Mental Health
Dementia
Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
As suggested by the Alzheimer’s Society
“Although there is no cure for dementia yet, support and treatments are available that can help with symptoms and managing daily life. These can allow people with dementia to lead active, purposeful lives and carry on doing the things that matter to them most”.
“Five things you should know about dementia.” Alzheimer’s Society. Retrieved 15th February 2023.
LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL
The range of support required varies between people and also across time. This section provides information on local support which may be of help at some point of time.
Buckinghamshire’s Dementia Support Service
From Buckinghamshire council and the Alzeihmer’s society
Buckinghamshire’s Dementia Support Service Buckinghamshire’s Dementia Support Service | Buckinghamshire Council
Dementia toolkit
From Buckinghamshire Council
Provide some good information to start with on local support
Dementia Toolkit Dementia toolkit | Buckinghamshire Council
This includes
- I have just been diagnosed with dementia : What does this mean and where can I can get support I have just been diagnosed with dementia | Buckinghamshire Council
- Planning for your future care if you have dementia Planning for your future care if you have dementia | Buckinghamshire Council
Further local support
Some important local support can be found below:
Dementia support services and groups in Buckinghamshire
From Buckinghamshire council and the Alzheimer’s society
- Buckinghamshire’s Dementia Support Service Buckinghamshire’s Dementia Support Service | Buckinghamshire Council
- Find local services near you Alzheimer’s Society
From Buckinghamshire Council
You can search the Buckinghamshire Council data base, using the filter “suitable” for dementia.
Find activities and organisations near you Find activities, groups and services near you | Bucks Online Directory | Buckinghamshire Council
From Age Space
Age Space is a national organisation whose information is written from the perspective of a carer for elderly parents and as such has some helpful insights. It provides links and information on some of the local dementia services and some local groups which can help with caring for someone with dementia.
- Buckinghamshire Dementia Care | Living Well with Dementia in Bucks
- Age Space Elderly Care Advice | Caring for Elderly Parents
Other support
You may want to start with just talking to someone locally and other good sources of support are
From Buckinghamshire Age UK
Offers advice on all issues of concern to older people, their families, friends and carers Age UK Buckinghamshire | Information and advice for later life
From Carers Bucks
Dedicated to supporting carers, providing advice, information, emotional support and workshops and training Carers Bucks | Dedicated to supporting carers – Carers Bucks
Finding other local support outside Buckinghamshire
You can locate other support outside the county if helpful, particularly if you live on the boundaries of Buckinghamshire:
From the Alzheimer’s society
- Find support near you Find support near you | Alzheimer’s Society
Self-refer for an occupational therapy assessment
From Buckinghamshire Council: self-referral for an occupational therapy assessment
- Could I benefit from Occupational Therapy? Self referral for occupational therapy assessment Could I benefit from Occupational Therapy? | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- My occupational therapy assessment (See last two pages of the OT assessment document for how to self-refer) Fact Sheet 19 – My occupational therapy assessment
Information on living independently
From Buckinghamshire Council
- Overview of support from occupational therapy and how equipment can help you to stay independent Occupational Therapy | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- Equipment to help me stay independent at home Equipment to help me stay independent at home | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- Technology that can help you stay independent (includes information on personal alarms and key safes) Technology that can help me live independently | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- How can equipment support carers? How can equipment support carers? | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- Disability Facilities Grant: Council funding to help with the cost of carrying out adaptations to your home. What is a Disabled Facilities Grant? (buckinghamshire-gov-uk.s3.amazonaws.com)
TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY (INCLUING HOW TO GET A BLUE BADGE FOR PARKING)
From Buckinghamshire Council
- Transport to help you get out and about Transport to help you get out and about | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- Blue Badge scheme for disabled parking Blue Badge scheme for disabled parking | Buckinghamshire Council
Further information
Though not specific to dementia, there is information, including with local support found under
self referral for a SOCIAL CARE needs assessment
A FREE social care needs assessment can help you better understand what your social care needs are and also what your options are supporting those needs.
