Newmarket Dementia Action Alliance (Shine a Light) support people with dementia together with their carers. It is estimated there are approx. 350 people in the area living with dementia.
Dementia support café on 3rd Monday of each month 2pm to 4pm at All Saints Church Newmarket.
Covid19 restrictions means face to face meetings are not possible. For example Shine a Light Dementia café meetings in Newmarket cannot resume yet. The management team have been keeping in contact with the families, that attended just before lockdown. Through the autumn and winter months sending each carer and person with dementia, a surprise package by post. Januarys package included a DVD produced by Wellbeing Suffolk – “Looking after Your Wellbeing”, and two chocolate bars asking which do you prefer, Cadbury or Galaxy?
Alzheimer’s Society have just issued a downloadable booklet called “Worried about your memory”.
It’s a simple to understand booklet (8 pages) that offers advice on memory problems. A quote from the booklet says:
“Forgetting why you went upstairs. Failing to put a name to the face of a celebrity. And the feeling that a word is ‘on the tip of your tongue’. We’ve all done it – and most of the time, small memory slips aren’t serious. Many people find that their memory becomes less reliable as they get older.
However, if your memory, or the memory of someone close to you is getting noticeably worse, or affecting everyday life, it should be checked out by a GP as it may be a sign of a medical condition.”
Download the free digital copy Worried about your memory
For more information about joining the NDAA group of dementia aware businesses and organisations send an email to newmarketdaa@gmail.com or contact Robin Hardy 01638 669361.
Additional support: 7-days a week for people with Dementia in West Suffolk
The West Suffolk Dementia Intensive Support Team will be providing support for people with dementia, seven days a week, starting from 20 February 2021.
Working seven days a week will mean that people with dementia are given support at the earliest opportunity and they and their carers will have more positive outcomes.
To refer patients or get advice from the team from 09:00 – 17:00 Monday – Sunday
Call: 01284 733260 or
Email: distwestsuffolk@nsft.nhs.uk
The aim of the Dementia Intensive Support Team is to:
• promote independence and support people with Dementia to remain living in their own homes
• prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital
• prevent premature moves into long term care
• The seven-day working will be trialled for 6 months.
The seven-day working will be trialled for 6 months. The team will be evaluating patient need throughout the pilot and will be asking for your feedback.
If you have any queries or questions regarding the pilot or the dementia intensive support team please contact:
Helen Gray
Clinical Team Leader
Tel: 01284 733260
Email: Helen.Gray@nsft.nhs.uk