Dementia and Young Onset Dementia

Find out about our support for carers of people with dementia, which includes our Admiral Nurses and our Involvement team.

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We offer a range of support to people caring for someone with dementia or young onset dementia (diagnosis before the age of 65). This includes our Carer Engagement work as well as support from Admiral Nurses and via the Memory Support Herts community dementia service in Hertfordshire and outlined here.

Carer Involvement, Development and Engagement

Carers in Hertfordshire wants to encourage carers to become more involved in the planning and delivery of services people with dementia, young onset dementia and their carers.

We believe we make a difference by working together through co-production. Co-production is where people who use services, carers, voluntary sector organisations and statutory services come together to have a say on local services and influence how they are delivered in the future.

What do we do

Our Carer Engagement Team will:

  • Hold regular virtual and face to face meetings or events such as information sessions for people caring for someone close to them with dementia or young onset dementia to share information and concerns and to agree responses to proposals for changes to health and social services.
  • Provide you with the training and support you may need to help you represent your views and those of other carers to the health and social care authorities who commission services in Hertfordshire.
  • Give you the opportunity to meet and talk to other carers who have had similar experiences to your own.
  • Keep you updated about issues related to services for people with dementia, young onset dementia, and their carers in Hertfordshire regular ebulletins, newsletters or updates (mainly sent via email).

How you can be involved

Come along to one of our Dementia or Young Onset Dementia Carers meetings or events. We hold these virtually and in different venues across Hertfordshire. They are friendly, relaxed meetings where you can have your say about the services that you receive or may receive in the future.

For those carers who are unable to attend meetings, you can tell us about your experiences of services by email, telephone conversations, responding to surveys or attending one-off workshops.

If you have something to share or would like to get involved, please get in touch.

Carers voices are represented at various meetings including Hertfordshire Dementia Co-production Board. To learn more about co-production in Hertfordshire visit Co-production in Hertfordshire.

Dementia Specialist Admiral Nurses

We host a team of experienced dementia nurses called Admiral Nurses in partnership with Dementia UK. When things get challenging or difficult, our nurses work alongside the family carers of people with all types of dementia giving them one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions.

The unique dementia expertise and experience an Admiral Nurse brings is a lifeline-it helps families to live more positively with dementia in the present, and to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence and less fear.

How can an Admiral Nurse help me?

  • If communication gets hard, we’re on hand with skills and techniques to help you stay connected to the person you love.
  • If the person you care for with dementia is showing signs of fear or distress, we’ll work with you to find the best ways of preventing or managing this.
  • If your family is struggling to cope, we’ll be there to help you get your loved one the best possible additional care and support.
  • If you have questions you can’t get answered we’ll take the time to really understand the problem and give you the expert support you need to tackle it.

Call Carers in Hertfordshire on 01992 58 69 69 to find out more or be referred.

 

Other Organisations and Useful Links

Age UK Hertfordshire

Age UK Hertfordshire offers various services to those with Dementia and their carers, including information and advice, nutritional and diabetic service, help in the home and keeping in touch. The Hertfordshire office is available by telephone on 01707 323 272 or visit their website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/hertfordshire/. The national number is 0300 345 3446.

Alzheimer’s Society

The Alzheimer’s Society in Hertfordshire provide face to face and telephone support for people at any stage of their Dementia and their carers. They offer emotional and practical support around the diagnosis, support you to plan for the future and live well with the diagnosis. Support in Hertfordshire is accessible by calling 01707 378365  or visiting their website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Nationally they run the Dementia Connect Support Line which you can call on 0333 150 3456.

Dementia UK

Dementia UK is a national charity that aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. It offers advice and support to families who are living with Dementia. Support is mainly provided through Admiral Nurses, who are registered nurses and Dementia experts.  They run a national helpline that is free to call on 0800 888 6678. The Helpline is open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday to Sunday.

HPFT Older People’s Mental Health Team

The Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Older People’s Mental Health Team is made up of people with specialist skills that can provide support through community teams, crisis functions, therapy functions and the Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Service (EMDASS). You can call their Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0300 777 0707 or visit their website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/

Memory Support Hertfordshire

Memory Support Hertfordshire works with people with dementia and their carers. They provide information and advice in many forms, including:

  • A range of groups offering an array of activities to support people with Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia.
  • Tailored individual support to enable people to live well with dementia.
  • Carer support groups and advice to help you relax and share ideas with a group who can relate to your experiences.
  • Young Onset Dementia support for those under 65 who are living with dementia, including those who have a learning difficulty in addition to their diagnosis and other rarer forms of dementia.

Anyone living in Hertfordshire aged over 18 can access this support if they have memory concerns, with or without a diagnosis, or care for someone who does. You can self-refer on the Memory Support Hertfordshire website, or call 0300 131 3946 for all memory and dementia related enquiries. They are available Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

The service is delivered in partnership by the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council and ourselves at Carers in Hertfordshire.

Rare Dementia Support

Rare Dementia Support provide information, tailored support and contact with others affected by similar rare dementias which usually affect people who are younger and their carers.

Your GP

If you are worried about your memory or the memory of someone you know then please visit your GP and discuss the options and support available to you.

Downloads

Memory Pathway (Dementia support in Hertfordshire)

Rare Dementia Support Presentation

 

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