Dementia Advisers and Peer Support Networks
What are Dementia Advisers?
Dementia advisers are sources of help and information for the person
who has dementia and their carers.
Nationally and locally there has been a clear and consistent message
from people with dementia and their carers for access to an individual to
approach at anytime for help and advice at any stage of the illness.
Dementia advisers fulfil this role and provide a single identifiable
point of contact with knowledge of and direct access to the whole range
of services available with advice and support tailored to the needs of each
individual.
Dementia advisers act as guides to help people with dementia and their families
navigate the care and support system throughout their illness.
They will help provide easy access to care, support and advice. The
Advisers will also signpost the client and carer to user groups, peer support
and other activities as well as benefits, entitlement and employment.
The Dementia adviser’s role will ensure people are signposted
to the support services that will help them take control of their condition
and help them remain active and independent.
For further information about Dementia Advisers in Medway please
contact:
Medway Dementia Advisers
Sunlight Centre
Richmond Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 1LL
Tel: 01634 338633
Email: mda@sunlighttrust.org.uk
There are other organisations that provide dementia
advisers. Sunlight Development Trust Last updated: 9th January 2012
Nationally the Alzheimer’s Society has voluntary dementia advisers.
Further information can be found and downloaded from the Alzheimer’s
Society.
Locally, the main organisations involved in this project for Medway are listed
below:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support (ADFS)
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support provides information and advice
to families and friends caring for a loved one affected by dementia. ADFS
works across the district of Medway and is managed and developed by the Sunlight
Trust.
ADFS offers services which include:
• Bereavement Counselling
• One to One Support
• Telephone Support
• Help with Form Filling
• Advocacy
Monthly Carers Groups, every third Tuesday of
each month from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.
Weekly Tai Chi sessions, every Friday from 1.00 pm to 2.15 pm at a cost of
£2.00 per each session.
Monthly Singalongs on the first Thursday of each
month from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.
Bi-Monthy coffee mornings and a raffle from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm on the last
Wednesday of each month. Please note: there will be a charge of £1.00
for Tea or Coffee and biscuits in July, September and November.
Monthly pamper sessions for carers (nails, eye brow shaping, massage etc),
on the first Monday of each month, at a cost of £5.00 per treatment.
ADFS advises people to call prior to attending any of the above services to
check for availability.
For further information please contact:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support
Sunlight Centre
Richmond Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 1LL
Tel: 01634 338630/1
Email: maggie@adfs.sunlighttrust.org.uk
Alternatively, please go direct to Alzheimer’s
and Dementia Family Support website
Medway Council
Medway Council works closely in association with Kent and Medway NHS and NHS
Direct. Information about the services they provide can be found on the links
to their websites below:
• Medway Maritime Hospital (www.medway.nhs.uk)
• NHS Medway (the Primary Care Trust) (www.medwaypct.nhs.uk)
• NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk)
Sunlight Development Trust is a community owned and a managed charitable organisation
that works with partners across all sectors. They combine a mix of services
aimed at everyone within their community; nobody is excluded. Their overriding
aim is to improve health inequity and well-being by providing an improved
range of social, medical and community activities for all.
Please go to Sunlight
Development Trust for
further information.
What is a Peer Support Network?
Peer support networks are support groups for people who have dementia. In
some areas they also act as learning networks and sources of information.
The idea is that the networks will offer local, practical and emotional support
for people with dementia and their carers and give them an opportunity to
take an active role in developing local services.
One type of service that will be piloted as part of the networking scheme
is a dementia café. Dementia cafes exist in other places in the country
and give opportunities for people with dementia and their carers to network
with others.
As well as providing dementia advisers and peer support networks, this work
stream also aims to reach minority groups such as people with learning difficulties,
BME (Black and Minority Ethnic Communities) groups and people who do not speak
English.
For further infomation please go to our Peer
Support Network section.