Warwickshire News Mine

Warwickshire County Council is one of 22 authorities selected nationally, and one of two regionally, to take part in the ‘Dementia Adviser’ scheme. And at a launch event held in Atherstone, carers, dementia sufferers and representatives from health and social care got to meet Zoe Bradbrook-Henry, Warwickshire’s first ‘Dementia Adviser’.

Zoe, who works for the Alzheimer’s Society, is the Dementia Adviser for North Warwickshire and she will work in partnership with another adviser who will be appointed for Nuneaton and Bedworth.

The Dementia Advisers will work to ensure that everyone affected by the condition gets a single point of contact and a personalised plan to improve access to - and choice of - care, support and advice.  The dementia advisers will work closely with health and social care and will also receive referrals from GPs.

The two-year project, which makes Warwickshire a Department of Health ‘demonstrator site’, aims to give better support and information to people living with dementia and their families. The Warwickshire scheme will also involve a social networking website to allow people with dementia to interact with others facing similar challenges.

North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth have some of the most deprived areas in Warwickshire and the project aims to ensure everyone gets better access to support.  In North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth there are currently 2,126 people with dementia and this figure is expected to rise to 3,317 by 2025. This includes young adults with the early onset of dementia as well as a high proportion of older people with the condition.

Newly appointed Dementia Adviser, Zoe Bradbrook-Henry, said: ”I am really excited to be involved in this new initiative which is based on a successfully trialled Alzheimer’s Society National Model.”

Cllr Jose Compton, Dementia Champion for Warwickshire and Chair of the Living Well with Dementia in Warwickshire Task Group, said: “We want to ensure that people with dementia, their families and carers are supported from point of diagnosis throughout the stages of dementia. By taking part in this national project, we can strengthen the ‘Living Well with Dementia’ strategy for Warwickshire.”

Warwickshire will receive around £65,000 in the first year and £142,000 the following year.

Partners in the project include Warwickshire County Council’s Adult Health and Community Services, Warwickshire PCT, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust and the Warwickshire branch of the Alzheimer’s Society (who will also support three existing user and carer support groups including a black and minority ethnic specialist group).

The Alzheimers Society are looking for volunteers in North Warwickshire to provide additional one-to-one support to people living with dementia and their families .  If you are interested in supporting the work of the dementia adviser or want to access support or information, contact Alzheimers Society, Warwickshire branch at 01926 888899.

To keep up to date with the National Dementia Strategy and what is happening in Warwickshire, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth

Link to WCC