Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming, but the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s First Link® dementia support program is here to help, from diagnosis to end of life.

Health care providers, including those who work across the independent living and care continuum, can make an easy referral to the First Link® program. A referral ensures your clients receive ongoing, proactive support from the Alzheimer Society of B.C. This ensures that people facing dementia and their families get critical access to information they need as dementia progresses – whether they are managing safety concerns, considering a transition to long-term care, or trying to navigate a transition to long-term care and new behaviours and ways of communicating.

When you refer to First Link®, your client/resident, or their family member will be contacted within a few weeks of being referred. They will then be offered appropriate First Link® programs and services, including individual support, education, support groups, and community-based programing. They will also be informed about other community and health-care services and resources as necessary.

Without a referral from a health-care provider, it takes people an average of 11 months longer to find and connect with the Alzheimer Society of B.C., but those 11 months can be a critical time for planning and developing support networks.

To refer:

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1. Ask the person or their family member for permission to forward their name to First Link®.
2. Complete the one-page First Link® referral form GENERIC_FormalRefForm_Fillable_2020-11-13.pdf
3. Submit by fax to 1-833-238-7390 (toll free) or 604-238-7390, or email firstlink [at] alzheimerbc.org.

After the referral, your client will receive:

• A phone call from the First Link® team.
• An information package specific to their needs.
• Regular communications from the Alzheimer Society of B.C. to keep them informed about dementia education and support programs.
• Information about community and health-care services that may be helpful.
• Follow-ups at their preferred intervals (three, six and 12 months).

You will receive a confirmation when contact has been made with the person you referred.

For more information, call the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033.