DEMENTIA SERVICES

Dementia is a condition in which there is a gradual loss of brain function; it is a decline in cognitive/intellectual functioning.  The main symptoms are usually loss of memory, confusion, problems with speech and understanding, changes in personality and behavior and an increased reliance on others for the activities of daily living.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating and terminal illness that can rob a person of their independence and dignity.  Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t just affect the person themselves – it affects everyone around them and particularly family members and carers.  Alzheimer’s disease is relentless, unforgiving and as yet, incurable.

Currently in UK there are about 820,000 people ⁽¹⁾ affected by dementia.  This figure is set to rise dramatically in the next decades as the ‘baby boomer’ population makes its way into old age.

About a third of people with dementia live alone, a third live with a carer and a third end their days in care homes.  At Guideposts, we are putting major efforts into ensuring that people with a dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease and those caring for a person with dementia can make the most of life.  We have care, advice and training services to benefit each individual.

(1) Dementia 2010 - Alzheimer’s Research Trust

Dementia Information Services

If you care for a person with dementia we can provide relevant information, advice, support and an opportunity for you to take control. There is no need to struggle on alone, help is here.

Guideposts support dementia information lines to help people with dementia and their carers. Lines are opened during normal office hours. An answer phone service is available at all other times where anyone can request to be called back.

National Information Line: 08451204048

Warwickshire Information Line: 0845 4379901

Oxfordshire Information Line: Tel 01993 700061, 9am – 7pm Mon to Fri, 10am to 6pm Weekends and Bank Holidays.

Kent Information Line: Guideposts Trust has been solely contracted to operate an online information service in Kent – Dementia Web Kent and Medway. However if you live in this area and wish to talk to someone about your concerns regarding Alzheimer’s disease or about any other form of dementia, a new 24 hour dementia helpline has recently been set up to provide emotional support and information on the different services and support that you can access. Kent 24hr dementia helpline: 0845 604 439.

Guideposts Trust has developed a very popular, all-age dementia information resource www.dementiaweb.org.uk for people with dementia, their carers and professionals. The site is purposely designed to provide comprehensive information and support on issues to do with dementia and specifically local services available to meet their needs.

Our first site, Dementia Web Oxfordshire, was launched in 2006 as part of our Oxfordshire Dementia Information Services for Carers.  An additional two new county sites were launched in Kent and Medway and Warwickshire.

Based on the very positive response from users, Guideposts has embarked on a major development of DementiaWeb with the aim of creating one site per county and a National Site. These sites are funded by voluntary donations and Guideposts is now running a large fundraising campaign to support the operating costs. Each site costs approximately £10,000 to set up and £10,000 per annum to maintain. Donations from local people are vital in raising this annual cost and Guideposts is grateful to the individuals, trusts and corporate supporters who help raise these funds.

Specialist Dementia Home Care – Guideposts Help at Home Service

We offer specialist Help at Home services in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.

Our Help at Home service provides specialist care for people with dementia. All of our support workers have been trained to understand dementia and its impact on families and carers. We also offer support to people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and those who are frail and need care and support to continue living at home.

Our aim is to develop Help at Home Services across the Country in line with the development of our Dementia Web sites so that we can offer a more comprehensive local service to people living with dementia. It costs in average £30,000 to establish each local service.

Training and Consultancy

Guideposts offers evidence based dementia training and consultancy to care homes accross the UK.  We also offer informal training sessions to family carers working in partnership with Local Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Centre Colleagues.

Click here for more information on Dementia Training & Consultancy

Music Therapy for people living with dementia

Music Therapy is a professional service, delivered by qualified music therapists to people in care homes, in our centre or, in special circumstances, a person’s own home.It is an uplifting experience for the participant who is helped to communicate and engage with others through music, song, percussion.

For more information about Music Therapy follow this link: Music Therapy