Our impact

COMPLETE PATIENT-CENTRED CARE

Improving the Care Experience

MINT Memory Clinics make memory care easily accessible and they focus on maintaining health and wellness - of both patients and caregivers - over the long term. Patients and caregivers are a central part of the care team, alongside the doctor, nurse, social worker and others, and their input and preferences are critical in developing a care plan that considers the whole person. With MINT Memory Clinics, patients and caregivers have a trusted team that knows their history, that's close to home, and that's always there to offer support throughout the care journey. Evaluative studies show that MINT Memory Clinics improve care.

8. Lee, L., Molnar, F., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., & Slonim, K. (2021). Multispecialty interprofessional Team Memory Clinics: Enhancing collaborative practice and health care providers’ experience of dementia care. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 41(1), 96–109. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980821000052

9. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., Molnar, F., Borrie, M., & Clarke, J. (2020). Delaying transition into Long-Term Care for persons living with Dementia: multispecialty interprofessional team memory Clinics. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 21(12), 2014-2015.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.07.011

11. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Gregg, S. (2019). Partnerships for improving dementia care in primary care: Extending access to primary care‐based memory clinics in Ontario, Canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(6), 1574–1585. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12...

13. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Locklin, J., Lumley‐Leger, K., & Molnar, F. (2019). Specialist and family physician collaboration: Insights from primary care‐based memory clinics. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12...

14. Lee, L., Lu, S. K., Hillier, L. M., Gregg, S., & Carlin, G. K. (2019). Improving access to community support and services for persons living with dementia: Integration of home care services into primary care‐based memory clinics. Geriatrics and Gerontology International/Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 19(1), 81–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.13...

15. Lee, L., Slonim, K., Hillier, L. M., Lu, S. K., & Lee, J. (2018). Persons with dementia and care partners’ perspectives on memory clinics in primary care. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 8(6), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-20...

16. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., Hillier, L., Archibald, D., & Lee, J. (2018). Improving family medicine resident training in dementia care: An experiential learning opportunity in Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinics. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 41(4), 447–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/027019...

20. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Molnar, F., & Borrie, M. J. (2017). Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinics: Building capacity for Optimized Dementia care. Healthcare Quarterly, 19(4), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2...

23. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Harvey, D. (2014). Integrating Community Services into Primary Care: Improving the Quality of Dementia Care. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 4(1), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt.13...

24. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Stolee, P., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M., McAiney, C. A., & Harvey, D. (2010). Enhancing Dementia care: a Primary Care–Based Memory Clinic. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(11), 2197–2204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532...

29. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., & Hillier, L. M. (2013). Developing Memory Clinics in Primary Care: An Evidence-Based Interprofessional Program of Continuing Professional Development. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 33(1), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/chp.21...

96% of patients and caregivers would recommend MINT Memory Clinics

94% of patients and caregivers were satisfied with MINT Memory Clinics

Viv and Ben’s Story

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Bob and Sherrill’s Story

Watch our video

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ENHANCED TRAINING

In MINT Memory Clinics, each health care professional has received standardized accredited training to deliver high-quality dementia care.

Evaluative studies have shown the impact of this training program in enhancing care for persons living with dementia and their care partners.

17. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., & Hillier, L. M. (2018). Education to improve dementia care: Family Medicine, 50(3), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.22454/famme...

28. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Weston, W. W. (2013). Ensuring the success of interprofessional teams: key lessons learned in memory clinics. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 33(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1017/s07149...

Building Dementia Care Capacity

MINT Memory Clinics build capacity to meet the needs of an aging population by bringing dementia care into primary care. By working together with specialist care and community agencies, MINT Memory Clinics are able to meet the needs of most persons with memory concerns within their own community, according to evaluative studies of the model. This model makes better use of limited specialist resources by reserving referrals for complex cases.

18. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Wilson, J. M., Gregg, S., Fathi, K., Smith, C. S., & Smith, M. (2017). Effect of Primary Care‐Based Memory Clinics on referrals to and Wait‐Time for Specialized Geriatric services. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(3), 631–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15...

22. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M., Borrie, M. J., Stolee, P., & Harvey, D. (2014). Primary Care–Based Memory Clinics: Expanding capacity for dementia care. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 33(3), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.1017/s07149...

