Many people with dementia can lead active and fulfilling lives for many years. There are many different types of dementia. Some are far more common than others. The Alzheimer's Society has information about types of dementia.
Dementia risk reduction
Did you know there are 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia? Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. There are resources to help people to take action at any time in their lives to promote healthy lifestyles that can reduce the risk of dementia.
The national guidance on midlife approaches to delay or prevent the onset of dementia, disability and frailty in later life from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend reducing the risk of or delaying the onset of disability, dementia and frailty by helping people to:
Live Life Better Derbyshire (LLBD) offers healthy lifestyle support, which can help reduce the risk of dementia. We know that what is good for your heart is good for your head and that support with eliminating 12 modifiable risk factors could reduce dementia cases by 40%.
One of the highest risks of dementia is loss of hearing. However, this is also one of the most easily modifiable risks. Loss of hearing can also contribute to isolation, low mood and increase the risk of falls as well as increasing the risk of dementia.
For help with hearing loss, contact Hearing Help UK or tel: 01773 570976. Help with hearing loss can:
- help your conversations feel easier
- help you to socialise more
- help you feel more confident and independent
- help your mood and quality of life
- help your physical health
- help reduce your chance of a fall
- hearing aids may even help reduce your risk of dementia
For help with dementia, please contact the Derbyshire Dementia Information and Advice Service.
Take the Think Brain Health Quiz. Watch this video to learn more about your incredible brain and the steps you can take to protect it.
Love your heart, stay sharp, keep connected.
Derbyshire Dementia Support Service
The Derbyshire Dementia Support Service is commissioned by adult care and delivered by the Alzheimer's Society.
The service is available in all areas of the county (except Derby City) to provide support, information and guidance for those living with dementia and for their carers including:
- understanding dementia
- how to get help locally
- maintaining independence
- financial and legal matters
- caring for people with dementia
- changes in relationships and behaviour
- community care
- long-stay care
The service can support both you and your family members and carers through the different stages of dementia.
The Dementia Support Service delivers a range of groups for people affected by memory loss or dementia where you can meet other people who have similar circumstances to you:
- memory cafés
- carers education sessions
- singing for the brain
An online toolkit for dementia has been developed for people living with dementia and their carers to provide more support to understand and learn from others' experiences of living with the condition
You don't need an official diagnosis of dementia or be of a certain age to get advice and support from the service. You can contact the service if you're worried about your memory, or you're just seeking information and advice for yourself or others.
Carers supporting people living with dementia can be referred for support in their own right.
Find more information on the Derbyshire Dementia Support Service website.
Contact
To find out more about services in your area email: derbyshire@alzheimers.org.uk or tel: 01332 208845.
Living with dementia
People living with dementia can be alert and aware of their condition. It's important to know the person with advancing dementia, and support them to maintain their own identity.
Although dementia causes the loss of some abilities, people's feelings remain intact, it's essential to empathise with people's emotions. Caring and supportive relationships can help people to cope with the difficult experience of advancing dementia.
NHS Choices has a dementia guide which provides information, videos and newsletters which you may find useful if you're living with dementia, or caring for someone who has dementia.
Living well with dementia programme
The living well with dementia programme is offered to people who are in the in early stages of dementia and their carers and families.
The 6-week programme offers help and support in coming to terms with a dementia diagnosis, gives practical advice on living well with dementia and offers support for carers, including coping skills and help to understand the roles of different organisations and professionals.
The programme runs at venues across the county. For more information you can read the programme leaflets attached to this page, or contact:
- North Derbyshire living well with dementia programme, tel: 01246 515576
- South Derbyshire and Derby living well with dementia programme, tel: 0115 907 1440
To access the programme you can speak to your GP, social worker or another NHS worker and ask to be referred. There is also an online version of the living well programme.
Young onset dementia
Dementia is 'young onset' when it affects a person aged 65 or under. It is also known as 'early onset' or 'working age' dementia. Currently there are more than 42,000 people in the UK who have the condition. Young onset dementia can often be difficult to recognise.
The young dementia network allows persons with young dementia, their families and carers to share their experiences in a community environment. The network also enables its members to become involved in influencing national policy and improve the services for them.
Caring for someone with dementia
Caring for someone with dementia can be both stressful and rewarding. We have information, advice and support for carers including:
- sources of practical help and details of local and national advice lines
- carers rights, including carer assessments
- information about support groups
- registration for a Carer's Emergency Card
- welfare benefits advice
- services to give you a break from your caring role
A guide offering practical information for anyone caring for a person with dementia has been developed by Health Education England in collaboration with healthcare professionals, educators and carers.
The dementia guide for carers aims to support an understanding of the progressive nature of dementia and the challenges a person caring for someone with dementia may experience. Its focus is on living well with dementia.
You can find local support services such as carer support groups and memory activity sessions which both you and the person you care for can attend together. The Social Care Institute for Excellence has produced a video about the emotional impact of living with dementia.
As part of care planning for someone with dementia you can also see our information on:
Life is for living
Life is for living is a film project exploring life for people living with dementia and their carers, living in Amber Valley.
This active group took part in and set up a number of dementia-friendly activities, including a tea dance and social swimming, and wanted to make a film of their own.
The main aim of the video is to enable the group to 'gift' their personal stories, experiences, learning, passions, and the belief that 'life is for living' to other people affected by dementia. They are reaching out to carers, and people who are newly diagnosed and creating awareness pre-diagnosis.
The Herbert Protocol
The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme that has been introduced by Derbyshire Police and other local agencies.
The Herbert Protocol initiative is named after George Herbert, a World War veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia and repeatedly went missing from his care home whilst trying to return home.
The protocol encourages carers of people with dementia or other mental vulnerabilities to prepare for the eventuality of the person going missing.
Dementia strategy
Joined up Care Derbyshire Dementia and Delirium Partnership want to speak to people in Derby and Derbyshire about dementia. This will help us renew the Derbyshire dementia strategy for another 5 years until 2030.
We want to know if the current priorities in the dementia strategy should remain the same or whether we need to consider new priorities.
The current dementia strategy is attached to this page.
You can provide your views on the dementia strategy from 1 April 2024 through our consultation page.
Delirium and dementia
A sudden change in a person's mental state is known as delirium.
Delirium could lead to increased confusion, disorientation, or difficulty with concentration, and can come on very quickly. It can happen when you're medically unwell and can be caused by infections, pain or dehydration.
Delirium can be very distressing both for the individual and the people who are caring for them.
Joined up Care Derbyshire have developed a short video to help people learn more about delirium. It explains what it is, how someone with delirium may act, and how to spot the signs.
Delirium is a treatable condition and may co-exist with dementia. However, it's sometimes difficult to recognise in people with dementia because it has similar symptoms such as confusion and difficulties with thinking and concentration.
Joined up Care Derbyshire have also developed delirium and dementia awareness training. The online training takes around 30 to 40 minutes and is aimed at people with dementia, their carers, families and professionals to help them recognise, manage and prevent delirium.