Dementia

 

Signs and symptoms of dementia

There are a number of warning signs to look out for, including:

• Memory loss – forgetting names, places, recent events or conversations
• Challenges in planning, making decisions or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar everyday tasks
• Feeling confused, even when in a familiar environment
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships – judging distances, not recognising themselves in a mirror
• Problems with communication – speaking or writing, struggling to follow conversations
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Changes in mood or personality – may become anxious, upset, suspicious, fearful

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these warning signs of Dementia, speak to your doctor. For more information see the NHS’ Dementia Guide.

There is evidence to suggest that making healthier choices can reduce some risk factors for dementia and other health conditions (which are often risk factors of dementia in themselves). However, it is important to know that there are many risk factors for Dementia that we are unable to control, for example; genetics, gender and sex, ageing, and ethnicity.  Even if there are risks that we can’t control, taking steps towards stopping smoking and becoming more physically and socially active can aid with your health in a number of ways.

There are a number of conditions that have been associated with the development of dementia, strokes being one. Evidence shows that smoking can increase the risk of strokes and other conditions that can cause disability and frailty in later life. Research suggests that smokers have a 30-50% increased risk of developing dementia. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that the higher exposure a person has to second-hand smoke, the higher the risk of dementia.

Becoming Smokefree

Stopping smoking can reduce your risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease and cancer. You can find support and resources on our Smokefree webpage.

Being more physically active

As well as supporting a risk reduction for dementia, physical activity also:

• Benefits overall health
• Improves sleep
• Manages stress
• Improves quality of live

It also reduces your chance of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Falls
• Depression
• Joint and back pain
• Some cancers

The current government guidelines for physical activity suggest that adults should aim to be active daily. This includes: 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderate intensity activity per week. This should be in bouts of 10 minutes or more – one way to approach this is to do 30 minutes on at least 5 days of the week. When exercising moderately, you will notice an increase in your breathing, but you should still be able to talk. Examples are swimming, cycling or a brisk walk. Alternatively, you could do 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise each week. This includes exercise that makes your breathing fast and talking become difficult, such as sport or running. Do some form of strength building on 2 days a week to keep your muscles, bones and joints strong. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym, it could be doing yoga, or simply carrying heavy bags or groceries. Minimise the time spent sitting throughout the day. Dance, play bowls or do activities like Tai Chi to help improve balance and reduce the chance of frailty and falls. The current guidance is to do this on 2 days of the week.

Find some form of movement that you enjoy. It could be walking with friends, dancing in your kitchen, or chair based exercise – it all counts! Visit the Get Doncaster Moving website to find local groups and ideas near you.

Drinking alcohol in excess has negative effects on our health in both the short and long-term. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.

The Chief Medical Officers’ guidance around alcohol consumption are as follows:

• To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis (equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine).
• If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking evenly over 3 or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risks of long term illness and accidents and injuries.
• The more you drink on a regular basis increases your risk of developing a range of health problems (including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast).
• If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.
• You could also try having water or a low-sugar soft drinks between alcoholic beverages.

Visit the Rethink Your Drink website for more advice and support.

Adopt a healthy diet

For overall good health, it is important to adopt a healthy diet. Healthy diets can help to:

• Lower cholesterol
• Reduce blood pressure
• Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Lower the risk of heart disease
• All of which have links to reduce your risk of dementia.

Current government advice on healthy eating is based on the Eatwell Guide.

This guide sets out the proportions of food we should aim to be eating throughout the week. Typically:

• Over a third of the food we eat should be made up of fruit and vegetables. These can be fresh, tinned or frozen and where possible choose a variety of different types and colours. Fruit and vegetables offer a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
• Base meals on starchy carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. These will also make up just over a third of the food we eat and will help to provide our bodies with energy.
• Try to have some dairy, or dairy alternatives in your diet as these are good sources of protein and calcium, which help to keep our bones healthy. Examples include milk, soya milk, cheese and yoghurts.
• Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat (trying to limit processed meats) or other protein. Protein is important for growth and repair of muscles and cells within the body and is also a good source of energy.
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and use in small amounts. Unsaturated fats are healthier fats and include vegetable, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils.