90% of persons living with dementia can have all their care needs met within MINT Memory Clinics

Only 10% of patients in MINT Memory Clinics are referred to specialists, compared to 100% of patients in non-MINT Clinics

More Effective Use of Resources

An independent evaluative study* commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care found the MINT Memory Clinic model contributes significant cost savings for Ontario’s health care system.

By improving integration and caring for persons living with dementia at the primary care level, the evaluation also found that the MINT Memory Clinic model helps to relieve the burden on hospitals and long-term care.

We would like to thank the Government of Ontario for commissioning this evaluation and for the work of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Health Quality Ontario and the Health Innovations group in completing it. We also want to thank all of the MINT Memory Clinic teams, specialists, community agencies, patients and families that participated and provided input, and who are making this innovative model a success.

DOWNLOAD EVALUATION

*The 2019 study analyzed comprehensive data obtained from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, including data sets from Hospital Discharge Abstract Database, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, Continuing Care Reporting System, Ontario Drug Benefits Claims, Ontario Health Insurance Plan Claims Database, and Home Care.

38% reduction in cost per day throughout a patient’s dementia care journey, including hospital visits, specialty care, home care and long-term care

55% reduction in inpatient hospital costs, including ALC days

50% reduction in Emergency Department visit costs

46% reduction in physician fee for service costs

20% reduction in Long-Term Care costs

$71 less per patient per day (or, based on this finding, nearly $26K in annual savings for every patient managed by a MINT Memory Clinic)
- Reducing wait times to receive dementia care by nearly 50%
- Hospitalizations occur later and are shorter, with fewer ALC days and more patients being discharged home
- First visits to the Emergency Department occur later, with fewer admissions
- MINT Memory Clinic patients are able to delay entering Long-Term Care by an average of 6 months compared to patients receiving care outside of the MINT Memory Clinic model