From Buckinghamshire Council
Ask adult social care for help – Self referral for social care needs assessment Ask adult social care for help | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
Explanation of a care needs assessment
From the NHS
Getting a care needs assessment Getting a care needs assessment – Social care and support guide – NHS
From Buckinghamshire Council
- Care advice – Overview of all the help Care Advice Buckinghamshire | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
- Factsheets covering social care including on “my assessment” Factsheets | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
Age UK provide a good explanation of how a care needs assessment is the first step if you think you need social care
How do I get social care, whether home adaptions or a care home? How do I get a care needs assessment from my local council? The Care Needs Assessment Explained | Age UK
Further information
Though not specific to dementia, there is more detailed information, including with local support found under
self referral for a Carers assessment
From Buckinghamshire Council
Request a carers assessment see under “If you want to make a carer referral for yourself or someone else” Self referral for carer assessment Ask adult social care for help | Care Advice Buckinghamshire
Local support and information
From Carers Bucks
Dedicated to supporting carers, providing advice, information, emotional support and workshops and training Carers Bucks | Dedicated to supporting carers – Carers Bucks
From Buckinghamshire Council
I am caring for someone with dementia I am caring for someone with dementia | Buckinghamshire Council
mental health support for carers of people with dementia
From Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies
For Carers of people with dementia Courses and groups – NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies, group sessions to understand:
- More about dementia and how it affects your loved one
- More about managing stress and low mood that can occur in the role of being a carer
- How to respond when your relative is distressed and how to cope with the behaviours you find most difficult
- The opportunity to share experiences with others
Further information
Further information for carers can be found under
DRIVING AND DEMENTIA
As Alzheimer’s society suggest
“A diagnosis of dementia is not in itself a reason to stop driving. One in three people with dementia still drives. However, over time, dementia affects the skills needed for safe driving.” Driving and dementia | Alzheimer’s Society
Information on legal responsibilities, safety responsibilities to other road users, and also information on self-referral to local mobility centres which can give confidence on the ongoing safety of continuing to drive can be found under
Living well with dementia
It is also possible to look to live well with dementia.
This is well covered by the NHS as part of their dementia guide
Living well with dementia Living well with dementia – NHS
From Age UK
Living well with dementia Tips on living well with dementia | Age UK
From Alzheimer’s society
Daily living Daily living | Alzheimer’s Society
Local support for wellbeing
Locally there is good support for
DELAYING THE IMPACT OF DEMENTIA
Though there is no cure for dementia at present, there are steps you can take to delay the progression and so the impact of dementia. These are covered in detail under
Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams
Though you cannot self-refer to these services, if you are already under the care of the Older adult community mental health team you can contact them directly. The contact details for North Buckinghamshire and South Buckinghamshire can be found under
Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
NATIONAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL
General
From the Alzheimer’s Society
- Get personalised information, support and advice by phone Dementia Support Line | Alzheimer’s Society
- Our dementia support services Our dementia support services | Alzheimer’s Society
From Dementia UK
Call our Helpline for free to speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse. Dementia Helpline – Alzheimer’s Helpline – reach out to an Admiral Nurse
social care
Though not specific to dementia, there are national helplines which can support different aspects of social care. These can be found under
What to do if you have a concern about your memory?
Memory problems do not necessarily mean you have dementia. In the question below “How is dementia diagnosed?” there is detailed information on what are the more common features of dementia and also other possible causes of memory loss.
As the NHS suggests
“If you’re worried about your memory, or think you may have dementia, it’s a good idea to see a GP. If you’re worried about someone else’s memory problems, encourage them to make an appointment with a GP and perhaps suggest that you go with them.”
“How to get a dementia diagnosis?”. The NHS website. Retrieved 19th January 2024
Visiting your GP
From the Alzheimer’s Society
Provide “information, advice and support about how to get a dementia diagnosis, and what to expect at each step in the process.” Dementia diagnosis | Alzheimer’s Society
This includes their “Dementia symptoms checklist” which can helping you describe symptoms to a GP or health professional.” The results of this checklist can be shared with your GP.
Dementia symptoms checklist Dementia symptoms checklist | Alzheimer’s Society
From Buckinghamshire Council
If you are concerned about your memory If you are concerned about your memory | Buckinghamshire Council
From Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Includes information on local memory services
Memory services Memory services – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Information on lowering your risk of dementia can be found under
SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEMENTIA AND NORMAL AGE-RELATED MEMORY CHANGES
Naturally patients express concern about what are the differences between typical age-related memory changes which can occur for all of us and signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia. The helpful “10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s” from the Alzheimer’s Association highlights these differences.
