Families impacted by dementia in Kendal will be able to access free specialist support at new face-to-face clinics.
Dementia UK, in partnership with Leeds Building Society, is launching ‘Closer to Home’ clinics in a bid to provide emotional and practical support through the charity’s specialist nurses, known as admiral nurses.
The home clinics will go ahead on November 1,2,7,8 and 9 in the Kendal branch of Leeds Building Society and offer a safe, comfortable and private space for families to discuss any aspect of dementia and receive support.
Dementia UK also recently carried out nationwide research which revealed that almost half of people in the North West of England have been affected by dementia,
But it also revealed that only 37 per cent of people in the North West say they are aware of all or most of the types of support available for people living with dementia and their families in the UK.
Helen Green, admiral nurse at Dementia UK, said: “We’re proud to bring our Closer to Home project to Kendal and offer specialist face-to-face clinics in the area. We know the difficulties that families in Kendal and the Lake District often experience.
“We know that dementia doesn’t just affect the person with the diagnosis: families, friends, and carers are also impacted.
“Since launching in 2022, our Closer to Home clinics have made a difference to families across the UK, helping us to deliver specialist dementia support in person. It’s been brilliant to see the difference this makes and we are looking forward to supporting people in Kendal in partnership with Leeds Building Society.
“Dementia is a huge and growing health crisis – someone in the UK develops dementia every three minutes. This means it’s more important than ever for us to reach families and offer one on one support from our dementia specialist admiral nurses.
“From worries about memory problems to understanding a dementia diagnosis and how the condition progresses, we will be providing practical and emotional advice on caring for someone who lives with this progressive condition, along with giving advice on financial and legal issues.”
In April 2020, Dementia UK and Leeds Building Society announced a four-year partnership to raise £500,000 to help over 2,500 families with dementia across the UK.
As part of this partnership, the ‘Closer to Home’ project was also launched in June 2021.
Richard Fearon, CEO of Leeds Building Society, added: “Dementia UK was voted as our charity partner by our members and colleagues, and we are thrilled to have raised over £700,000 for them, exceeding the £500,000 fundraising target we set ourselves at the start of this partnership.
“We are proud to be able to work with the charity to help bring dementia care closer to home. We believe everyone who needs the support of a specialist dementia nurse should get one in a safe and secure environment, and we are glad to be able to offer space in our network of branches across the UK to allow this.”
To book a confidential and in-person appointment with an admiral nurse, visit dementiauk.org/closer-to-home
