Arrange follow up
What would be helpful for me to arrange for you to follow up on this conversation?
Ongoing support is a key factor of successful behavioural change and clinical services exist to support people through their own journey with dementia.
Useful things to organise for people with dementia may include:
- A follow up appointment with you or a colleague
- Referral to a multidisciplinary pain programme
- Referral to a walking for health or exercise referral programme
Signpost the patient information section, which contains links to physical activity opportunities.
Insight
Asking this as an open question helps make it clear that what is important is their own personal agenda, not yours. It can be appropriate to follow up by asking permission to share follow up options they may not know about, such as:
- Exercise on referral schemes are widely available throughout the UK, but their referral criteria and programmes vary. Check the local council’s website or contact the council’s physical activity lead to find out more information.
- Referral to a multidisciplinary pain programme may be particularly important for people who are fearful of activity, have co-existing mental health problems and have been previously been unsuccessful in becoming more active.
The arrangement of a follow up appointment would also be appropriate for those people deciding not to become more active yet, but who want to ‘think about it some more’ The follow up appointment could be face to face but could also be via telephone or text.
Real Impact
“I would like a group with people of a similar age and issues to me.”
Real Impact
“Why haven’t I received [physical activity on prescription] before? I have been in pain for many years.”