Here are some things that you can do to start improving your diet:

• Eat a varied and balanced diet to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
• Try to increase your fruit and vegetable intake – aiming for 5 a day.
• Choose wholegrain varieties of starchy carbohydrates where possible, for example, brown bread or brown rice. Wholegrain foods tend to be less processed and offer additional fibre which helps with digestion.
• Try to eat at least 2 portions of fish per week, including a portion of oily fish.
• Reduce salt intake to no more than 6g (1 teaspoon) a day. This helps lower the risk of high blood pressure which can be a risk factor for dementia.
• Stay hydrated! Dehydration is a major cause of falls for older people. Aim for 6-8 glasses of fluid per day. Water is the most beneficial for your health, but tea, coffee, fruit juices and milk can all contribute to keeping you hydrated.
• It’s important to eat regular meals and have healthy snacks in between if needed.
• Reduce intake of food high in saturated fats, salt and sugar (though these can still be enjoyed in moderation!).

You can find more guidance on healthy diets on the Council website.

Please note: anyone with a clinical condition who may require specialised dietary interventions or support should seek guidance from a qualified dietician before making extreme changes to their diet.

Be mentally and socially active

Although there are many factors that we cannot change when it comes to a dementia diagnosis, the risk can be reduced by taking on healthy behaviours, reducing loneliness and leading a physically and mentally active life.

Taking part in social activities or engaging in mentally stimulating activities may help to build your brain’s ability to cope with disease, improve your mood and relieve stress. There are many things that you could do to keep your brain active, such as:

• arts and crafts (especially in groups)
• playing a musical instrument or singing
• volunteering
• doing ‘brainteasers’, such as puzzles, crosswords or quizzes
• playing card games, chess or board games
• reading books, or becoming a member of a book club
• creative writing or keeping a diary
• learning a new language.
• Social activities are also good for the brain, and help to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Could you talk to a neighbour, call a family member, join a local group?

Find out about local events, groups and activities through your community page. 

Mental Capacity is the term used to define the ability to make your own decisions. It is decision and time specific and requires an individual to be able to retain and use and weigh information relating to the decision.

During the initial stages of the Dementia Pathway it is likely that the person continues to have the Mental Capacity to make their own decisions. It is important for someone going through the Dementia pathway that they are able to make decisions about their own life to retain empowerment and autonomy.

Due to the progressive nature of Dementia this may change over time and the person may lose the Mental Capacity to make decisions. Because of this, it’s important for individuals to (where possible) make these decisions in advance for the reasons below:

Health and Treatment

An advance decision is a statement of instructions to be followed in relation to medical and health care treatment you wish to receive in the future, this is sometimes known as a living will. It allows an individual to exercise their right to refuse certain types of treatment and is legally binding so long as the decision is in writing, signed by the individual and a witness, it complies with the Mental Capacity Act, is valid and applies to the situation at hand. You can find out more on the Advanced Care Planning page.

Lasting Power of Attorney

If you’re worried about what will happen to you or your assets should you see a decline in your ability to make certain decisions, it may be a good idea to look into how a lasting power of attorney can support you. Powers of attorney are legal documents where you nominate a trusted person to make decisions on your behalf. There are 2 types to consider, one for health and welfare and the other for property and financial affairs. You can find out more on the council's Power of Attorney page.

Will Writing

Understandably, the thought of writing a will can be quite daunting. A will lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. If you do not have a will, the state will decide what happens to your assets.

A person with dementia can still make or change a will, provided they can show that they understand what this means and its impact. You can find more information and government guidance on the council website. The Alzheimer’s Society offer a free will guide containing essential information on how to write a will, what to consider, what to include, how to appoint an executor and much more.  Age UK also provide a guide on the steps needed when making a will. 

