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Age UK Mid Devon

Age UK Mid Devon works to provide information, advice, signposting and support to people with dementia and their carers. Our Information & Advice service provides practical advice and support to people following diagnosis, and helps with negotiating the health care environment. Our Advocacy team help with identifying what benefits and entitlements people can claim, and help with filling out forms and following up any appeals. Our Volunteer Visitors can help reconnect older people to their community, finding clubs or groups for older people to attend and encouraging them to make new friends and build support networks. Our Activity Day Centre at The Haven helps keep people active, mentally and physically, and provides a place where people with dementia or their carers can come and relax for a day. We take a person-centred approach to providing support and services, putting the client at the heart of what we do and ensuring that their needs are paramount.

Updated:
11 August 2016
Location:
South West
Sectors:
Care, Charity, Health, Voluntary Sector
Local Alliances:
Crediton Dementia Action Alliance, Tiverton Dementia Action Alliance

1. Action Plan

1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?

Age UK Mid Devon works to provide information, advice, signposting and support to people with dementia and their carers. Our Information & Advice service provides practical advice and support to people following diagnosis, and helps with negotiating the health care environment. Our Advocacy team help with identifying what benefits and entitlements people can claim, and help with filling out forms and following up any appeals. Our Volunteer Visitors can help reconnect older people to their community, finding clubs or groups for older people to attend and encouraging them to make new friends and build support networks.  Our Activity Day Centre at The Haven helps keep people active, mentally and physically, and provides a place where people with dementia or their carers can come and relax for a day.  We take a person-centred approach to providing support and services, putting the client at the heart of what we do and ensuring that their needs are paramount. 

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?

Mid Devon is a rural area with poor transport links, leaving many dementia sufferers and their carers isolated and potentially vulnerable. Linking people with dementia into support groups and making sure they can access all the services they require can be logistically challenging. Many older people are reluctant to seek help about dementia, and fearful of telling friends and loved ones.  This means that people do not get the early help and advice they need to live well with dementia. 

Member website

www.ageukmiddevon.org.uk

2. Actions

  • Taking our Information and Advice service out to the towns and villages of Mid Devon

    In Mid Devon, 73 percent of its population lives in rural areas. The majority of residents live in rural towns, fringes and villages, but there is also a reasonably high proportion of residents living in more isolated and sparse settings. To increase our reach, we will be increasing our visibility and locations across the Mid Devon region. Therefore, in 2016/2017 and 2018 we will open up at least 5 key outreach drop-in hubs in the Mid Devon region and recruit volunteers from the local areas to support this. Community locations will be used on a weekly/bi-weekly basis in locations including Tiverton, Cullompton, Bampton, Hemyock and Crediton.

    Status:
    Delivery

    2016 - First Quarter Update

    Hub opened in Cullompton. All paperwork and administration completed to open hub in Bampton. 

  • Supporting and promoting the work of the dementia alliance

    Age UK Mid Devon has a good reputation amongst the people of the District and good links with local news outlets. We will use the Age UK brand to help promote the aims and work of the dementia alliance, helping inform people about dementia, working to break the stigma around diagnosis, and signposting the many groups and organisations that support and assist those with dementia to live fulfilling lives. 

    Status:
    Planning

    2016 - First Quarter Update

    Joined DAA; using website and FaceBook page to promote DAA and raise awareness; working with graphic design student to develop artwork to help promoteo the mesage about living well with dementia

  • Training all our staff and volunteers to be dementia friends

    All our staff and volunteers will be encouraged to attend an information session so that they can become Dementia Friends. We will partner with a local training provider to deliver Information Sessions through our Hubs and at The Haven Centre in Tiverton. People coming to us for information and advice about dementia will be signposted to one of these sessions, helping to grow a network of people of all ages who understand about dementia, how it affects the lives of those living with the disease, and how they can be helped to live well with dementia.

    Status:
    Planning

    2016 - First Quarter Update

    Made contact with a local training provider, who is signing up to be a Dementia Champion. Working with him to scope delivery of dementia information sessions. 

  • Hold a Dementia Information and Advice event

    Hold a small dementia information and advice event with representatives from various local voluntary & community organisations

    Status:
    Completed
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