Living with dementia
Further information and support for those living with dementia
Local groups and resources
BLUEBELL CAFÉ Wheathampstead Dementia Friendship & Support
This friendly cafe meets on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 10.30 am to 12 pm at the Mead Hall, East Lane, Wheathampstead. All welcome!
Programme of activities for Summer Term 2024:
3 April - Social and arrangements for 17 April
17 April - Meet at Mid Herts Golf Club 10.30 am, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead AL4 8RS
1 May - Social
15 May - Heartwood Forest talk, Brian Legg
5 June - Social
19 June - Alzheimer’s Society – Talks/questions
3 July - Singing and music led by Anna Bosatta
17 July Social
August, no meetings. Recommence on 4 September 2024
Please contact Isobel Poole if you require further information:
Isobel.poole99@gmail.com 07949 630228
Hertswise - Dementia Support in Herts
A countywide service for people living with dementia, low level memory loss or mild cognitive impairment, as well as their carers and loved ones.
Please join us for refreshments and activities including but not limited to movement, reminiscence activities, music, and arts and crafts.
Every Thursday 2pm – 4pm, 12 Southdown Road, Harpenden (Quaker Meeting House), AL5 1PD.
Hertswise asks for a contribution of £5 per week (carers and family members at no cost).
If you are interest in the group please call Herts Help: 0300 123 4044
*Calls charged at a local rate, Monday - Friday, 8am-8pm.
Movement for Memory
Gentle dance-based sessions at Harpenden Trusts Halls (130 Southdown Road) for people living with dementia, parkinsons or MS, every Monday from 10.30am.
Sessions are £2 per person, including tea and coffee.
Email info.imaginationarts@yahoo.com or call 07394 934911 to book your place.
National support
Alzheimer’s Society local services update
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During the coronavirus pandemic, The Alzheimer's Society has advice and practical tips for people living with dementia and those supporting them. For more information, visit their website: |
Local Alzheimers Society teams continue to provide information, support and guidance to those who need it. To ensure the wellbeing of our service users, volunteers and staff, we have made some changes to how this support is provided. This may change depending on future government guidance, but at present the following is in place in your area:
Direct support for people affected by dementia:
- All face-to-face and home visits have currently been suspended.
- We will increase the number of keeping in touch telephone calls with service users to help support their wellbeing and guard against isolation.
- We will be extending the operating hours of our national Dementia Connect Support Line.
Trained advisors can be contacted via 0333 150 3456 for advice and guidance.
Group support:
- All local group sessions have been suspended.
- We are working with our volunteers to develop ways to continue to support group members via other methods.
Online support:
- Advice and guidance on a range of issues is available on our website.
We would encourage people to join Dementia Talking Point. This is our online community where people affected by dementia can receive valuable support from people in similar situations.
Further support:
- People with questions about what they should be doing and how they should be interacting with people living with dementia at this time can access this guidance.
- Any community groups or individuals that wish to support vulnerable adults during this time can contact Alzheimer’s Society for information and guidance. This includes how to access our online Dementia Friends awareness sessions.
Alzheimer’s Society contact details:
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Telephone: 0333 150 3456
Dementia Connect
Dementia Connect, from Alzheimer’s Society, is a new personalised service that connects anyone affected by dementia to the support they need, when they need it. It offers people with dementia, and their carers, family and friends, free and easy access to the support they need. From practical advice on legal documents, to someone to talk to when things get tough. And they can access support by phone, online and face to face. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/refer
Dementia Carers Count
Dementia Carers Count offer FREE support courses for family and friends caring for a person living with dementia. Courses range from 1 to 3 days and cover the different types of dementia, including a specific Young Onset (for those diagnosed with dementia under the age of 65). Strong focus is given to how you can build on and develop your own resilience, in order to help increase your well-being, confidence in your caring role and to explore different ways of responding to challenges.
Please see the website for further details: www.dementiacarers.org.uk
Dementia Carers Count has set up a Virtual Carers Centre with information about the online resources and digital services that they offer: https://dementiacarers.org.uk/virtual-carers-centre/
This survey template was developed in alignment with the Alzheimer's Society parameters and guidance.
Please see the website for further details: www.dementiacarers.org.uk
Become a Dementia Friend
To learn more about becoming a Dementia Friend, please visit: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/WEBArticle?page=join-options
Citizens Advice St Albans District Carers Support
Citizens Advice St Albans provides one-to-one advice appointments for carers. Their qualified advisers can help with a range of matters, including:
Applying for benefits such as attendance allowance, personal independence payment and carer's allowance
Blue badges and bus passes
Powers of attorney
Care home fees
Equipment and home care
Household bills and maximising income
To find out more, call Citizens Advice St Albans on 01727 811118 or email carers@castad.org.uk and leave your contact details.
Dementia UK Helpline
Call the Dementia UK Helpline for free on 0800 888 6678. "From looking out for the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s, to understanding the challenges of living with someone with vascular dementia, our specialist Admiral Nurses have the knowledge and experience to understand the situation and suggest answers that might be hard to find elsewhere." For full details, visit:
https://www.dementiauk.org/get-support/dementia-helpline-alzheimers-helpline/
M4D Radio: https://m4dradio.com/
M4D radio, https://m4dradio.com/, is part of the Music for Dementia campaign to make music available to everyone living with dementia. Our ambition is to make music freely available and a part of everyone’s care plan.
Music is a wonderful connector and has the ability to bring people together in the here and now. It can enliven, stimulate and enable people living with dementia to express themselves creatively through musical engagement.
Research shows, and experiences demonstrate, that music can help reduce the often distressing symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, apathy and anxiety.
Poignantly, music supports people living with dementia to communicate beyond words. It also supports emotional health and wellbeing, particularly at a time when emotions can be overwhelming or difficult to process or manage.
So, not only does music have a valuable role to play in enhancing quality of life, it helps carers in their vital roles.
Harpenden Town Council welcomes suggestions and comments from residents regarding Dementia Friendly activities and events.
To get in touch please email harpenden.town.council@harpenden.gov.uk or call 01582 768278. We also invite you to regularly revisit our website and follow our social media channels for updates.