First Link® for health professionals
You can help connect people living with dementia and their care partners to a community of support, information and resources.
First Link professional referral form
Fill out this online form so that people living with dementia and their families get the support they need at the time of diagnosis or soon after.
Removing barriers
It’s often difficult for individuals and families affected by dementia to ask for help. Many are told about the Alzheimer Society, but will not actually make the phone call until a crisis occurs.
The First Link Client Support program removes this barrier to support by ensuring that individuals and families are referred directly to the program at the time of diagnosis or as soon as possible after a diagnosis is made.
First Link® is often the initial connection people living with dementia and their families have with the Alzheimer Society. From there, continuous support, resources can be provided based on each individual’s needs.
Who can make a referral?
While referrals may come from a physician, anyone in a healthcare or community service type position can make a referral.
How the First Link® Client Support program works
Once a referral is received, our First Link® Client Support team will contact the person living with dementia and/or family members, linking them to Alzheimer Society services and other programs and services within their community.
Connecting people living with dementia and their families to support and information early in the disease is important as it helps them develop competency and resiliency in facing their journey with dementia. The Alzheimer Society helps with day-to-day and future planning, education about dementia and caregiving, and provides access to support services and dementia-specific expertise.
For more information, please contact Jessica Harper, Senior Manager, First Link® Client Support at support@alzheimer.mb.ca.
