Dementia UK face-to-face clinics in Swindon

Specialist Admiral Nurses from the Dementia UK charity are again to host clinics at the Nationwide Croft branch in Swindon's Pipers Way.

The sessions will be held tomorrow - Tuesday 3 June - and on the following two days.



Full details, including how to book one of the 45-minute sessions, can be found here.



Nationwide and Dementia UK’s free face-to-face clinics offer specialist support in a safe, comfortable and private space for people to discuss any aspect of dementia.



The clinics are open to anyone impacted by dementia, offering life-changing support to families and individuals in the area, and promise practical and emotional advice on all aspects of dementia, including from worries about memory problems, understanding a diagnosis and how the condition can progress to help with financial and legal issues.



Ruby Guild, Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to Wiltshire. Nationwide branches offer a safe and private space for people to access specialist support for dementia, and the Fairer Futures partnership is helping us bring face-to-face support to people in a familiar location.”



Debbie Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide, said: “Nationwide wants to help people live their best life possible, for as long as possible. By working with Dementia UK to fund more Admiral Nurses and turning our branches into dementia clinics, we’re helping to tackle the country’s leading cause of death.



"As a mutual, we work for the good of society as well as our members.  We believe this and Nationwide Fairer Futures will change hundreds of thousands of lives for the better.”



Ahead of the appointments Dementia UK has shared tips on how to discuss dementia with a loved one and encourage them to visit their GP if they are showing signs or symptoms of the condition. Someone develops dementia every three minutes in the UK, and it is often a challenge to obtain an accurate diagnosis of dementia.



The tips are:



- Act – if the person suddenly becomes upset or frustrated with themselves, this can be a good opportunity to have a conversation with them about the symptoms they are experiencing and if they’d like support with seeking help



- Explain – the signs and symptoms of dementia are often shared with other conditions. Explaining this, and encouraging the person to seek advice from their GP can be less daunting than suggesting they seek a diagnosis of dementia. You can also explain that a prompt diagnosis of dementia will help them seek the right support sooner



- Support – seeking support can be tough, and people will appreciate help in arranging the appointment and attending it. You can also help them to keep a symptom diary which will support a healthcare professional to make an accurate and timely diagnosis



The Wiltshire clinics are part of Swindon-based Nationwide’s social impact programme, Fairer Futures, which addresses four of the UK’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships – family poverty (Action for Children), youth homelessness (Centrepoint), dementia (Dementia UK) and cancer (The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity).



Nationwide is funding 30 dementia specialist Admiral Nurses and will have hosted free dementia support clinics in 200 branches across the country by the end of the summer.



These will include sessions at the Nationwide branch in Maryport Street, Devizes, on 26 June.