Who Can I Talk To?

Need Someone to Talk To?

If you feel the need to talk to someone in confidence there are various options for you.

Guideposts’ own 24 hour dementia helpline on0845 1204  048 to have a chat about any concerns or to find out about local support. The helpline is designed to assist individuals and organisations caring for people with dementia. The particular focus of the service is to offer advice and information when it is most needed.

Managing Memory 2gether offers telephone support, written information, referral to other services and advice on a wide range of topics. Contact: 0800 694 8800 Email: managingmemory@glos.nhs.uk

Alzheimer's Society National Dementia Helpline 0845 300 0336 can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations.

The Helpline is usually open from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. However the service may be closed occasionally during these times for operational reasons or because of staff shortage. Callers speak to trained Helpline Advisers.

Admiral Nursing DIRECT Helpline 0845 257 9406
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses, supported by the charity Dementia UK. They can provide practical advice, emotional support, information and the benefit of their skills and experience. The helpline is open Tuesdays and Thursdays - 10.00am to 8.45pm; Saturdays 10am - 1pm.

Email: direct@dementiauk.org
Web: www.dementiauk.org

Carers UK Adviceline: 0808 808 7777 (Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm). Carers UK provides advice and information to carers and the professions who support carers.

Samaritans. If you feel that you are in crisis call the local Samaritans on 01452 306 333 for Gloucester or 01242 515 777 for Cheltenham for an opportunity to talk in confidence to a trained and experienced volunteer.

A Local Support Group can offer a listening ear too.

For more long term or ongoing help you can speak to a local trained psychotherapists or counsellor. They can provide support to carers or to a person who has just received a diagnosis of dementia.

GP

As well as talking to your GP about general health matters, you should also talk to your GP if you feel you or the person you care for may be becoming depressed.

The GP has a number of options available to them for treating depression, these not only include medication, but also referral to services such as counselling.

It is best to have depression treated as soon as possible, as being depressed will make living with dementia more difficult: whether you have dementia yourself or are a carer.

Community Psychiatric Nurse

People with more complex dementias may receive support from a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN). CPNs visit people with mental health problems and dementia in their own homes to carry out assessments, and provide treatment, care and support. They can advise people with dementia and their carers on ways of coping, and ways of improving their health and quality of life.

Nursing Care in the Home

Care in the home can be provided by Community Nurses which should be requested via your GP’s surgery. They deal with all aspects of nursing at home and provide a 24 hour nursing service. The district nurses arrange packages of care and co-ordinate Hospital at Home and Rapid Response as appropriate. They arrange for loan of equipment such as commodes, mattresses and other aids.

Social Care in the Home

For advice regarding nursing care within the home contact the Community and Adult Care department in your area and a qualified member of staff will speak with you.

If you need to make contact over the weekend or in the evening the Emergency Duty Team can be contacted on 01452 614194.

If you prefer to organise your own nursing care at home Homecare has a list of independent care providers. It should be noted that these are suggestions not recommendations. This is not an exhaustive list and more can be found in the local Yellow Pages under Agencies and Care Agencies.

Support Online

The Alzheimer's Talking Point is an online discussion forum that provides support for people with dementia and their carers, by allowing you to 'chat' over the internet with other people who understand what it's like for you.

Healthtalkonline has developed an online database of interviews with people on a wide range of health related topics. These interviewees talk about how they feel being a carer for a person with dementia. You can watch a video or read the transcripts.

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The Relatives and Residents Association

The Relatives & Residents Association is a national organisation working to promote the well-being of older residents of care homes through:

• Support & Information via the phone helpline 020 7359 8136
• Carrying out project work that focuses on specific issues
• Influencing policy and practice
• Working with local relatives & residents groups in care homes

More information is available on The Relatives & Residents Association website.

Alzheimers Scotland

Alzheimers Scotland also provide a helpline for carers (0808 808 3000) which operates 24 hours a day. Carers from England are welcome to telephone them.

Cruse

When somebody who has dementia dies the grief experienced by their families and friends can be a complicated thing. You may feel you had already lost parts of the person you loved. You may feel relief. You may feel guilt. It may be months later before it really sinks in that the person you loved has died.

Cruse Bereavement Care provides counselling and support to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss.

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