We've created this page so that patients, families and carers concerned about dementia can find some answers, advice and support in one convenient place.
As a surgery, we decided we wanted to improve the way we deal with dementia patients. We are looking at changes which can make a real difference.
Alzheimer's Society Support Groups
If you are affected by dementia or have any dementia-related concerns, why not go along to one of their social gatherings?
You can meet others in a similar situation, in a pleasant, relaxed setting.
There's a Memory Cafe at the Municipal Offices, Cheltenham on the second Tuesday of each month ie 8th May, 12th June, 10th July and 14th August.
A Memory Cafe will also be open at Wheatpieces Community Centre, Columbine Road, Tewkesbury from 10.30-12.30 on June 26th and July 31st.
There's also a Singing for the Brain group at Bishops Cleeve Community Centre between 11am - 12.30pm on 3 + 17 May, 7 + 21 June, 5 + 19 July and 2 + 16th August.
You can download the latest calendar of cafes and meetings across Gloucestershire from here
More specialist dementia nurses on the way
GP practice care for dementia patients is set to receive a boost this year with the appointment of more specialist community dementia nurses, it's been revealed.
In a talk organised by the surgery at the Isbourne Centre, Cheltenham recently, Peter Fitzpatrick, the team manager of Managing Memory 2gether, said more nurses were currently bring recruited. He expected that each nurse would be assigned to a small cluster of GP practices.
They would meet up with dementia lead GPs at each practice at least twice a year to discuss dementia patients. He hoped that as far as care is concerned, patients would be able to see a dementia nurse to be assessed before seeing their GP.
Peter handed out examples of red folders - a pack designed to give newly-diagnosed dementia patients and their carers helpful information and details of services available. GPs would be able to issue updates for the folders, which patients would keep.
He gave an overview of the many types of dementia and outlined the work of the Memory Assessment Service for Gloucestershire which primarily involves looking at the cognitive function and diagnosis of patients referred to them.
The County Dementia Nursing Service is currently treating 3,200 patients and has 5,856 people on its caseload across the county. He estimated that this was "just the tip of the iceberg" and that many patients were not yet on GP dementia registers for a variety of reasons.
He handed out information leaflets and contact details and recommended that concerned people could also contact the Dementia Advisory Service, run by the Alzheimer's Society.
He also mentioned the Young Onset/Rare Dementia service which supports those under 65 diagnosed with dementia and rarer types of the illness.
Peter advised how GP practices can help those with dementia. Royal Crescent Surgery received an Outstanding comment at the last Care Quality Commission inspection as a result of actions taken within our surgery and it's an area the practice is developing actively.
Useful websites and contact details:
The Dementia Advisory Service, Managing Memory 2gether 0800 694 8800
The Alzheimers Society 0300 222 1122 or 01452 525222
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Young Dementia UK 01993 776295
www.youngdementiauk.org
Carers Gloucestershire 0300 111 9000
https://carersgloucestershire.org.uk/
Mindsong - a Gloucestershire based charity providing a range of music therapy and training in care homes and day centres throughout Gloucestershire since 2007. They work mainly with people who have mid to late-stage dementia.
http://www.mindsong.org.uk/
07989 936270 or 01684 273656
Iridis - an app to help design better environments for dementia patients
http://dementia.stir.ac.uk/blogs/dsdc-news/2018-01-15/iridis-homeowner-version-2