The Harpenden Town Council Mission Statement - To promote the area as a place to live, a place to work, a place to invest and a place to visit
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Its all Happening - events calendar

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Town Events Mayor's Diary

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Living with dementia - support and advice

Further information and support for those living with dementia

Local groups and resources

Herts Musical Memories

Herts Musical Memories delivers vibrant music sessions that are both fun and therapeutic for people with memory problems, people living with dementia, and their carers. Herts Musical Memories helps people connect to their memories through singing - the sessions are specially designed, using musical therapy techniques, to be of benefit to those living with Alzheimer’s Disease, other forms of dementia, and memory problems.

The sessions last 90 minutes and include a relaxed welcome with refreshments on
arrival. We sing an eclectic mix of songs both old and new – and we laugh a lot! Don't
worry about being good singers - most people tell us they can't sing but after their first
visit they nearly always come back for more.

Location: The Harpenden Trust Centre, 90 Southdown Road, Harpenden, AL5 1PS.

When: 1:30-3:00pm on the following dates:  

6th, 13th, 20th May

10th, 17th, 24th June

8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th July

12th, 19th, 26th August

2nd, 16th, 23rd, 30th September

7th, 21st, 28th October

4th, 11th, 25th November

2nd, 9th, 16th December

 

Contact: 

020 8950 5757  admin@hertsmusicalmemories.org.uk; http://hertsmusicalmemories.org.uk/ 

Herts Musical Memories will be running a taster session at Memory Lane Cafe on 28th March, clilck here for further information: Herts Musical Memories taster session at Memory Lane Café | Harpenden Town Council

Wheathampstead Dementia Wellbeing Group: Dementia Cafe

No need to book for this free sociable get-together for people with dementia and their carers. Come along and join us for refreshments and to meet new people. 

We run a in the Mead Hall from 10:30 – 12:00, for those living with dementia and their carers. Relevant speakers are invited and occasional lunches and other outings take place.

Location: Mead Hall, East Lane, Wheathampstead AL48BP (Behind the Bull Public House Car Park)

When: This club is run most first and third Wednesdays in the month

Contact: Isobel Poole, Tel: 07949 630 228.  https://wheathampsteadfriends.org/dementia/

 

Carers in Hertfordshire - Carers Support Hub Group 
This carers support group meets at Harpenden Cricket Club on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 11am to 12.30pm. The aim of the Group is to provide practical and emotional support to unpaid family or friend carers. It’s run by a team of volunteers and is a chance for carers to take a break from their caring role, chat with other carers and share tips and information about local services that may be helpful.
In addition, they signpost to other services run by Carers in Hertfordshire, and can refer carers to one of their Carer Support Advisors who are trained to offer advice and support.
If you are a carer, you would be very welcome to visit this outstanding, supportive group, please phone their office on 01992 586 969 for further details, or visit https://www.carersinherts.org.uk/

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.

 

National support

Alzheimer’s Society local services update

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:

alzheimers.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19.

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

Update from Dementia Carers Count

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. 

 

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 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 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 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.

About music and dementia

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 lived 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.

 

Last updated about 1 month ago