Piloting Patient Navigation for Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Study in Primary Care

Background Dementia care is often fragmented and difficult to navigate. Patient navigation is a promising solution to support individuals with dementia and their care partners. Objective A bilingual patient navigation program was piloted in New Brunswick, Canada, embedding six patient navigators in primary care clinics across the province. Methods A mixed-methods study explored participant characteristics, satisfaction, and experiences with the program. Findings Among 150 navigation cases, primary needs included access to informational resources and social services. Survey results showed high overall satisfaction with the program, along with improved knowledge and access to dementia-related health and social services. Qualitative findings further emphasized that patient navigators successfully linked participants to appropriate resources and services while also reducing care partner burden. However, systemic barriers such as long wait times and financial constraints persisted. Discussion This study highlights the need for early intervention and sustained navigation support to enhance dementia care coordination and accessibility in aging populations.