ABSTRACT
Dementia guidelines have been developed for general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists. ln many EU countries GPs are gatekeepers in the healthcare system (Vemooij-Dassen et al 2005). GPs navigate patients to self-care, primary care and hospital or nursing home care. Therefore, special attention is needed for the development and implementation of guidelines for GPs. Without GPs recognizing dementia symptoms and taking action, in many EU countries the patient and the informal carer will struggle without professional support in dealing with this incomprehensible disease.
