Free dementia clinics will be arriving in a Bristol shopping centre for just three days this week. Nationwide and Dementia UK’s free face-to-face clinics are returning to the Nationwide Cabot Circus branch from tomorrow (Tuesday, January 14) until Thursday (January 16).
The clinics promise to offer specialist support in a ‘safe, comfortable and private space for people to discuss any aspect of dementia’. It will be hosted by Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, with each clinic open to anyone impacted by dementia, offering ‘life-changing’ support to families and individuals in the area.
The clinics, which can be booked via Dementia UK’s website here, will offer practical and emotional advice – from worries about memory problems, to understanding a diagnosis and how the condition can progress, and even help with financial and legal issues. The clinics in Bristol are part of Nationwide’s social impact programme, Fairer Futures, which ‘addresses three of the UK’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships’ – dementia (Dementia UK), youth homelessness (Centrepoint) and family poverty (Action for Children).
Nationwide is funding 30 dementia specialist Admiral Nurse posts through Dementia UK, and is hosting 200 pop-up clinics in branches across the country. Ruby Guild, Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to Bristol.
“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.”
Ahead of the appointments, the specialist dementia nursing charity 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.
Tackling tough conversations – tips on speaking to someone who is showing signs of dementia from Admiral Nurses:
- 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.
You’ll find the Bristol free Dementia UK clinics at Unit SU50C, Cabot Circus, Bristol, BS1 3BD, on January 14, 15 and 16.