reveal some reasons for falling that can be fixed. If you have lots of falls, seeing a specialist as well as the physiotherapist and occupational therapist can reduce your chances of falling again. You will be asked about the circumstances surrounding your falls and it is helpful if family or friends who witnessed your falls come into the clinic with you. You will have an examination looking at your general health as well as strength, balance, vision and memory. An occupational therapist may come to your home to look into any changes that can be made to improve safety. For more information on falls prevention the ACC website has information on http://www.acc.co.nz/preventing-injuries/falls/index.htm You may be referred to Home Health Physiotherapy - Falls Prevention Programme.

Urinary incontinence or a loss of bladder control is the involuntary passage of urine. There are many causes and types of incontinence and many treatment options. Treatments range from simple exercises to surgery. Women are affected by incontinence more often than men. You may be referred to the Home Health Continence Service.

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones. Osteoporosis is not painful but it makes your bones more prone to breaking (fracture). Women are more likely than men to suffer from osteoporosis and as you get older you are more likely to have it. Tests Osteoporosis can be diagnosed by measuring bone mineral density (BMD). This test involves taking x-rays or a computer tomography (CT) scan of the bones in your spine, wrist, arm or leg. You may be asked to have a blood test to look for reasons why you might have osteoporosis. Treatment There is no cure for osteoporosis, but there are treatments that can improve bone strength and reduce your chances of breaking a bone. If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis you may be prescribed several medications to improve your bone strength. You will have follow-up either with your GP or specialist to make sure that the medication suits you. You will be given some more detailed reading about things you can do to help manage your osteoporosis and about the type of medication you are on.