Useful information, links and community resources

Here you will find a not-exhaustive links to a number of local and national organisations that are working with the community to help people with dementia in some way.

The Trust does not recommend any one service above another, this page is purely for people who may wish to look for community resources or help and assistance with any issues, problems or matters that relate to dementia.

If you feel that a service or resource or organisation that you know about has been overlooked and should be considered for adding to this page please email us HERE

The National Institute of Clinical Effectiveness (NICE) publish evidence-based guidance on different areas of health care and health conditions - visit This Page to find information related to treatment and care of people with dementia that has a sound evidence base published by NICE

National links

Carers Trust - "Carers Trust believes in a world where the role and contribution of unpaid carers is recognised and they have access to the quality support and services they need to live their own lives."

Carer's UK - "As the UK's only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change.

For the past 50 years we've been driven by carers raising their voices together to call for change and seek recognition and support.

Looking after someone can be a rewarding experience but it can also be lonely and bewildering. At these times, you need people around you who really understand caring.

That's where we come in.

We help each other by sharing experiences and offering support. Guided by a Board of Trustees that's primarily made up of carers, we're rooted in the real experiences of our members and we're here to make life better for carers."

Independent Age - Support & Care Information -

"Whatever happens as we get older, we all want to remain independent and live life on our own terms. That’s why, as well as offering regular friendly contact and a strong campaigning voice, Independent Age can provide you and your family with clear, free and impartial advice on the issues that matter: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility.
A charity founded over 150 years ago, we’re independent so you can be."

Alzheimer's Society - "Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK charity that campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia today."

Dementia Friends UK - Part of the Alzheimer's Society - "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."

My Life, My Care - "If you find it difficult to live safely and independently in your home, you can find help here. Our solutions offer information and advice to help you make informed choices about living the life you want. To find your solution, start from the menu below."

Alzheimer's Society 'This Is Me' form - "This is me is a simple form for anyone receiving professional care who is living with dementia or is experiencing delirium or other communication difficulties."

Government Dementia Policies - Public Health England webpage with a variety of information about dementia and policies and approaches related to living with the condition and supporting people living with the condition

Age UK - "Age UK is the country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life.

The over-60s is the fastest-growing group in society and there are more of us than ever before.

Ageing is not an illness, but it can be challenging. At Age UK we provide services and support at a national and local level to inspire, enable and support older people.

We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations."

PHE Practical Guide to Healthy Caring Booklet - A link to the Public Health England publication. "The advice in this booklet will help those who look after a friend or family member or have any form of caring responsibilities, but it is written to be particularly relevant for those who are about 65 years or older and are new to caring."

Knowing Me! Community Interest Company offering practical guidance for dementia and person-centred care.

Managing the legal affairs of someone with dementia - Information from NHS England about a range of topics related to the law and dementia. "

A dementia diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean you're unable to make important decisions at that point in time. But as symptoms of dementia get worse over time, you may no longer be able to make decisions about things like your finances, health or welfare. This is sometimes referred to as lacking mental capacity. You may want to make plans now for a person you trust to make decisions on your behalf. This means your wishes for your future care can be respected. It'll also help give your family peace of mind."

UK Dementia Research Institute - "The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The UK DRI breaks new ground by bringing together world-leading expertise in biomedical, care and translational dementia research in a national institute. The institute will grow to be made up of 700 scientists carrying out a rich, varied and integrated programme of research.

The institute will carry out research relevant to all dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Huntington’s disease and beyond."

Arts4Dementia - "Artistic stimulation elevates people, their families and carers above the stresses of dementia. Stepping into an arts venue is in itself inspirational. Arts4Dementia offers arts opportunities to empower people affected by dementia in the community"

Dementia Change Action Network is an open, collaborative network that uses the power of network to tackle key challenges for people with dementia. They have launched the Next Steps website to support people who are waiting for a memory assessment appointment and would really appreciate your help in sharing it to make sure it reaches the people who need it.

Who is the Next Steps for?

• The Next Steps website is for anyone waiting for a memory assessment appointment as well as carers, family members and organisations who support them.

• A link to this website could be given to people by their GP at the same time that a referral to a memory clinic is made; or be included on an appointment letter from a memory clinic.

What is the aim of Next Steps?

Next Steps will help people to find the right support, at the right time, while waiting for a memory assessment appointment. It is divided into four key steps:

Step 1: What to expect from the memory assessment process

Step 2: Taking care of your well-being

Step 3: Exploring available support

Step 4: Diagnosis

National Energy Help

ECHO - Emergency Central Heating Offer

LEAP - Local Energy Advice Partnership - help to save on energy use

Locking Cooker Valve

Palliative care for people with dementia - guidelines

Local links

Citizen's Advice Bureau:

Citizens Advice have a project to raise awareness about the Priority Services Register for both SSEN and Wessex Water.

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is entirely free of charge and can provide essential additional help to those in need during a power cut or disruption to the water service.

