Living well with dementia
“The groups provide a place for mum to go and be part of society and the team helped me understand more about dementia.”
We know that dementia affects everyone slightly differently and we are dedicated to ensuring that as much as possible, people who are living with dementia are supported to live well. This often takes understanding and that’s where we come in, in providing a safe space to meet others, take part in activities or just relax and in providing advice and guidance on how best to support a person and sometimes, how to manage difficult situations. So, whether you or a loved one is affected by dementia, you’ve come to the right place.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a word that is used to describe a range of progressive diseases that affect the brain, some experts believe there are more than 100 different types of dementia. By far, the most common type of Dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, followed by Vascular Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia.
Each type of dementia has its own common characteristics, its own common areas of difficulty and progression but, regardless of the type, each person who is living with dementia will experience it in their own way.
It is important to remember that not everyone who is older will develop a type of dementia however the majority of people who are living with dementia are aged over 65. Dementia can affect younger people too, although this is rare.
What are the symptoms of dementia?
In the early stages of Dementia, a person is likely to experience difficulties with their activities of daily living, for example they might start to find it harder to follow the plot of a TV programme, not be able to ‘find’ the right word to describe something or forget things that have happened recently.
It is important that if you notice any changes and are worried about yourself, or someone else, first speak to your GP.
We know that living with dementia can be challenging, which is why we offer specialist dementia advice and support for you and your family, before and after a diagnosis. Find out more by contacting us on 0300 37 33 333.
Visit the Alzheimer’s Society website to find useful guides and information about dementia.
Dementia support groups
Several studies show that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 30 per cent and engaging in mental or social activities may help to build up your brain’s ability to cope with disease, relieve stress and improve your mood. We run dementia support groups and can help you find suitable dementia friendly groups and activities.
Dementia volunteer friendships
It’s normal to feel lonely sometimes. However, if you don’t have people around you, or find it hard to stay in touch, you may start to feel lonely more often. Loneliness can make you feel less like doing things, which can make you feel more isolated. We can match you with a volunteer friend (befriender) who knows and understands dementia.
Befriending
Our Befriending service offers a matched friendship between a client and a trained unpaid volunteer. We help to facilitate one to one, telephone sessions, and trips out.
Community groups
We run a range of inclusive friendship groups, face-to-face and online. Connect with like-minded people across Essex and have fun!
Stories
People are at the heart of what we do, read some of their stories here.
We can make a real difference to you or someone you know.
We are here for people in later years. We empower you to age well.