Local Support

Getting Support

Living with dementia can be hard, whether you have a dementia diagnosis yourself, or care for someone who has dementia.

Many people find it helpful to have someone they can talk to who understands dementia and/or is able to help them access services and information that can help.

CPNs and Mental Health Team

Specialist support is provided for people with dementia through the Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) and Mental Health Team. More information is available in our Local Services - Health section.

Age Concern Flexible Care

Time-limited therapeutic home based service for older people with any mental health need.

Flexible carers work to meet specific mental health needs with agreed outcomes for clients. They engage in a range of therapeutic activities which aim to:

• Improve clients mental health well-being
• Build relationships and reduce social isolation
• Help clients gain confidence so that they are able to benefit from other available services e.g. Day Care and Respite Care
• Where possible prevent further deterioration of mental health functioning and maintain current levels of functioning
• Maintain and maximise residual abilities through individual pursuits and interests
• Provide support to carers/families
• Help clients to continue to enjoy interests and hobbies where these enhance mental well-being
• Support clients to continue to live as independently as possible in their own homes.

In 2001 the Flexible Care Team won a prestigious Department of Health Award under the category of "Improving the lives of people who are older". The service has become an integral part of the mental health services for older people in Oxfordshire working in collaboration with Health and Social Services.

Most referrals come from Community Mental Health Team. Referrals can be made by individuals, GP or social care worker  Most users are over 65 years but clients may be accepted at a younger age if they have early onset of a dementing illness.

Age Concern Memory Services

Age Concern also offers memory services in conjunction with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust . The services provide advice and support via carers groups.

Age Concern Mental Health Day Centres

Day care for people with varying degrees of cognitive impairment.

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Support Workers

A number of organisations in Oxfordshire employ Support Workers, or Carers Support Workers. Support Workers can provide an understanding ear when you need someone to talk to, as well as helping you to access the information and services you may need.

Different support workers have different specialist areas, so do not be surprised if a support worker from one organisation offers to refer you to a support worker from another organisation.

Most support workers accept referrals from any source, (e.g. self or a care professional).

Alzheimer's Society Support Workers

Alzheimer's Society support workers specialise in supporting people who are living with dementia, and their family and friends.

Clive Project Support Workers

The Clive Project, an Oxfordshire Charity for younger people with dementia, has two teams of support workers:

• One-to-One Service: a team of eleven trained support workers provide individual sessional support to younger people with dementia.
• Family and Friends Service: two dedicated support workers offer information, and practical and emotional support, to family and friends of younger people with dementia.

Carers Centres Carer's Support Workers

Carers Centres support workers offer support to any carer, not just people who are caring for someone with dementia. They can help you to access respite funds, and also help with completing forms for Attendance Allowance, DLA, and Carer's Allowance, etc.

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Carers Centres

A variety of support is available to carers of all ages through the Oxfordshire Carers Centres (Princess Royal Trust for Carers). The Carers Centre provides information, support and advocacy including help with benefits, courses, days out, trips and groups. This includes:

• Support Workers
• Young Carers Projects
• Support Groups
• Help with Form Filling
• Newsletters
• Training Courses
• Respite Funds

More information about Carers Centre services can be found on the Carers in Oxfordshire website: www.oxoncarers.org.uk

Contact Oxfordshire Carers Centres:

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Support Groups

A number of support groups exist, in and around Oxfordshire, that enable carers and family members of people with dementia to meet other people who know what it's like for them. Groups may also have programmes which include speakers and/or social events.

The Chipping Norton Group is open to people who have dementia, as well as carers. Other groups, marked with an asterisk, may be able to arrange care for the person with dementia while their carer attends the group:

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Oxfordshire Carers Centres

A variety of support is available to carers through the Oxfordshire Carers Centres (Princess Royal Trust for Carers), this includes:

• Support Workers
• Young Carers Projects
• Support Groups
• Help with Form Filling
• Newsletters
• Training Courses
• Respite Funds

The Carers Centre Support Workers advise people who are caring for people with all different sorts of disabilities. As well as offering general support they can help you with form filling, and to access specific funds that are there to help you with caring or to help you take a break.

More information about Carers Centre services can be found on the Carers in Oxfordshire website: www.oxoncarers.org.uk

Contact Oxfordshire Carers Centres:

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Advocacy (including ADAPt)

Advocacy is a way of helping people, in partnership, to express their views and wishes, so they can be heard.

Making sure that people listen to what you want to say can be difficult for many reasons. These include embarrassment: not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings: and, being unsure of your rights. This is no different for people with dementia.

What is different is that sometimes it is assumed that people with dementia cannot make choices or do not know what they want. But, if given time, clear information and the chance to say what they want, many people can express their wishes and play their part in making informed decisions. This is where an advocate can help.

ADAPt : All-age Dementia Advocacy Project, provides an advocacy service for people with dementia, of all ages, in Oxfordshire.

Referrals can be accepted via any route, e.g. self, carer, professional, etc.

Supporting Care Rights / Making a Complaint

If you need support to help you access care rights, or to make a complaint about hospital treatment, there are organisations in Oxfordshire who can support you. Details are in our Care Rights and Complaints section.

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Supporting People from Ethnic Minorities

A number of groups and organisations exist to support people whose first language is not English, or who have distinct religious or cultural needs:

Alzheimer's Disease International has an extremely helpful web page, of contact details and web links for Alzheimer associations in around 75 different countries around the world. This information is likely to be useful for people living with dementia in Oxfordshire whose first language is not English, and also useful for people who live locally, but have friends or family members living with dementia abroad.

Other contacts include:

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Further Information

Information on national organizations providing a wide range of advice and support, can be found in the Alzheimer's Society factsheet Voluntary organisations.

Last updated: 1 Apr 2010

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