Those eligible to be on the register include those who:

- are aged over 60

- are blind or partially sighted

- have additional medical or communication needs

- have dementia

- use medical equipment that may rely on electricity and/or water

The additional support can include portable generators, bottled water, communication to suit your needs, nominated contact options and a password scheme for identification of callers.

There is now a simple form to complete and return in the envelope provided. We will be including these in the installation folders/supply in vans, however there are 2 forms depending on the area the individual lives. If you are able to take a few moments to highlight the form to the individual or if particularly vulnerable, assist in completing and posting.

Please complete the correct form depending on the area the customer lives (SSEN / WW and SSEN / WW / BW). The forms make it easier for the household to register - otherwise they either need to enter 2 online forms or call 2 telephone numbers (one for each utility).

Dorset is mostly covered by SSEN, with Wessex Water covering most parts of Dorset (inc Purbeck, Poole and North Dorset) and Bournemouth Water covering Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, & parts of Ferndown. Only the area out towards Bridport is not under SSEN, and I don't think you provide the service to that area.

This map may help to see the actual area:

https://www.google.com/maps/search/wessex+water+co...

Or for more specific checks on a house there is a postcode checker:

https://www.water.org.uk/advice-for-customers/find...

Citizens Advice also have a project worker who can attend local groups to inform them about the Register and to assist in signing up. Please contact Kate Pryce on 01929 508230 or psr@purbeck.cabnet.org.uk for more information.

RVS Mobile Library Service

Poole Lifeline information

Bournemouth Careline information

Buy with Confidence - local tradesmen checked service

Dorset & Wilts Fire & Rescue Safe and Well Checks

Stepping Into Nature - Guided Activities - "The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Dorset AONB) covers almost half of Dorset and is part of a family of nationally important protected landscapes.

If you are looking for inspiration to get out and about this winter, the South Dorset Ridgeway Field Guide and Walking Maps are a good place to start, with 10 walks exploring the enigmatic 'Land of Bone and Stone'.

Help & Care - "Help & Care has been working across South-Central England for over 30 years, promoting dignity and independence for all people, particularly people living with a long-term health condition, carers and those who are isolated and/or housebound. What makes us different is our person-centred approach. We understand that each individual has different needs, so we work closely with people to understand what really matters for them and to help them lead independent and fulfilling lives, for as long as possible.

Based in Bournemouth, we offer services across South-Central England.

We can help you

We can speak up on your behalf, offer assistance to manage some day-to-day activities, provide support and advice, and much more. Together we will make your voice heard and find solutions that will help you be happier."

Help and Care is also now working in partnership with Dorset HealthCare to provide the Dementia Coordinator Service across Dorset to people who have a dementia diagnosis. This is a post-diagnostic, long-term support resource and more can be found out here: Help & Care Dementia Coordinators

In partnership with Dorset Healthcare, Age UK is providing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) groups around Dorset for people with a diagnosis of dementia. You can find out more here: AGE UK - CST in Dorset

Atlas In-Tandem | Online Dementia Care | Atlas Respite & Therapy

https://www.atlas.care/tandemcare/

"In-TanDEM provides one-to-one online support for those with memory loss (including dementia) and those that care for them. Because we operate online we can support you in your own home and will help you to get online easily. We provide tailored support for those with cognitive decline with our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (recommended by NICE) programme called Active Minds. We also provide much needed support for family and carers through provision of practical information, by helping to increase resilience and wellbeing and by enabling people to navigate the future with confidence working with a personal coach."

Dorset CCG - Living Well with Dementia Plan - "Welcome to the third edition of the directory of services and support for people with dementia and memory loss, their carers and families.

When someone receives a diagnosis of dementia it can be frightening for them and their loved ones. Having the right information about dementia through all its stages, knowing where to find support, how to apply for any relevant benefits and the legal aspects of the disease can be invaluable.

With this in mind we have gathered together as much information as possible on these and other topics such as keeping well and keeping active, which we hope you will find helpful.

The booklet has been compiled by the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and Dorset HealthCare, in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council, the Borough of Poole, Dorset County Council (Learning and Development), Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society(Dorset) and local community groups."

Dementia Action - Local Alliances - "A Local Dementia Action Alliance (LDAA) is an easy structure for creating a dementia Friendly Community.

An LDAA is a group of people representing different sectors within an area who have come together to create a DFC alongside local people affected by dementia.

A LDAA can be established at any level, be it a village, city, county or even a region. They can overlap geographically and member organisations are encouraged to participate in more than one community."

Dorset Carers Advocacy - "Local Authorities in Bournemouth and Poole want carers to tell them about their experiences, to help them to improve services.

Dorset Advocacy is supporting carers to do this. Meetings are open to all carers of someone with a learning disability. You don’t need lots of time or experience, just the enthusiasm to share your ideas."

Prama Care Care Agency - A local charity providing care for local people with a CQC rating of GOOD in 2017.

