A new charity – Dementia Support Hampshire & IOW – has been set up by locals to respond to the needs of people living with dementia and their families or carers.
The charity will provide free emotional support, information, and signposting for anyone and everyone living with dementia in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
According to the Department of Health, there are now 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, costing the economy around £26.3billion a year. 52% of people in the UK know someone who has dementia. By 2025, 1,000,000 people in the UK will have dementia, and this will increase to two million by 2050. 1 in 3 people born this year will develop dementia in their lifetime.
Charity Director, Helen Hamblen, has said:
“We know from first-hand experience the emotional impact a dementia diagnosis has on patients, families, and caregivers. Common feelings during this life-changing experience can include anxiety, distress, and depression, not just for the person that has dementia but for the whole family. Families and friends provide most of the care for people with dementia and it is vital that everyone living with dementia receives the help and support they need to maximise their health and wellbeing.”
Dementia Support Hampshire & IOW provides a helpline which is available 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and anyone struggling with their emotions due to a new diagnosis or because they are feeling overwhelmed with their caring responsibilities is invited to call and chat with a member of staff or volunteer that will be on hand with a listening ear.
People can also phone if they are struggling to find information about dementia, and pathways for diagnosis, treatment, or care, and a website full of information is being launched this week.
Helen adds:
“Support for people living with dementia is hard to find, and at a time when your whole world is upside down and you are dealing with the emotional impact that dementia brings, the last thing you need is to have to search tirelessly for support near to where you live. The national charities are great, but face-to-face support and local knowledge is what you need at times like this. We know how exhausting living with dementia can be, that’s why we’ve created this charity, to help make things just that little bit easier.”
“We host our own support and social groups and also work with other voluntary organisations across the region so that we can provide information about all the support and social events available in our local communities.”
Wish I could have found something like this months ago. My husband is now in a care home but some days I am still feeling if I did right thing and some days just question my self about this. Some weeks still feel overwhelmed.
Me too, I know how you feel and your post has made me feel I am not alone. I struggle each day wondering if I have made the right decision