Following a recent visit by one of the local Alzheimer’s service, we have put together this which contains some useful information and advice for you.  There are phone numbers and other helpful advice from other users and patients/carers.

Maiin Contact Details

The Dementia Support Service provides one-to-one support to people with dementia, carers and family members. The service is unique to your personal circumstances and the information and support you need. A dementia support service may provide you with information and practical support to help you understand more about dementia, and support you to live well with dementia.

Service Aims

The service aims to ensure that you:

• have accurate, clear, relevant and useful information that is easy to understand
• feel you understand more about dementia and your diagnosis and have an improved knowledge of living with dementia
• feel you have improved knowledge of other services available to you and have been enabled to access other support services
• feel less isolated
• feel supported to maintain independence, make choices and be in control of your life
• feel you have been listened to and that your questions have been answered adequately
• feel that the service has helped you at difficult times to prevent crisis situations
• feel empowered to have accessed and built wider support networks
• feel you have learnt better coping strategies

Dementia support is provided by paid dementia support workers. Dementia support workers do not carry out the same role as social workers or community psychiatric nurses, but may complement their work.

We will continue to support you until we have met your support needs and carried out agreed actions. However, you can come back to the service anytime in the future, for example, if your situation changes or you are in further need of dementia support. You can also telephone our National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 if you require any information related to living with dementia.

Family testimony - My Grandmother suffered with Alzheimer's/Dementia for 8 years, during which I was made her legal carer/guardian for matters relating to her Health and Well-being.  In the early stages, I struggled massively in undertaking the whole process, which many people don’t realise is a legal requirement for family and friends with relatives suffering from this illness. Once a person has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, the day-to-day tasks of their carer/relative, like buying shopping for them or withdrawing their pensions, all changes, due to the rules on the Mental Health Act. 

The Court of Protection process can be a complex one. However, it is vital to ensure that family members remain in control of the decisions affecting their relatives. I have seen in so many cases now, where a Court of Protection order was not made early enough, which resulted in the Health Authority or Mental Health Teams making decisions on everything from types of drugs given to care plans. Often these authorities have no idea of the individual patients’ likes, dislikes, or even religious beliefs. That’s why it is so vital to have a relative/friend to ensure that persons’ needs are met.

Useful links: Alzheimers Society

https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-the-court-of-protection