Living with dementia in Leeds How to find help and support after your diagnosis.

Family and friends “A diagnosis of dementia is given not just to one person — it is given to a spouse, a partner, a child, the extended family and friends.”Dr. Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia, NHS England.

Becoming a Dementia Friend is one way to understand more about dementia, and the little ways you can help. Simply watch a short film online or attend an awareness session run by a local Dementia Friends Champion. www.dementiafriends.org.uk

Dementia-friendly Leeds supports groups and organisations to help make Leeds a dementia-friendly city, and brings together everyone in Leeds who wants to make a difference for people living with dementia. If you would like to find out more, visit: www.dementiaaction.org.uk/leeds

Keep this handy….Make sure you have your copy of the Dementia Guide. You can order this free of charge from theAlzheimers Society Helpline0300 222 11 22or download it from:www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementiaguide

Other useful information

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Living well after diagnosis

The dementia guide

Tea Cosy memory café, Rothwell

When you have a diagnosis of dementia You may feel anger, worry, fear, sadness, embarrassment, loneliness, guilt or even relief. All these reactions are normal. Feelings can vary from one day to the next.

Remember you are not alone — an estimated 8,500 people in Leeds have dementia. Talk to family and friends about your diagnosis, they need to understand what’s happening. Dementia will make life difficult in many ways, but that makes it all the more important to live as well as you can.

This means carrying on with daily life,

doing things you’ve always enjoyed; and perhaps trying new things.

The Leeds Alzheimers Society staff and volunteers provide information

and services for people living with all types of dementia, families and carers. They

work with local community groups to run ‘memory cafés’, singing groups, and send a

regular newsletter to members. To contact the Leeds branch Tel: (0113) 231 1727

e-mail: Leeds@alzheimers.org.uk

Leeds Dementia Peer Support Service organises groups and activities for people to

get together, share experiences and take part in enjoyable activities. Activities include: men’s

group, art group, life story group, walking group dementia cafés and memory drop-in service.

Tel: 0789 127 1980 e-mail: deborah.marshall@leeds.gov.uk

NHS Memory Service is there to provide diagnosis of dementia, and

education, treatment and support after diagnosis. The team includes

specialist doctors, nurses and other clinicians who are

trained in dementia, and can help as

the condition progresses.

The service is available via a

referral from your GP.

The Leeds Directory has online information about community groups, service providers, trustworthy tradespeople and more.Tel (0113) 391 8333Visit: www.leedsdirectory.org

Carers Leeds gives free support and advice to carers, a listening ear, and training opportunities. A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member. Carers Advice Line: (0113) 380 4300e-mail: info@carersleeds.org.uk

If you need more help contact Leeds City Council to talk about your needs as a person with dementia or as a carer. You have a right to a community care assessment and all carers have the right to a Carers Assessment. There are a range of services and equipment which can help you live well and support you at home; and with some of the difficult decisions which can be part of

living with dementia.Tel: (0113) 222 4401

Bob, living with dementia in Leeds

Local information, activities and support

People don’t know what dementia

is, and it’s a bit scary at first…. Slowly I found I was becoming more confident

and positive, learning coping strategies and

picking up things.

Hamari Yaadain dementia café