The Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS)

Service overview

The Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) is a specialist diagnostic service for people over the age of 50 who are worried about memory loss or changes in their thinking.   The service includes assessment and diagnosis, information on treatment options, post diagnosis education, support and future planning advice, and links to service providers and community supports.

Team members

The CDAMS team comprises Geriatricians, Psychogeriatrician, Neuropsychiatrist, Neuropsychologist, and Key Workers who come from a variety of nursing and allied health backgrounds.

Service delivery

The CDAMS Clinic operates at St George’s Hospital on a Thursday morning.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Must have a history of cognitive/memory and thinking change
  • Live in the City of Boroondara, Yarra or Darebin
  • Medically stable (check if any recent illnesses or hospital admissions)
  • Clients must be agreeable and able to attend the clinic
  • People of any age can be referred but it is typically for the assessment of memory and thinking changes associated with ageing

Exclusion Criteria

  • Referrers wanting single service only, e.g. neuropsychology only, including for the determination of competence or cognitive strategies
  • Referrers wanting a baseline to monitor for possible change in the future.
  • Recent onset of cognitive decline (last few days/ weeks). This requires urgent medical assessment - refer to GP/ Emergency Department.
  • Persons with longstanding ABI/ Intellectual impairment with no change/ decline in cognition
  • Clients with established disease – i.e. with an existing diagnosis of dementia including review of past CDAMS clients.
  • CDAMS is not a prescribing service for referrers only wanting Aricept / Reminyl / Exelon

Referral process

  • In addition to full demographic information, medications and past history, GP referrals should include the reason for the referral including severity, duration of symptoms and past treatments tried.
  • All referrals to be sent to our HIP Central intake unit.

Contact details

  • Enquiries ph: (03) 9231 8577