Our team of Dementia Training Australia’s GP Educators, Steph Daly, Marita Long and Hilton Koppe discuss the strengths and weaknesses of cognitive assessment tools, and how they can be optimally used in the assessment of people with possible cognitive impairment. 

Standardised Mini Mental State Exam (SMMSE)

The test: https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/smmse-tool-v2.pdf 

Guidelines for administration and scoring instructions: https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/smmse-guidelines-v2.pdf

GP Assessment of Cognition (GPCog)

https://gpcog.com.au/ 

Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA)

https://www.nari.net.au/indigenous-cognitive-assessment 

Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)

https://www.dementia.org.au/resources/rowland-universal-dementia-assessment-scale-rudas 

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

https://mocacognition.com/ 

CogD Risk

Homepage - https://cogdrisk.neura.edu.au/ 

Factsheets - https://cogdrisk.neura.edu.au/factsheets-for-general-practitioners/ 

IQ Code

https://nceph.anu.edu.au/research/tools-resources/informant-questionnaire-cognitive-decline-elderly 

Clock Drawing Test

https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/alzheimers-clock-test/

Trailmaking A and B tests

https://eatspeakthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IowaTrailMaking.pdf

Snellgrove Maze Test

https://www.safemobilityfl.com/pdfs/CliniciansGuide/SnellgroveMazeTest4thEdition.pdf 

Dementia Training Australia

Providing education for GPs and other health practitioners

GP resource page - https://dta.com.au/general-practitioners/ 

DTA home page - https://dta.com.au/ 

Dementia Australia
Providing support, information and services for people living with dementia, carers, family and health professionals

National Dementia Helpline – 1800100500
https://www.dementia.org.au/

Forward with Dementia 

A guide for the first year after diagnosis 

https://forwardwithdementia.au/ 

Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
Dementia Support Australia (DSA) provides the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT) nationwide. 

24 hour Helpline 18000699799
https://www.dementia.com.au/

Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre
Master of Dementia Program - https://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/mdem

Understanding Dementia: free online course - https://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/understanding-dementia

Preventing Dementia: free online course - http://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/preventing-dementiaCarers Australia
Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, advocating on their behalf to influence policies and services at a national level. 

Phone 1800242636
https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/

RACGP Silver Book
Medical care of older persons in residential aged care facilities (Silver Book) aims to provide GPs and other health professionals including residential aged care nurses, with a resource for delivering quality health care in residential aged care facilities.

https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/ key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/silver-book

RACGP Red Book - Guidelines for preventative activities in general practice - Dementia 
https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/ key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/red-book/ preventive-activities-in-older-age/dementia

My Aged Care - dementia resources
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/getting-started/health- conditions/dementia

Austroads

Assessing fitness to drive in people living with dementia and cognitive impairment

https://austroads.com.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive/ap-g56/neurological-conditions/dementia