Dementia Partnerships Information - "The Dorset Dementia Partnership is made up of people who represent different organisations across health and social care, such as the local authorities. It also includes, amongst others, employees of the fire brigade and the police, as well as people living with dementia and their carers."

Helping Hands Home Care - "The flexibility of homecare enables you to live safely and comfortably in the home you know best. From daily or weekly care visits right through to the dedicated support of a live-in carer, there are plenty of home care services available – and even on a temporary basis.

By choosing Helping Hands homecare, you’re safe in the knowledge that the support is fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales. With 30 years’ experience in the sector, we’re widely recognised as one of the UK’s top home care providers, and the only one that is endorsed by Skills for Care as a Centre of Excellence.

Offering the full range of home care services, you can flex your service to match your current needs, whether that’s switching between a live-in carer and a visiting carer or receiving nursing care if your health care needs have changed. We’re here through it all, to fully support you."

iSpace - "iSPACE is a number of actions designed to improve the patient experience through delivery of a set of improvements in care planning, communications and awareness of dementia for staff in primary care settings.

The Wessex Academic Health Science Network has funded a project to make GP surgeries dementia friendly. This was piloted in Hampshire, implemented on the Isle of Wight and then evaluated by the Wessex AHSN Centre for Implementation Science at the University of Southampton. This project has shown good outcomes for patients and is now being spread across Wessex.

I – Identify a dementia champion,

S – Staff Training,

P – Partnership working with patients, carers, and the voluntary sector,

A – Assessment and oversight of use of anti psychotics

C – Care planning and use of tools such as ‘This is Me’,

E – ensure the environment supports people with dementia and other disabilities.

This work is now being spread across Wessex with 143 surgeries in the process of becoming dementia friendly. The programme is often carried out in conjunction with the Dementia Action Alliance and groups who wish to make their communities dementia friendly."

Wessex FaithWorks - "Faithworks Wessex - a local charity helping people get out of crisis and isolation.

We believe there is always Hope.
Hope to get debt free…
Hope to rebuild self-confidence as a lone parent or carer;
Hope to get off the street…
Hope while living with dementia or the memories of domestic abuse…"

The Leonardo Trust - "The Leonardo's trust is a charity which provides funds for full-time carers to have a break, help pay for respite, or other needs."

Dorset Computers4Carers - "Many people who care at home, full-time, for someone they love can feel socially isolated, lonely and unsupported. Often they can’t leave the person they care for, and replacement care is too expensive, which means that meeting up with friends, or even a relaxing walk around the shops, is impossible for them."

Dorset Adult Safeguarding Board - "Safeguarding is everybody's business. The Board exists to protect adults at risk from abuse, significant harm or neglect. We will achieve this through strategic leadership and collective accountability." (You are able to report suspected abuse on this link and to view local policies and procedures for dealing with safeguarding issues.)

Dorset Child Protection - Information page with contact details if you suspect a child me be being abused

Dementia Friendly Communities in Dorset - "The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia (2012) included creating dementia friendly communities. This section illustrates local initiatives to enable people to live well with dementia." - information from the Dorset Dementia Partnerships

The Ageing & Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) at Bournemouth University (BU) brings together cross-faculty research expertise in areas of ageing and dementia. At a time when our population is living longer and often with long-term conditions including dementia, the centre’s research significantly impacts on theory, education and professional practice.

The aim of ADRC is to use the team’s collective expertise to develop person-centred research which will improve the lives of people with dementia and their families. Their research falls under three broad categories – developing ageing & dementia friendly environments, nutrition & wellbeing and activity & social inclusion. Each topic builds on a wealth of research knowledge and projects already taking place at BU. More information can be found on their website ADRC

The ADRC is led by Professor Jane Murphy and Professor Jan Wiener, supported by staff and students from the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science & Technology.

Dementia specialist nurses in hospitals

The three acute general hospitals, Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset County all have their own dementia specialist nurses who work closely with DHUFT Trust services to offer some clinical support to people identified with dementia on their wards, linking with the Trust's Psychiatric Liaison Services in each hospital and to some of the Trust's community dementia services. They each have different remits according to the hospital Trust they are employed by. Some offer more training to staff and signposting to other services (Poole), some offer more individual clinical support on the wards (Royal Bournemouth) and some offer a very specific consultancy service to assist ward staff to manage better (Dorset County).

Early Onset informal support group offered locally by Tricuro

EARLY ONSET DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP
ARE YOU DIAGNOSED WITH EARLY ONSET DEMENTIA?
ARE YOU UNDER 65?
WHY NOT COME ALONG TO OUR FRIENDLY AND INFORMAL SUPPORT GROUP?

WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AT A PUB FOR A MEAL AND CHAT, FRIENDS, CARERS AND RELATIVES ALL WELCOME TOO.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT sian.smail@tricuro.co.uk OR TRICURO ENQUIRIES ON 01202 797888