About us
About us
The aim of our service supports people who may be worried about their memory and cognitive functioning. As a service we:
- provide specialist assessment, care planning, treatment, and support of younger adults with dementia.
- provide a diagnosis.
- minimise experiences of impairment and disability to allow individuals to live well with dementia.
- support families and carers within their caring roles and promote their health and wellbeing needs.
The first step is to complete an assessment to rule out any other causes that may be impacting memory symptoms.
Assessment – what to expect
Assessment - what to expect
Assessment may take place in a clinic, GP surgery, or your own home. This usually lasts 1-2 hours. A family member or friend is welcomed to attend in order to provide you with support. We will explore your current memory symptoms with you and your significant others. We will ask you questions about your general health, background history, and mental health. We will complete a cognitive test with you which is a series of questions and tasks that help us look at your cognitive skills.It may be that we require some further assessment for example an assessment of your day to day living skills or a driving assessment (paper exercise). We may request for you to have an MRI brain scan but will discuss this with you following the initial assessment. At the end of the assessment, we will discuss with you the outcome and any further assessment required if necessary. You will receive a written report of your assessment and the advised outcomes.
What is early onset dementia?
What is early onset dementia?
Dementia in adults under the age of 65 is referred to as early-onset dementia. Younger adults tend to have rarer types of dementia and the support they require will again be different from that of the older adult with dementia.
Dementia is a progressive brain condition which can be characterised by some of the following symptoms:
- Memory loss.
- Difficulties with thinking, problem solving or language.
- Changes within the functioning of daily activities.
- Changes in spatial awareness/ vision.
- Changes in mood, behaviour or personality.
- Confusion.
- Disorientation to time and place.
- Problems with words/speech/writing.
- Misplacing things.
- Problem controlling emotions.
- Decreased judgement and decision making.
- Social withdrawal.
- Loss of empathy and compassion.
- Hallucinations.
Research
Research
NHFT have a research department that carry out dementia related research.
Where appropriate you will be offered the opportunity to be contacted about any studies that may be suitable for you. This is optional.
What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy?
What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy?
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an evidence-based group treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia.
CST consists of 14 weekly group sessions of themed activities. Typical sessions involve an introduction, a discussion about current news stories and activities related to a theme such as food, art, history or word puzzles.
CST aims to engage and stimulate people in a friendly and enjoyable group setting. Research shows it can improve thinking abilities, language skills and quality of life. It is a recommended treatment for people with dementia in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE guidelines are evidence based guidelines setting out services for people with specific health conditions.
Who is it for?
CST is for people who have a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia. If you have been referred to the Younger People's Dementia (YPD) team and have received a diagnosis of dementia, you may receive ongoing memory monitoring. CST is the next step for those looking to improve and maintain their memory and thinking abilities, in a supportive and positive environment.
More information about CST and research into the therapy is available here: www.cstdementia.com
What can you expect from the group?
The CST group runs once a week for 14 weeks. Between six and eight people will be in the group, and the same people will attend the group for the 14 weeks. CST will last for approximately 1½ hours, with refreshments provided.
An important part of the group is being able to socialise and share experiences with others. Everybody is encouraged to participate, but nobody is put on the spot. Groups are relaxed and light-hearted, where everyone supports each other to cope with cognitive changes.
All CST sessions have been designed based on research. The activities are chosen to be stimulating and are aimed at strengthening or maintaining:
- Short and long term memory
- Focus, attention and concentration
- Understanding, recognition and communication
- Problem solving and reasoning abilities
- Visual, spatial skills and orientation
- Quality of life, social skills and wellbeing
Transport
If you have your own transport, free parking is available near the venue. Separate instructions will be provided if you decide to join the group.
To find out more contact the Younger People with Dementia Team on 03000 272350.
Individualised Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (I-CST) Workshop
This one-off workshop is designed solely for family, friends, and carers who are supporting people with a dementia diagnosis, and who have already completed the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) group or are unable to attend the group. The workshop educates those in a caring role about the skills and activities learnt at the CST group, and gives guidance and support on how to do these activities with the people they are caring for. As with the CST group, the foundation of the i-CST workshops is built upon evidence-based research, and gives family members, friends and carers the opportunity to learn skills to help the people that they care for stay stimulated and do activities to maintain their memory and thinking abilities in their own home and at their own pace.
If you would like further information please speak to a Younger People with Dementia team member or call 03000 272350.
Workshop and group programme
Workshop and group programme
We offer workshops and groups to people who have been assessed by the Younger People with Dementia Team and have been given a dementia diagnosis. This also includes education and support for family, friends, and carers, depending on a person's individual needs and abilities.
Next Steps Workshop
This is a one-off workshop providing support and information for everyone who has recently been given a dementia diagnosis by the Younger People with Dementia Team. The Next Steps workshop gives people the opportunity to learn more about dementia. People can ask questions, talk about coming to terms with the diagnosis, and plan for the future. The workshop also gives people the chance to meet others who have recently been given a dementia diagnosis. Representatives from local organisations will be present to provide information about support available in the local area. People recently diagnosed and their supporters can attend.
Living well with Dementia Group
For people who would like further information after the Next Steps workshop, this group is run over 10 sessions. The group offers the opportunity to learn more about dementia. People can access advice about adjusting to life with a dementia diagnosis and explore ways to cope. The group encourages people to feel empowered to make decisions about their present situation and to plan for the future. A family member, friend, or carer is invited to attend the first and last sessions of the groups. There will also be 2 to 3 parallel sessions that offer information, education, and advice for people supporting someone with dementia.
Support Groups
People with dementia, or their carers, may require ongoing informal support. We arrange regular peer support meetings in community settings or parks. This helps people meet others in similar situations in a relaxed setting. There is also a monthly online support group for relatives and carers of people with early onset dementia, where they can access ongoing information and useful advice. The group is open to anyone supporting someone with Early Onset Dementia.
If you would like further information or to discuss options for accessing any of these services, then please speak to a Younger People with Dementia team member or call 03000 272 350.