Memory assessment and management service

The Memory Assessment and Management Service (MAMS) is part of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (LPFT) community services.

You may have noticed a few changes in yourself. Maybe you are struggling with remembering, thinking and finding the right words? You might have been to see your GP or another medical professional about this and they have referred you to this service.

The MAMS is for people over 18 years of age who are having problems with their memory and/or other cognitive difficulties such as with language or attention and/or personality/behaviour changes.

Our core aim is to help you to get a diagnosis so we can plan in place to get you the support you need to help you live as independently as possible.

What is a memory assessment?

A memory assessment is a specialist assessment which will help us find out the underlying reason for your problems and work with you to help decide the best next steps.

It is for people over 18 years of age who are having problems with their memory or other cognitive difficulties such as:

with language or attention
personality or behaviour changes.

If you aren’t quite sure about things - have a look at this useful checklist from the Alzheimer's Society.

What does the assessment process include?

There are four main components to the standard assessment process, although these may differ on an individual basis. These are:

Pre-assessment contact and information

This is to ensure you understand the reason for the referral and assessment, the possible outcomes and, most importantly, that you agree to continue with the assessment.

Also to request that you help us by providing information about your current health status to assist with the comprehensive assessment process.

The assessment

This will involve asking you, and also someone who knows you well, a lot of questions about the following:

your family, life and medical history
your symptoms that have been troubling you
how you are managing your day to day activities, including driving
whether you agree to share information with other professionals and family members
whether you want to know the results of your assessment and possible diagnosis.

The team member will make notes during your assessment. You will also be asked some questions to test your memory and brain functioning. This gives the team a clearer view of what is going on.

We may also refer you for a brain scan. The MAMS Consultant led team will make recommendations based on the assessment. If indicated further specialist assessment may be undertaken on an individual basis, dependent on need.

Feedback

Following the review of the assessment by the specialist MAMS team, the outcome of the assessment and any associated diagnosis will be discussed with you and your family in accordance with your wishes. There will be an opportunity to ask more questions. Supportive information will also be provided to help you further understand the outcome of the assessment.

A member of the MAMS team will also write to you and your GP with a summary of your assessment. If you agreed to share information, a family member or carer will also receive a copy.

Support planning

We will work with you and your family to develop an individualised plan that identifies appropriate support systems and interventions for both you and your family. This will ensure that you continue to live your life well whatever the reason for your memory or cognitive problems

Who is in the assessment team?

There are quite a few of us in the team:

consultant psychiatrist
specialist nurses and occupational therapists
associate practitioner assistants
administrative support staff.

We have great links with the Alzheimer’s Society, providing carer support and outreach workers.

We also work with other health and social care colleagues linked to your GP surgery. These teams are known as “Neighbourhood Teams”. If necessary, your care will be coordinated along with these professionals, to ensure that all of your health and social needs are met.

Can my carer, family and loved ones help?

When we say carer, we mean anyone who is helping you at home. This could be your partner, a family member or friend. For us, it is better to have the people who know you best involved. This will enable us to build up a bigger picture of you.

How will the assessment take place?

There are a couple of different ways:

It could be done at your local memory assessment clinic in towns across Lincolnshire
It can be done over the phone
It can be done via video call from your home.

Compliments and feedback

We actively seek feedback about our services and recognise the right of people to comment on, or complain about, any aspect of the service they receive.

Please let us know if we have done something particularly well and we will keep doing it. For more details on how to do this please see Your experience counts or ask a member of our team.

Do you need information in a different format?

Please tell us if you have any communication needs relating to a disability or sensory loss. You might require information in:

large print
audio
braille
easy read
an alternative language.

If you prefer to have your correspondence in an alternative format or emailed, our teams can arrange this for you. Let a member of the team know at your next appointment.

Memory assessments via video call

We’re now offering memory assessments via video call. Please let your GP know you would prefer this when you visit them.

Video calls can be done on any device with a camera and can be done with a family member or a carer. The appointment will run over MS Teams so you will need to select Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge as your Internet browser or download the MS Teams app from the Apple store or Google Play store ahead of your appointment.

The video call can take place wherever you feel comfortable, at a time to suit you and you can have as many people as you’d like to join the call.

You will be seen quicker and in one appointment can be assessed and get a diagnosis.

Of course, if you would prefer, you can have an in-person appointment in a clinic. We have a number of clinics across Lincolnshire.

You can find out more by watching the videos below.

Our new MAMS Virtual Assistant

The Memory Assessment and Management Service (MAMS) are piloting a new way for you to complete your Memory Assessment. Using a Virtual Assistant on the website, you can complete the questionnaire part of the Memory Assessment at your own pace in the comfort of your home, with the option to have a carer or loved one there to support you.

Initially, the Virtual Assistant will be trialled by our Memory Assessment Practitioners (MAPs) for a selection of patients who are already on our waiting list for a Memory Assessment.

If you are eligible, a Memory Assessment Practitioner will contact you to arrange your Memory Assessment and they will offer you the opportunity to complete the questionnaire part of the assessment using one of three options:
1.   Via the Virtual Assistant on the website
2.   Via a video call using Microsoft Teams
3.   In person at one of our clinics

If you choose to use the Virtual Assistant, you will need:
•   Your NHS number (or postcode)
•   Your date of birth
•   Your mobile phone
•   Access to the internet

Your responses to the questions will be uploaded directly into our Clinical System and will be reviewed by a Memory Assessment Practitioner who will then contact you to arrange a follow-up appointment.

We hope to make this option available more widely in the future, once the trial is complete.