Early dementia often goes undiagnosed or untreated in primary care settings, where competing demands on clinicians’ time make it challenging to effectively diagnose and build collaborative treatment plans. When diagnosis does occur, patients may struggle to cope with new limitations, a sense of losing their identity, and challenges of navigating care. Compassionate and effective communication is essential for timely diagnosis, treatment decisions, and managing the complex emotional impact of dementia.
Ariadne Labs launched the Essential Communication project to make it easier for clinicians to initiate clear, compassionate conversations about early dementia and provide meaningful, person-centered treatment in the primary care setting. Working with a diverse range of patients, families, clinicians, and researchers, we aim to create solutions that will enhance empathic communication to support effective diagnosis, disclosure, decision-making, and support.
By supporting these essential communication opportunities, we hope to improve the patient, caregiver, and clinician experience to promote people living well with dementia.