Resource Bank: Dementia Support

Dementia Friends have put together a list of useful links, to accompany the Dementia, Diversity and the Arts event and signpost attendees to information and support.

Alzheimer’s Society – Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, which campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and support people living with dementia today. At Alzheimer’s Society, we believe passionately that life doesn’t end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.

Dementia Connect – If you need dementia support, call Dementia Connect support line 0333 150 3456. Dementia Connect, from Alzheimer’s Society, is a new personalised dementia support service. It provides people affected by dementia with the support they need, when they need it.

Dementia Friends – Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition. Whether you attend a face-to-face Information Session or watch the online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.

Dementia Voice – Do you have first-hand experience of dementia? Help shape the work of Alzheimer’s Society through Dementia Voice, and use your experience to ensure everything we do reflects the needs of people affected by dementia.

Find local services – Alzheimer’s Society online services directory, to find services near you. Enter your postcode, town or city to search.

The Dementia Guide (video) in other languages – The latest version of the Alzheimer’s Society dementia guide is for anyone who has recently been told they have dementia. It will also be useful to the friends and family of someone with a recent diagnosis. This document has been translated into many languages, including Cantonese, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic Bengal, Gujarati, Hindi and British Sign Language

Alzheimer’s Society Factsheets – Alzheimer’s Society has a number of factsheets that cover a wide range of dementia-related topics.

Talking Point – Talking Point is Alzheimer’s Society’s online support and discussion forum for anyone affected by dementia. It’s a place to ask for advice, share information, join in discussions and feel supported.

Essex County Council Dementia Guide – Nearly 20,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in Essex, and this is set to increase to over 25,000 in the next 10 years. Alongside this are those who are caring for a loved one with dementia, often over 50 hours a week. This is a challenge that local authorities and the NHS across Greater Essex are determined to tackle together.

NHS Dementia Guide – Offers information for people with dementia and their families and friends.

Dementia UK – Providing specialist support helping families face dementia together.

Dementia Adventure – Evidence shows people with dementia who engage with nature and outdoor activity have increased and sustained levels of well-being and quality of life. Evidence also suggests people who adopt a healthy lifestyle including exercise and regular outdoor activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia in the future. We are a registered charity dedicated to supporting people with dementia to get outdoors, connect with nature, themselves and their community, and retain a sense of adventure in their lives.

Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) – A local DAA is a group of people representing different sectors within an area who have come together to create Dementia Friendly Communities alongside local people affected by dementia. There are 14 local Dementia Action Alliances across Essex, including Tendring, Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree, Billericay, Epping Forest, Uttlesford, Harlow, Thurrock and Southend.

Carers First – Offers support, advice and activities to carers in your local community.

Action for Family Carers – Offers information and support to carers who have unpaid, caring responsibilities for others.

How to help people with dementia: A guide for customer-facing staff – This publication explains how small actions can make a big difference when you are serving customers with dementia.

Daily Living Aids catalogue – take a look at Alzheimer’s Society’s Daily Living Aids catalogue, which offers a selection of products to help with the everyday challenges faced by people living with dementia and their carers. These include easy to use telephones, calendar clocks and home safety devices.

3 Nations Dementia Working Group – take a look at the work of this group of people who are living with dementia and are committed to improving the lives of those affected by dementia across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  Members are based all across the three nations, creating a network of voices on dementia who can lead on regional projects.

Tide – There are about 850,000 carers of people living with dementia in the UK. Caring for someone with dementia can, at times, be challenging, isolating and exhausting but it can also be very rewarding. Here at Tide, we empower carers of people with dementia, helping them recognise that they are experts by experience. We believe that by working closely with carers, we can help them understand that, as experts, their voice matters, and can be used to bring about real change