Other helpful links:

https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/adult-social-care/money-matters

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/diagnosis-tests/

If you're living with (or supporting someone living with) memory loss or dementia in Doncaster, there's plenty of support for you. If you have any concerns you should do the following:

• Contact your local GP (this is how you begin the diagnosis process)
• Contact your local council’s Adult Social Care Team for support (to trigger signposting, advice and guidance and Care Act assessments if needed) 

Telephone: 01302 737391 Email address: isat@doncaster.gov.uk  

• Contact local organisations for support (see the 2022 Dementia Directory or local support section of YourLife)

Diagnosing dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages. The GP is usually the first person who is consulted either by the person themselves or their family. The GP may then refer the person being diagnosed to a consultant for specialist assessment which may include:

• Cognitive tests
  • Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS)
  • General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG)
  • Mini-Cog
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), and
  • Functional Activities Questionnaire 

• Memory Assessment Services
  • These are more detailed assessments of memory and other thinking processes consisting of a range of 'pen and paper' type or equivalent computer-based tests and questions that will look at things like memory, verbal and non-verbal abilities.

• Neurology
  • Neurology studies the functions of the brain as they relate to specific psychological processes and behaviours
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is now a recommended approach for diagnosing early changes in dementia
  • Multi slice Computerised Tomography (CT) scans with coronal reformatted views are the most cost effective option first line of the structural neuroimaging options available.

 

Your GP will discuss the most appropriate diagnosis pathway and the person may be referred to a consultant. Tests may also be carried out to rule out any other conditions or illnesses.

The care pathway for dementia can be difficult to understand due to the complexities of the disease. Any approach has to consider not just issues surrounding the person but also the carer and family, the community and the many services involved in caring and supporting the person with dementia.

Many people are happier if they can remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible. It is important for clinicians to encourage the person with dementia to be as independent as possible and to continue to do the things that they enjoy.

There are some practical things that people can do to help them to live as well as possible; focusing on the things they can and want to do and trying not to become isolated, keeping busy with activities they enjoy may help them to feel more confident.

Activities and social groups

Remaining active, occupied and engaged with others is important and can support individual and family resilience as well as overall wellbeing.

Many interests, hobbies and pastimes that have been enjoyed can continue with support or with adjustments and can include movement and exercise, creative arts, culture and religion. There may be local initiatives which are specifically for people with dementia, these may include: lunch clubs, memory cafes, peer support groups, day hospital/day treatment centres.

Befriending

Befriending services provide companionship and may help people living with dementia to take part in social and recreational activities.

Day services

Day services increasingly provide specialist support for people with dementia by offering a stimulating and supportive environment with facilities which are able to support varying levels of need. An adult care act assessment is usually needed to attend specialist day services, and a charge may apply.

Dementia friendly communities

A dementia-friendly community is one in which people with dementia are empowered to have high aspirations and feel confident, knowing they can contribute and participate in everyday activities that are meaningful to them e.g. hobbies, leisure activities, shopping.

Dementia friendly environments are spaces that have been specifically designed, equipped and furnished to enable easier access, comfort and security and in which it is easier to undertake usual daily activities.

Involvement 

Getting involved in reviewing and planning services is an important way in which individuals and carers can contribute to improving services. Experiences and views are valuable in shaping future services.

Dementia Advisers or the local Healthwatch office can advise on opportunities and contacts. The Alzheimer’s Society offers a range of involvement opportunities for people with all types of dementia.

There is also a Doncaster Dementia Collaborative that may provide further insight in to how you can help shape Dementia services in Doncaster. (See below Local Services section for more information).

Memory cafes

Memory cafes provide a friendly and supportive environment where people can meet, talk, and learn more about dementia and what support is available. 

Singing and other creative activities

Singing and other creative activities can be used as music therapy for people with dementia and their carer. These groups provide opportunities for active participation, social interaction, and peer support.

Doncaster DARTS take a creative approach to dementia and run a weekly ‘Singing for the Brain’ group in central Doncaster. For more information please click on the following link: dementia - darts (wearedarts.org.uk)

Dementia Friendly Performances and Screenings

Dementia Friendly Performances are thoughtfully tailored to support audience members living with Dementia, their families and carers.

A number of adaptations will be made to the show to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable environment for everyone

CAST in Doncaster offer a range of Dementia Friendly performances and screenings which are accessible through their website at the following link: Home | CAST Theatre (castindoncaster.com) or by calling the venue on 01302 303959.