From Alzheimer’s Association
This is an American website but is included as the information is well presented
- 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s
- What Causes Memory Loss? Assessing Symptoms and Seeking Help What Causes Memory Loss? Symptoms Assessment
From Alzheimer’s Society
- Worried about memory problems Worried about memory problems | Alzheimer’s Society
- Is it getting older or dementia? Is it getting older or dementia? | Alzheimer’s Society
The formal diagnosis of dementia involves a simple memory test (referred to in more detail below in links to NICE and Patient info) but also involves exclusion of reversible conditions which can impact on memory such as depression / anxiety and also a few physical conditions such as thyroid disease (requiring some blood tests).
From the NHS
“About Dementia” is a large dementia guide taking you through all aspects of dementia
- About Dementia About dementia – NHS
- How to get a dementia diagnosis How to get a dementia diagnosis – NHS
From Dementia UK
- How to get a diagnosis of dementia How to get a diagnosis of dementia – Dementia UK
- After a diagnosis of dementia: next steps checklist After a diagnosis of dementia: next steps checklist – Dementia UK
HOW DO DOCTORS MAKE A DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA?
The articles from NICE and Patient info intended for clinicians covers what doctors do to reach a diagnosis.
From NICE
How should I assess a person with suspected dementia? Assessment | Diagnosis | Dementia | CKS | NICE
From Patient info
Screening for Cognitive Impairment Screening for Cognitive Impairment. Find Screening… | Patient
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS
COMPLETE GUIDANCE
From the NHS
Dementia guide About dementia – NHS including
- About Dementia About dementia – NHS
- Symptoms and signs of dementia About dementia – NHS
- Living with Dementia About dementia – NHS uk
- Care and support About dementia – NHS
From the Alzheimer’s Society
Detailed website covering all aspects of dementia Alzheimer’s Society
This includes helpful sections such as:
- Daily Living Daily living | Alzheimer’s Society
- Help with Care Help with dementia care | Alzheimer’s Society
- Staying independent includes driving and dementia Staying independent | Alzheimer’s Society
- Legal and financial including getting a care needs assessment from the council Legal and financial | Alzheimer’s Society
From Dementia UK
- After a diagnosis of dementia: next steps checklist After a diagnosis of dementia: next steps checklist – Dementia UK
- Under health advice there are articles there are tips how to manage common situations including change of behaviour Health advice – Dementia UK
- Maintaining Health in dementia Maintaining health in dementia – Dementia UK
- Living with dementia includes practical ideas Living with dementia – Dementia UK
- Looking after yourself as a carer Looking after yourself as a carer – Dementia UK
- Legal and financial information Legal and financial information – Dementia UK
From the NHS
A substantial guide If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, explaining your options and where you can get support. Social care and support guide – NHS
From Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
Detailed evidence-based guidelines produced for patients based on a systematic review of the scientific literature. Very helpfully the patient booklet, visually shows how strong the evidence is for any treatment recommendation made.
Dementia Dementia (sign.ac.uk)
From the Alzheimer’s Association
This is an American website but is included because of its well-presented information
Help and Support Alzheimer’s Help & Support | Alzheimer’s Association
From Patient info
Memory Loss and Dementia (series of articles including information on medication used for dementia) Memory Loss and Dementia | Causes and Treatment | Patient
From NICE
Dementia Dementia | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
From Oxford Health NHS foundation Trust
Find out more about mental health conditions, treatments and medications, just search under conditions for “Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease”. Provides answers to common questions and also leaflets for common drugs Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Home
SOCIAL CARE
Some patients with dementia will need further support at some point of time. There are many articles included in the broad information on dementia above which cover social care. There is also a separate section, which though not specific to dementia, provides information in this area. See under
Support for any organisation and members of the public to become dementia friendly
The Alzeihmer’s Society set out on their dementia friends website the steps required for any organisation or any member of the public to become dementia friendly
Dementia friends dementiafriends.org.uk
Many organisations including GP practices already follow the guidance set out by the Alzheimer’s Society to make an organisation more dementia friendly.
- Make your organisation more dementia friendly | Alzheimer’s Society
- Guidance for dementia-friendly organisations | Alzheimer’s Society
GP practice
The Alzheimer’s Society have set out how a GP supports a patient with dementia
Videos and podcasts
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of dementia.
- Videos And Podcasts – see section “mental health.”
