Piloting Patient Navigation for Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Study in Primary Care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Dementia care coordination presents significant challenges for patients and caregivers.
• Patient navigation emerges as a key strategy to address fragmentation in dementia support services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a bilingual patient navigation program implemented in primary care settings in New Brunswick, Canada.
• To assess participant satisfaction, experiences, and the program's impact on accessing dementia-related resources.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• The study analyzed 150 navigation cases to identify primary needs and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Patient navigators successfully connected individuals with informational and social services, improving access and knowledge.
• High participant satisfaction was reported, with navigators reducing caregiver burden.
• Persistent systemic barriers, including long wait times and financial issues, were identified.

Conclusions:

• Early and sustained patient navigation support is crucial for enhancing dementia care coordination.
• The findings underscore the need for systemic improvements to complement navigation services for aging populations.