Staying Healthy

Leading a healthy lifestyle can help to protect against cognitive decline. When someone has dementia, it’s important that they remain as fit and healthy as possible – both physically and mentally. The better a person feels, the better life will be for them and those around them.

Wellbeing Centres

These facilities are usually run by a Local Authority. They provide resources (information, advice, activities, support) for older people as well as those with dementia and their family and carers.

When someone is diagnosed with dementia, they should be supported to remain as independent as possible, and to continue to enjoy their usual activities and occupations. It is important to support the person with dementia to make arrangements for the future including future care options. They may wish to prepare for a time when another person may need to help with their affairs.

Many people are happier if they can remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible. It may be necessary to make some adaptations to their homes or to use new equipment and/or assistive technology designed to enable people with dementia to remain independent for longer or make it easier for others to give support.

Advice on these can be obtained from the local authority, a Dementia Advisor or Age UK

Care Planning

A person with dementia will need an increasing amount of support as the condition progresses. Their local authority has a duty to carry out a Care Act Assessment when requested, which will assess the person's needs and decide which services could be arranged to help meet them. If the department assesses a person as being in need of certain services, it has a duty to provide the services that fall within the council’s eligibility criteria (charges may apply).

To arrange an assessment, call the local authority Adult Social Care Services on 01302 737391.

A person using specialist health and social care teams such as a Community Mental Health Team will be supported by a care plan with details about what treatment or care will be provided by whom.

Dementia Support Workers

Dementia Support Workers help people with dementia and their carers at the time of diagnosis and during the “dementia journey” to maintain their independence, improve their sense of well-being and take control of their own lives. They may be known as Dementia Advisers or Dementia Navigators.

Assistive Technology

In some cases people with dementia may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant in order to have adaptations made to their home – individuals can contact their local authority social services department for more information.

There may be local charities that also offer grants for similar things. In Doncaster, the DonMentia charity offer grants for assistive technology which you can find out more about in the Local Services section below.

Transport

Someone who is diagnosed with dementia may be able to continue driving for some time. However, they must fulfil certain legal requirements, including telling the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of their diagnosis.

As the person's dementia progresses, they will reach a point where they can no longer drive safely and must stop driving. Giving up driving is not always an easy decision to make, many people find this very difficult to accept.

If you are under 66, you may be eligible for free bus and train pass which will allow you to travel on trains and buses for free. To find out more about local eligibility in Doncaster or to apply, please click on the following link: Disabled Person's Bus and Train Pass - Doncaster Council

If you are 66 or above and live in South Yorkshire, you are eligible for a Senior Pass. For more information and to apply, please click on the following link: Travel South Yorkshire

Employment

Many people diagnosed with dementia under the age of 65 continue to work after a diagnosis of the disorder. Carers of people with dementia also continue to work. As numbers of people with dementia rise, this will mean that there are likely to be increasing number of carers and people with dementia in the workforce.

Both people with dementia and carers can face challenges in continuing to work after a diagnosis of dementia. Employers must be prepared to support employees who are diagnosed with dementia or who are carers for someone with dementia. This includes being aware of the legal protection that protects people affected by dementia from discrimination and the need to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in their workplace.

Dementia is a progressive condition and over time it will increasingly impair a person’s ability to work. As this happens, individuals will need support and information from their employers about finishing work, including discussion of retirement options and access to financial advice.

Employers can gain advice and guidance online via the ACAS website, please click the following link for guidance: Managing dementia in the workplace | Acas

Hospital

Someone with dementia may be admitted to a general or specialist hospital ward either as part of a planned procedure, such as a cataract operation, or following an accident, such as a fall. Hospital environments can be disorientating and frightening for a person with dementia and may make them more confused than usual. The person might find the ward loud and unfamiliar, and may not understand why they are there.

However, there is much that can be done to help them adapt to the new environment. Increasingly, where there are wards specifically equipped and staffed to meet and treat the needs of older people, there will be attention to the ward design, equipment, processes and routines such as meal times which acknowledge the needs of people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

In Doncaster, staff have their own policies in place in line with NHS guidelines to support patients with Dementia. There are also allowances made regarding visitors to patients with Dementia to ensure they feel more comfortable throughout their appointment or admission. For the most recent restrictions please click on the following link: Patients and visitors - Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (dbth.nhs.uk)

 

Co-Morbidities

Co-Morbidities are coexisting or co-occurring conditions that someone may experience alongside Dementia. It is important for clinicians to look for other physical illnesses or co-morbidities on an ongoing basis, so that they can be effectively managed as well as the dementia.

