South Tyneside’s local dementia specialist Admiral Nurse service has supported over 1,000 families living with dementia since it launched, two years ago. The Admiral Nurse service is hosted by South Tyneside Health Collaboration, in partnership Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nurse charity and the NHS’s North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Some of the top reasons for local people accessing the service, cited by the nurses, include seeking practical advice on caring for the person with dementia and support with changes in symptoms and behaviours, as well as help with planning for the future, including palliative and end of life care and adapting and responding to changes in needs including after a hospital admission.
The service’s Admiral Nurses marked the two-year milestone by attending the Hebburn Living Well with Dementia group at St. Aloysius Church – a regular support group for people in the area who are living with dementia or caring for someone with it. Counsellor, Fay Cunningham, the Mayor of South Tyneside also attended the event to learn about the support available for local families in the area with dementia.
Fay Cunningham, the Mayor of South Tyneside said: “We are so grateful to have the valued support of this dedicated Admiral Nurse team in the community. They have helped many local families living with dementia to navigate life beyond diagnosis through their expert guidance and compassionate support.”
The South Tyneside Admiral Nurse team which includes, Lisa Marshall, Clinical Lead Admiral Nurse, and Admiral Nurses, Bridie Davis, Abigail Waistell and Lauren Carter, hold drop-in sessions at The Hebburn Living Well with Dementia group every two months for people to seek specialist advice and support around dementia.
Bob Cochrane, Account Manager for Scotland & North at Dementia UK, said: “We are so pleased to celebrate two years of delivering this vital service to families living with dementia in the community.
“One in two of us will be affected by dementia – either through caring for a loved one with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. Yet, many families receive little to no support from the point of diagnosis.
“Admiral Nurses are a lifeline to families facing dementia. We know this service will continue a positive in the lives of those living with the condition.”
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who are continually supported and developed by Dementia UK, providing life-changing advice and support to anyone affected by dementia whenever it’s needed. They work on the charity’s free national Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline, in face-to-face and virtual clinics, and in the community, in GP practices, hospitals, and care homes.
Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops dementia: a progressive and complex condition that can be devastating for the whole family. It’s a huge and growing health crisis and is the leading cause of death in the UK.
If you would like to receive support from South Tyneside’s Admiral Nurse service and are based in the area, seek a referral from your local GP. Alternatively, if you need general advice or support on living with dementia, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org.