120+

MINT Memory Clinics

500+

family physicians

75+

specialists

300+

community service providers

1500+

nurses and interprofessional health care providers

Watch our video

1. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Weston, W. W. (2021). Comparing virtual to In-Person delivery of Continuing medical education in dementia care: Which is preferred? Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 23(8), 1413-1417.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2021.11.008
2. Lee, L., Kasperski, M. J., & Weston, W. W. (2011, July 1). Building capacity for dementia care: Training program to develop primary care memory clinics. Canadian Family Physician, 57(7), e249–e252. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3135463/
1. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., Gregg, S., Hickman, K., Lu, S. K., Lee, M., & Borrie, M. J. (2023). A “Patient Preference” Model of Recruitment for Research from Primary-Care-Based Memory Clinics: A Promising New Approach. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 43(2), 275–286. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980823000533
2. Lee, L., Jones, A., Patel, T., Hillier, L. M., Heckman, G. A., & Costa, A. P. (2023). Frailty prevalence and efficient screening in primary care-based memory clinics. Family Practice, 40(5–6), 689–697. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmad035
3. Wong, W. W. L., Lee, L., Walker, S., Lee, C., Patel, T., Hillier, L. M., Costa, A. P., & Sinha, S. K. (2023). Cost-utility analysis of a multispecialty interprofessional team dementia care model in Ontario, Canada. BMJ Open, 13(4), e064882. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064882
4. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Carducci, J., Patel, T., Skimson, K., Dillon-Martin, S., Kuzych, L., Beuermann, L., Parikh, R., & Lee, C. (2023). Assessing Risk among Frail Older Adults in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Telephone Outreach Program. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9793025
5. Lee, L., Jones, A., Hillier, L. M., Costa, A., Patel, T., & Parikh, R. (2021). Frailty screening in older adults: is annual screening necessary in primary care? Family Practice, 39(1), 12–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmab055
6. Lee, L., Molnar, F., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., & Slonim, K. (2021). Multispecialty interprofessional Team Memory Clinics: Enhancing collaborative practice and health care providers’ experience of dementia care. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 41(1), 96–109. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980821000052
7. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., Molnar, F., Borrie, M., & Clarke, J. (2020). Delaying transition into Long-Term Care for persons living with Dementia: multispecialty interprofessional team memory Clinics. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 21(12), 2014-2015.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.07.011
8. Lee, L., Jones, A., Costa, A., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., Milligan, J., Pefanis, J., Giangregorio, L., Heckman, G. A., & Parikh, R. (2020). The C5-75 program: Meeting the need for efficient, pragmatic frailty screening and management in primary care. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 40(2), 193–205. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980820000161
9. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Gregg, S. (2019). Partnerships for improving dementia care in primary care: Extending access to primary care‐based memory clinics in Ontario, Canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(6), 1574–1585. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12829
10. Lee, L., Hillier, L., Lumley-Leger, K., Molnar, F., Netwon, D., Stirling, L., & Milne, K. (2019). Key lessons learned in the strategic implementation of the Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinic Model: A tale of two regions. Healthcare Policy, 15(1), 53–69. https://doi.org/10.12927/hcpol.2019.25938
11. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Locklin, J., Lumley‐Leger, K., & Molnar, F. (2019). Specialist and family physician collaboration: Insights from primary care‐based memory clinics. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12751
12. Lee, L., Lu, S. K., Hillier, L. M., Gregg, S., & Carlin, G. K. (2019). Improving access to community support and services for persons living with dementia: Integration of home care services into primary care‐based memory clinics. Geriatrics and Gerontology International/Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 19(1), 81–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.13572
13. Lee, L., Slonim, K., Hillier, L. M., Lu, S. K., & Lee, J. (2018). Persons with dementia and care partners’ perspectives on memory clinics in primary care. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 8(6), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2018-0024
14. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., Hillier, L., Archibald, D., & Lee, J. (2018). Improving family medicine resident training in dementia care: An experiential learning opportunity in Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinics. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 41(4), 447–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2018.1484737
15. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., & Hillier, L. M. (2018). Education to improve dementia care: Family Medicine, 50(3), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.22454/fammed.2018.221401
16. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Wilson, J. M., Gregg, S., Fathi, K., Smith, C. S., & Smith, M. (2017). Effect of Primary Care‐Based Memory Clinics on referrals to and Wait‐Time for Specialized Geriatric services. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(3), 631–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15169
17. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Weston, W. W. (2017). “Booster Days”: An educational initiative to develop a community of practice of primary care collaborative memory clinics. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 41(1), 4–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2017.1373350
18. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Molnar, F., & Borrie, M. J. (2017). Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinics: Building capacity for Optimized Dementia care. Healthcare Quarterly, 19(4), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2017.25011
19. Lee, L., & Hillier, L. M. (2016). Family physicians’ perspectives on memory clinics in primary care. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 6(6), 467–478. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2016-0031
20. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M., Borrie, M. J., Stolee, P., & Harvey, D. (2014). Primary Care–Based Memory Clinics: Expanding capacity for dementia care. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 33(3), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980814000233
21. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Harvey, D. (2014). Integrating Community Services into Primary Care: Improving the Quality of Dementia Care. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 4(1), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt.13.72
22. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Stolee, P., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M., McAiney, C. A., & Harvey, D. (2010). Enhancing Dementia care: a Primary Care–Based Memory Clinic. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(11), 2197–2204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03130.x
1. Lee, L., Locklin, J., Patel, T., Lu, S. K., & Hillier, L. M. (2022). Recruitment of Participants for Dementia Research: Interprofessional Perspectives From Primary care-based Memory Clinics. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 12(3), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2021-0053
2. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Lu, S. K., & Ward, D. (2020). Enabling advance care planning in dementia care: a primary care approach. Journal of Palliative Care, 36(4), 224–233. https://doi.org/10.1177/0825859720973937
3. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., & Weston, W. W. (2020). A Decade of Dementia Care Training: Learning Needs of Primary care Clinicians. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 40(2), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1097/ceh.0000000000000288
4. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., & Weston, W. W. (2013). Ensuring the success of interprofessional teams: key lessons learned in memory clinics. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 33(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980813000652
5. Lee, L., Weston, W. W., & Hillier, L. M. (2013). Developing Memory Clinics in Primary Care: An Evidence-Based Interprofessional Program of Continuing Professional Development. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 33(1), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/chp.21163
1. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Patel, T., Lu, S. K., Lee, M., & Lee, C. (2023). An Innovative approach to recruiting participants for Dementia Research: Primary care and researcher Perspectives. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 13(6), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2022-0040
2. Lee, L., Hillier, L. M., Carducci, J., Patel, T., Skimson, K., Dillon-Martin, S., Kuzych, L., Beuermann, L., Parikh, R., & Lee, C. (2023). Assessing Risk among Frail Older Adults in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Telephone Outreach Program. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9793025
3. Lee, L., Heckman, G., McKelvie, R., Jong, P., D’Elia, T., & Hillier, L. M. (2015, March 1). Physicians’ perceptions of capacity building for managing chronic disease in seniors using integrated interprofessional care models. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369631/
1. Lee, L., Patel, T., Molnar, F., Seitz, D. Optimizing medications in cognitively-impaired older adults: Considerations for primary care clinicians. Canadian Family Physician. 2018;64:646-652. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135130/
2. Lee, L., Molnar, F. Driving and dementia: An efficient approach to driving safety concerns in family practice. Canadian Family Physician. 2017;63(1):27-31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28115437
3. Lee, L., Heckman, G., Molnar, F. Frailty: Identifying elderly persons at high risk of poor outcomes. Canadian Family Physician. 2015;61(3):227-231. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25767167
4. Lee, L., Weston, W., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M., Sloka, J.S., Lee, F.J. A structured approach to the patient with memory difficulties in family practice. Canadian Family Physician. 2013;59(3):249-254. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23486793
5. Lee, L., Heckman G. Meeting the challenge of managing seniors with multiple complex conditions: The central role of primary care. Canadian Geriatrics Society Journal of CME, 2012;2(2):23-27. http://canadiangeriatrics.ca/2012/09/volume-2-issue-2-meeting-the-challenge/
6. Lee, L., Rojas-Fernandez, C., Heckman, G., Gagnon, M. Cognition-enhancing drugs in dementia: Tips for the primary care physician. Canadian Geriatrics Society Journal of CME. 2011;1(1):5-9. http://canadiangeriatrics.ca/2011/12/volume-1-issue-1-cognition-enhancing-drugs-in-dementia/
7. Lee, L., Weston, W. Disclosing a diagnosis of dementia: Helping learners to break bad news. Canadian Family Physician. 2011;57(7):851-852. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3135455/
1. Lee, L., Hillier, L.M., Patel, T., Gregg, S., Hickman, K., Lu, S.K., Lee, M., Borrie, M. J. A “Patient Preference” Model of Recruitment for Research from Primary-Care-Based Memory Clinics: A Promising New Approach. Canadian Journal on Aging. 2024; 43(2):275–286. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980823000533
2. Lee, L., Hillier, L.M., Patel, T., Lu, S.K., Lee, M., Lee, C. An Innovative Approach to Recruiting Participants for Dementia Research: Primary Care and Researcher Perspectives. Neurodegenerative Disease Management. 2024; 13(6):323–334. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2022-0040
3. Lee, L. Hillier, L.M., Lu, S K., Dillon-Martin, S., Pritchard, S., Janzen, J., Slonim, K. Person-Centred Risk Assessment Framework: Assessing and managing risk in older adults living with dementia. Neurodegenerative Disease Management. In press.
4. Lee, L., Hillier, L., Lee, J., Locklin, J., Slonim, K. Advance care planning for persons with dementia in primary care: Attitudes and barriers among health are professionals. Journal of Palliative Care. In press.
5. Lee, L., Weston, W. A new way of loving and living. Canadian Family Physician. 2013;59(3):286. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3596210/

COMPLETE PATIENT-CENTRED CARE

Patient and Care Partner Perspectives:

Viv and Ben’s Story

Bob and Sherrill’s Story

ENHANCED TRAINING

Building Dementia Care Capacity

More Effective Use of Resources

Supporting cost savings for the health care system

Reducing wait times, hospitalizations and long-term care

MINT Memory Clinics by the Numbers

120+

500+

75+

300+

1500+

Transforming Canada's Health Care System

Publications

Memory Clinic Training Program

Model of Care / Evaluative Outcomes

Interprofessional Team Training

Expansion of the Memory Clinic Model

Review Articles

Other