 

Short Breaks (formerly Repsite) for Carers

For people continuing to live at home with Dementia, it is likely that informal support is provided to the individual by friends and family. Overtime, a carer may need a much needed rest for a number of reasons such as to follow their own interests, catch up with other family and friends, to go on holiday or simply for a break. Having a break is likely to help a carer cope with their role and recharge their batteries.

As part of the Care Act 2014, all carers are eligible for a support needs assessment, and in Doncaster, this is carried out by the Carers Wellbeing Service who will undertake a carer conversation (formerly known as a carers assessment). Following the carers conversation, it may become apparent that additional support is required to help carers undertake their role. The Carer’s Wellbeing Service can help you arrange this support.

The Carers Wellbeing Service is a newly commissioned service providing the following to carers in Doncaster:

o             Information, advice and support

o             One-to-one support

o             Peer support through Social meetings and groups on a weekly and monthly basis aimed exclusively at carers

o             ‘Carer’s Time For You’ Grants to support carers to more effectively manage their carers roles

Please click the following link for more information and to access the service: Making Space

 

Short breaks for carers may include the following:

o             Residential care to enable you to go away on holiday or have a long rest

o             Care at a day centre, day care resource or a care home to give you a break for a day or more a week

o             Care by a trained person for a few hours in your home to give you a short break

o             Additional help for the person you care for

 

It is important to note that carers may be eligible for a one-off Short Break voucher from Doncaster Council’s Adult Social Care teams following a self-directed support assessment of the individual with Dementia. Contact the individuals' social worker or Adult Social Care Services to enquire about this.

Carers can also apply to local charities that offer grants for carers too. The charity DonMentia offer a grant scheme for short breaks for carers with more information detailed in the Local Services section below.

Care Homes

Many people with dementia move into a care home once their dementia progresses to a certain stage to support an individual to live well when it is no longer possible to live well at home.

Care homes provide either residential or nursing care. The type of home that the person requires will depend on their general health and care needs.

Residential homes provide help with personal care such as washing, dressing and eating to support individuals to live well. In some residential care homes staff have had specialist training in dementia care.

Nursing homes provide personal care but also have a qualified nurse on duty 24 hours a day. Some homes that are registered for nursing care will accept people with personal care needs who may need nursing care in the future.

Selecting a care home is a very important decision and there are many issues to be considered in order to find the right home. Some care homes offer wellbeing and activity programmes for their residents which may be important to the individual. Before making a decision, it is a good idea to visit several homes before making a choice.

Care homes may be arranged through the local authority but people may arrange them independently. If eligible for local authority funding, a Care Act Needs Assessment will determine whether or not the individual is eligible for 24-hour care.

To arrange an assessment, call the local authority Adult Social Care Services on 01302 737391.

To understand more around funding eligibility please visit the page: Financial Assessments

When someone is diagnosed with dementia, they should be encouraged to remain as independent as possible, and to continue to enjoy their usual activities and occupations.

It is important to encourage the person with dementia to make arrangements for the future including future care options. They may wish to prepare for a time when another person may need to help with their affairs.

Advance care planning 

There are a number of things that can be done to plan for care in the future. These are known collectively as ‘advance care planning’.  Where advance care planning has taken place, professionals should be made aware of this in order to deliver end of life care and support in line with the individuals wishes, beliefs and values.

End of life care

All people who develop dementia will have dementia at the end of their lives, either as the condition they die from or as a factor that may complicate the care of a different condition. Diminishing capacity means that it is important for the person with dementia to consider the type of care they would want and where they would want to be at the end of their life as early as possible. Problems with capacity and communication can also contribute to undignified treatment and the under treatment of pain in people with dementia at the end of their lives.

Significant, co-ordinated and holistic support is needed to ensure that all people with dementia end their lives with dignity, free from pain and in the place of their choosing.

