Dementia support

People with dementia get by with a little help from their friends, and anybody can become a Dementia Friend. It’s all about understanding a bit more about dementia and the small things you can do to help people with the condition.

We’re proud to be a dementia friendly council. So far more than 140 of our staff members have become Dementia Friends, helping to promote understanding of the illness.

Both frontline and back-office staff have undertaken training so they can recognise the small things that can make a big difference to people living with the condition in our community.

Dementia Friends

Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer’s Society led initiative, funded by the Department of Health and Cabinet Office. It aims to increase dementia awareness, changing the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about dementia.

People with dementia want to carry on going about their daily lives and feeling included in their local community, but they sometimes need a helping hand. Dementia Friends learn a little bit about what it's like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. This might be by helping someone to find the right bus, or being patient in a till queue if someone with dementia is taking longer to pay.

More information on how to become a Dementia Friend can be found on their website.

Dementia champions

The Council has its own Dementia Friends champion, Beverley McMillan. Beverley is a council housing support worker who has been running information sessions, with those attending becoming a Dementia Friend. This is part of the council’s pledge to the Dementia Action Alliance.

Champions have been going out into their communities and organising sessions in workplaces to spread the message, helping local people, businesses and groups to understand dementia.

Beverley, a Council housing support worker, said: "Our aim is that most of our frontline staff are dementia aware. We believe that by having an understanding of dementia will really benefit the community.”

More information on how you can become a Dementia Friends Champion can be found on their website.

NHS working age dementia team

Contact the NHS working age dementia team if you live in Nottinghamshire and are under 65, with a diagnosis of dementia.

Support sessions run at various times and locations across the county, including peer support groups.

Call 01623 403278 for more information.

Memory loss support groups

Alzheimer's Society - Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Dementia Wellbeing Service

The Dementia Wellbeing Service (formerly known as Dementia Connect) is the Alzheimer's Society's personalised support service for those with dementia and their carers, families and friends. It consists of our 1:1 Dementia Support Service, our Carers Information and Support Programme and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. It’s free for service users, easy to access and is endorsed as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Our 1:1 Dementia Support Service puts service users in touch with our Dementia Advisers who can offer them the support, advice and information how they need it, when they need it. Types of support can include: providing information on dementia as a condition and how to live well with it; providing help with legal documents and form completion; signposting to dementia groups and other local community services and access to publications covering a wide range of dementia-related subjects.

Referrals can be made from individuals themselves, or on their behalf from their carers, friends, family, associated healthcare professionals or any professionals to which they have a relationship with.

The Carer Information and Support Programme (CrISP) aims to improve the knowledge, skills and understanding of those caring for a person with dementia, by providing effective support and up-to-date, relevant and evidence-based information. The programme facilitates peer support and a shared learning experience led by trained Society staff and volunteers in a safe, accessible, appropriate environment.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is for individuals with mild to moderate dementia which involves service users taking part in meaningful and stimulating activities with the aim of aiding and maintaining memory function. Please note that referrals to CST will only be through the Memory Assessment Service (MAS), Therapeutic Intervention Service (TIS) and the Mental Health for Older People (MHSOP) service at this time.

Please contact our dementia support line on 0333 150 3456 to access support.

Lines are open:

• Monday - Wednesday (9am - 8pm)
• Thursday - Friday (9am - 5pm)
• Saturday - Sunday (10am - 4pm)

If you are interested in further information on our Carers Information Sessions, please contact us on our remote office number on 0115 934 3811.

 

Memory Café

The café is a relaxed place for people with dementia and their carers to meet. The memory café meets every Monday from 1pm until 3pm at the Lifespring Church, Sherwood Drive, Ollerton. They have a variety of quizzes, games, crafts and sometimes interesting guest speakers and always a warm welcome, a cuppa and a biscuit.

For more information email liz@lifespring.org.uk or call 01623 860303 / 07973982716

Open Door

An independent non profitable organisation offering help and support to individuals, carers and families whose lives are effected by Dementia.

For more information on the local services they provide contact them at

Tel: 01623 405199

Mob: 07722520765

Email: info@opendoor1.co.uk

Web: http://www.opendoor1.co.uk

Blidworth and Rainworth Memory Group

People living with dementia or looking after someone with dementia can come along. You can learn more about the condition, get support, do activities, but most importantly meet friendly people for a chat, a cuppa and a biscuit.

The group meets on the first Friday of the month at Blidworth Library, New Road, Blidworth, Notts NG21 0PW from 10am until 12pm.

For more information contact bandrmemorygrp@gmail.com or call 07971039832, Or checkout their Facebook page.

Carers support groups

Newark Dementia Carers Group

Carers of people with dementia can join this friendly and understanding group. The group meets at the Community Centre Coronation Street Balderton every Monday and Thursday and offers a place to go to unwind, socialise and find support, you are welcome to bring the person you care for along too.

The group has a variety of activities, social events, days out and holidays.

For more information email newarkdementiacarersgroup@hotmail.com or call 07586377756