Dementia support

Living with dementia can be challenging and stressful. But there is support available from the NHS and your local council to help you and your family.

Harmony of soul. Peaceful grandpa blowing dandelion. Happy and carefree retirement. Elderly man in straw summer hat. Grandpa senior man blowing dandelion seeds in park. Mental health. Peace of mind.

There are around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia, and most of them are over 65 years of age.

Dementia is a term which is used to describe a number of different symptoms or conditions that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. It is caused when the brain is damaged by disease, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease, or a series of strokes.

Symptoms of dementia can include:

  • memory loss, especially problems with memory of recent events
  • increasing difficulty with organising and planning tasks and activities
  • becoming confused in unfamiliar environments
  • having difficulty finding the right words
  • finding difficulty with numbers
  • changes in personality and mood, and depression

How to reduce your risk of getting dementia

Leading a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of getting dementia. This includes stopping smoking, taking regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet and keeping yourself mentally stimulated.

What to do if you suspect dementia

If you are worried that you, or someone close to you, has dementia, then the more quickly you seek help, the better.

Your GP can rule out other conditions with similar symptoms and give you further advice, information and support on dementia. They may offer medication if appropriate.

If your GP is unable to make a diagnosis, they may refer you to a memory clinic or arrange further tests.

What support is available locally?

This service is for people living in the districts of Braintree, Maldon, Castle Point, Rochford and the cities of Chelmsford and Southend.

The Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST) provides intensive support to patients with dementia of any age and older people with mental health diagnosis to prevent hospital admissions to both acute and psychiatric hospitals.

The multi disciplinary team work closely with community nursing colleagues and Essex County Council teams to support patients suffering a mental health crisis to remain in their place of residence by providing timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment for up to six weeks. This service is available from 9am to 8pm, every day of the year.

To be referred for this service, please speak to your GP team.

This service is for people living in the boroughs of Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock.

The Dementia Crisis Support Team supports people with dementia/cognitive decline and their carers or care providers to manage a period of crisis and avoid possible admission to hospital where possible. They are a short term service (up to 6 weeks) to support the person/s through the period of crisis and refer on to appropriate long term teams or back to their main care provider, e.g. GP, care home, community mental health team or social care.

The team includes a psychiatrist, a registered mental health nurse, registered general nurse and support workers.

To be referred for this service, please speak to your GP team.

Important advice:

Mental Health Crisis

In the event of a mental health emergency you can access services out of hours by calling 111 and pressing the option for mental health.

Become a Dementia Friend

Dementia Friends is the biggest ever initiative to transform how the nation thinks, acts and talks about dementia, and anyone can become one.

Becoming a Dementia Friend simply means finding out more about how dementia affects a person – and then, armed with this understanding, doing small everyday things that help. For example, being patient in a shop queue, or spending time with someone you know who’s living with dementia. Find out how to become a Dementia Friend by simply watching an online video.

Find out how to become a Dementia Friend