In Doncaster, the current vision is:

“Striving to be the most Dementia Friendly City, adding years to life and life to years, for people living with dementia and their carer(s) living in Doncaster.”

The new Team Doncaster Dementia Strategyhasbeencoproduced with people with dementia and their carers,theDoncaster Dementia Collaborative andtheTeamDoncaster partnership. The strategy is now live from October 2023-December 2025 and will be held to account by the Dementia Partnership Board. 

 Team Doncaster Dementia Strategy 2023-2025

To be involved in the strategy delivery and dementia partnership board please contact Hannah Baines on 01302 734318 or hannah.baines@doncaster.gov.uk.

Community Therapy Support Services – Keep in Mind

The Keep in Mind service is commissioned by City of Doncaster Council in partnership with Age UK and Alzheimer’s Society, Club Doncaster Foundation, Crossroads Care, darts and the Royal Voluntary Service. It offers a range of holistic wellbeing activities for people with dementia and their carers and general advice and support, depending upon specific needs and interests. Once referred into the service, you will receive an expert initial assessment and be allocated a Pathway Coordinator. During the assessment you will be offered financial and practical advice and signposting support. Your Pathway Coordinator will work with you to build a personalised support package and will review this with you every 12 weeks to ensure it is still meeting your needs.

The Keep in Mind service provides the following offers:

• Dementia Cafés
• Befriending
• Activity session for people with Young Onset Dementia
• Singing for Memory group
• Physical activity groups
• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
• Carers support groups

The service can be contacted by calling 01302 812813, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm or by emailing KeepinMind@ageukdoncaster.org.uk.

 

Pre and Post Diagnostic Advice, Education and Clinical support 

The service is provided by a partnership between Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare Trust (RDaSH) and Alzheimer’s Society. You can access it if you are concerned about your memory, or that of a loved one. If a diagnosis of dementia follows, the service would support you throughout your journey, as close to your home as possible. Depending on where you are at in your dementia journey, this could be with information and support, holistic support planning, preventing isolation, building support networks, improving coping strategies or higher level of support.  

You will be provided with a named dementia advisor who will ensure that you are able to easily access coordinated, timely support whether you have memory concerns, a diagnosis of dementia or are a carer for someone with the condition. The service is provided across the four Doncaster localities in coordination with health and social care. 

For those people requiring a higher level of clinical intervention, there will be a registered healthcare professional allocated to the case to work jointly with your dementia advisor to ensure all your care needs are addressed.  

Anyone can refer into the service by visiting the webform: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-professionals/make-a-referral or by calling 01302 246724, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm (excluding Bank Holidays).  

 

Other services

There are other non-commissioned organisations and charities in Doncaster that provide well utilised services to those with Dementia and their carers in Doncaster.

DonMentia

DonMentia is registered Charity raising money for people in Doncaster affected by Dementia. The charity is supported by unpaid volunteers so that all monies raised go where they are much needed.

Backed by a team of experienced and professional trustees, DonMentia’s founder, Eileen Harrington, works tirelessly to support people with dementia and their carers across the Doncaster region.

DonMentia offers the following two grant schemes available for people living with Dementia and their carers:

• Assistance with the cost of short respite breaks and holidays for dementia suffered and their carers
• Assistance with up to 50% of the costs of mobility aids, sensory equipment or travel (taxis to treatment and consultations)

These grants can be accessed by completing an application form at the following link: Grants - DonMentia

If your application is approved, DonMentia will make the grant payment upon proof of receipt for the item(s).

Doncaster Dementia Collaborative

The Doncaster Dementia Collaborative (DDC) is a network of people with lived experience of Dementia, their carers and community and voluntary partners working together to capture the voice of people affected by Dementia living in Doncaster.

The DDC was founded in September 2021 and is chaired by Wayne Goddard. The group meet bi-monthly and work towards influencing change to make the experience of those living with Dementia a better one.

If you are interested in attending the DDC please contact chair, Dave Green on dave.green@homeinsteaddoncaster.co.uk or 07513 206143.

The 2024 Dementia Directory is currently under review for release in spring 2024, for information on more groups and activities in your community visit the directory page: Directory - Find groups and organisations near you - YourLifeDoncaster