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A free dementia support clinic is to visit Newry next month as part of a wider programme of face-to-face clinics returning to Nationwide branches in the north. The clinics, hosted by Dementia UK's Admiral Nurses, offer a safe, comfortable and private space for people affected by dementia to discuss any aspect of the condition.
The Newry clinic will take place at the Nationwide branch in Marcus Square on 27 August, alongside clinics in Bangor, Portadown, Enniskillen, Ballymena, Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Glengormley over the coming weeks. Appointments can be booked through Dementia UK's website at www.dementiauk.org
The clinics will offer practical and emotional advice on all aspects of dementia, from worries about symptoms through to getting a diagnosis and understanding how the condition can progress. They are open to anyone impacted by dementia and aim to provide life-changing support to families and individuals in the area.
Ahead of the appointments, Dementia UK has shared advice on how carers can look after their own wellbeing while supporting a loved one with dementia. The charity is encouraging carers to reach out to family and friends and make full use of wider support networks, whether that means asking someone to help with chores or simply to have a chat, while also maintaining relationships with those close to them. It is also recommending that carers look into the support available for unpaid carers and people living with dementia, including requesting a Carer's Assessment from Social Services, which may lead to respite care or other accommodations.
The charity said it is important for carers to take time for themselves where possible, whether through hobbies, seeing friends or keeping on top of their own health checks, noting that it can be difficult to support someone else when not feeling at your best. It also encouraged carers to continue enjoying time with the person they care for, finding activities they can still do together even as the relationship changes, and suggested that carers in employment speak to their employer about flexible working options.
Nearly one million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK today, and Dementia UK said no one should have to face the condition alone.
Lesley Potter, Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, said: "We're looking forward to returning to Northern Ireland to offer support and advice to families affected by dementia in the area. Since the launch of our clinic programme, in partnership with Nationwide Building Society, we have been able to support thousands of people across the country with the lifeline of an Admiral Nurse, helping to ensure no one faces dementia alone."
The Northern Ireland clinics form part of Nationwide's social impact strategy, Fairer Futures, which addresses four of the UK's biggest social issues through charity partnerships covering family poverty, youth homelessness, dementia and cancer. Nationwide is funding 30 dementia specialist Admiral Nurses and is hosting clinics in more than 230 branches nationwide, with 12 Virgin Money branches in the North of England and Scotland also trialling clinics from May, bringing the total number of branches offering dementia support to 250.
Charlotte Kensett, Director of Customer Experience and Social Impact for Nationwide, said: "Dementia impacts millions of families and that's why we're incredibly proud to have brought life-changing support into 230 of our branches and helped more than 30,000 people through our partnership with Dementia UK. As a mutual we believe we have a role to play in strengthening the communities we serve and supporting those most in need. Through our social impact strategy, Nationwide Fairer Futures, we're committed to changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better."
To book a confidential and in-person appointment with an Admiral Nurse in Northern Ireland, visit www.dementiauk.org.
