Dementia

The Memory Support Service can support people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers who live in Buckinghamshire.
The advisors are members of a fully trained and dedicated team working in the community alongside GP surgeries and memory clinics, and will offer information, guidance and support.
The advisors can help in different ways, either by meeting with you in your own home, or via a telephone conversation. They will:
• Support you to do a Memory Screening Test
• Talk through any concerns
• Find out about benefits and other financial matters
• Provide information about memory issues and dementia care
• Be a listening ear and be available whenever you have a question or need more information
• Advice for carers to manage unpredictable behaviour of those with dementia
• Help you plan for the future
• Give you information about any service available to you.

Contact the Memory Support Service on 01296 331749 or email memorysupport@alzheimers.org.uk
Click here for more information.
The Memory Support Service is run by Alzheimer’s Society on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council and in partnership with NHS Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Groups [CCG].

• All carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs in their own right, that is regardless of the person they care for, whether or not the person they care gets help from the local authority. If the person you care for lives in a different county, then it is the responsibility of the local authority in the county of the cared-for person to arrange an assessment.
  For more information about how to get an assessment and the assessment process click here.
• Carers Bucks, on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council provide advice and support to people who have a caring role, including for people caring for someone living with dementia. Carers Bucks can be contacted about any of their services by calling 0300 777 2722 or email: mail@carersbucks.org or by clicking through to the links below.
  
  Some of the support they can provide includes:

• Support groups – local support networks for carers where you can discuss your caring role and share experiences. The groups are free, carer-led and each have their own programme of events. Some groups invite guest speakers with expertise on relevant issues.
  For more information about Support groups in your area visit their website or call 0300 777 2722 and speak to Laura Troll.
• Training sessions – Carers Bucks offer a varied programme of practical and emotional learning and development single sessions and short courses. The programme includes:

• Lasting power of attorney
• How to manage behaviour that challenges (particularly aimed for those caring for someone with dementia
• How to plan for an emergency
• Caring for you

    Dates and venues for the various sessions can be found on their website

• Online support for carers
  Healios, a clinician-led online support service, has partnered with Carers Bucks to help carers and families of those living with dementia. This is a pilot in Buckinghamshire and the first of its kind in the UK. This FREE service gives carers the skills to manage better in their caring role and to support their loved ones.
  If you would like to know more about Healios, or are interested in taking part in the Healios dementia service please contact Carers Bucks 0300 777 2722 or email: mail@carersbucks.org

• The Dementia booklist is a collection of adult and children’s books which support people with dementia and their carers by raising awareness and increasing understanding of the condition. The Dementia book list can be found here as well other activities and events held at libraries around the county.
• The Reminiscence Collection – recalling and sharing memories is something most of us do whatever our age. For people with dementia, it can be especially enjoyable and helpful.
• The collection includes a wide variety of ‘Memory Boxes’ containing games, puzzles, books and activities for individuals or groups. is held at the County Reserve Store in the basement of County Hall in Aylesbury and is open to the public on Tuesdays from 9.30 to 5 pm and are also available to borrow. Call Stock Services on 01296 383966 for more information.
• Dementia Cafes offer the opportunity for people with dementia and their carers to meet informally for information and support. The Cafes are run by the Alzheimer’s Society across the county. To find venues and times click here or call the national dementia helpline 0300 222 11 22
• Singing for the brain provides a stimulating and enjoyable activity for people with dementia and their carers. It is also run by the Alzheimer’s Society in several locations across the county. For South Bucks office call 01494 670 909 and for Aylesbury and Buckingham office call 01296 331 722