Friday 10 September 2010
New service to support people with dementia in suffolk
14 October 2009
The number of people living in Suffolk affected by dementia is set to rise by 65% for those aged 65 and over, from 9,870 people in 2008 to an expected 16,327 people in 2025. Over the same time, there will be a rise from 199 to 232 of those people aged between 30 and 64 diagnosed with dementia.*
In response to the current level of people in Suffolk living with dementia and the expected increase, Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry in Ipswich is launching a day service designed to support people, and their carers, affected by the terminal long term condition.
Due to open in November, The Stables Dementia Day Service at Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry on Hadleigh Road will support people to live well with dementia. Through a range of activities and personal interaction - including music therapy, reminiscence therapy, exercise, alternative therapies and domestic activities such as cooking – a trained team of staff experienced in dementia care will support attendees maintain abilities and basic skills that support independence and quality of life.
Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry will review The Stables Dementia Day Service after six months and hopes to continue and develop the service on a permanent basis to continue to support people living with dementia in Suffolk.
Jo Marshall, care centre manager at Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry, said: “Dementia still has a great deal of stigma associated with it; the condition is misunderstood and often not diagnosed quickly enough, leaving individuals with the condition, their families and carers in difficult circumstances.
“Each person’s experience living with dementia is unique but for most the condition will affect their ability to manage many aspects of daily living, which often impacts on family members who take on caring responsibilities.
“Through personalised activities and bespoke care in a safe and secure environment, we aim to support people living with dementia to maintain everyday skills for as long as possible. And, whilst people are in our care, family members can experience some respite to recharge their batteries or carry out activities they previously may have struggled to find time to do.”
People can access Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry’s The Stables Dementia Day Service through an open referral process, by contacting the centre directly, via Suffolk Social Care Services, or via other social and health care providers. Referral criteria are based on a diagnosis of dementia and includes people aged below 65 years old providing the service can meet individual needs.
The service is inline with the Suffolk Perspective’s recent strategy, ‘Living well with dementia: transforming the quality and experience of dementia care for the people of Suffolk’, which is underpinned by the main aims of the government’s National Dementia Strategy (July 09).
Jo added: “We will continue to work closely with local commissioners, GPs and other health and social care providers to support implementation of the ‘Suffolk Perspective’ to raise awareness and understanding of dementia, support early diagnosis and give people the ability to live well with the condition.”
For more information on Sue Ryder Care – The Chantry’s The Stables Dementia Day Service call Tracey Plested, community services manager on 01473 295 200 or email tracey.plested@suerydercare.org.
* Suffolk Perspective’s ‘Living well with dementia’ policy, Sept 09.
