Directory: Dementia

If you or someone you know are worried about or affected by dementia, we are here for you. You can speak to friendly experts on our helpline. We have information to help you understand dementia and what to expect, and practical advice and support to help you to live as well as possible with the condition.

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans, and their families. This includes Admiral Nurses, Care Homes and Holiday Breaks. Legion beneficiaries can be either the person with dementia or the carer.

A dementia support service which provides one-to-one support to people with dementia, carers and family members. The service is unique to their personal circumstances and needs. The dementia support service may provide individuals with information and practical support to help them understand more about dementia, cope with day to day living with dementia and prepare for the future.

The dementia support workers aim to help people feel less isolated, and feel supported to maintain their independence, make choices and take control of their life by:

• listening to and answering any questions
• providing accurate, clear, relevant and useful information that is easy to understand
• helping individuals understand more about dementia and their diagnosis
• offering practical advice and coping strategies for living with dementia day-to-day
• making people aware of other services available to them
• empowering individuals to access and build wider support networks.

The service can also take calls from people worried about their memory and support to get a diagnosis.

Run by Heads Up Connect, these groups provide opportunities to connect with other carers and find out information over a cuppa.

4th Wednesday of the month, 10am to 11.30pm at The Swan Hotel, Wells BA5 2RX.

Other groups run at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells and Heads Up’s centre in South Horrington. There is a new carers group in Glastonbury above Burns the Bread, on the high Street, on 3 March 2022. The groups are run by Heads Up Connect.

Micro-providers are providers of very small, community based care and support services. They provide help at home in the Mendip area and across Somerset.

The easiest route to finding a micro-provider is to use an online search tool called the ‘Brokerage Tool’.

What will happen when I use the tool?

By filling in the online form you will input the type of support you are looking for, your location and your support preferences. Once submitted these details will automatically be sent to Somerset County Council approved micro-providers in your area, who will view the support request. An email will then be sent to you listing the details of any micro-providers who are available and interested in the opportunity.

To use the new Brokerage Tool, please click here

If you would like to review a list of micro-providers in your area, you can visit the Somerset Community Connect website. You can use the website to search for micro-providers by location and type of service required.

You can also find information under the Advice and Information section on Somerset Community Connect’s website, which explains what micro-providers are and how they meet certain quality and safety standards.

Where: St Philip & St James Church, Norton St Philip.

When: 3rd Monday of every month 2.30pm – 4.00pm

No charge, donations appreciated. For further information, please contact Jo Robinson.

Love to Move is a seated movement to music program providing physical, emotional and cognitive benefits designed to get older people, especially people living with dementia to move more and have fun. This group helps carers have a bit of fun with their partners or friends who are living with dementia outside of their home environment.

Mondays; 10 am at Housing21, Douglas Yates Court, Coleford, BA3 5PD

Mondays; 2 pm at Evercreech Village Hall,  Victoria Lane, Evercreech, BA4 6JP

The cost is £5 per person if you pay in advance or £6 drop in. Accompanying carers  £1. Anyone attending Love to Move for the first time can pay £5 for their first ever session, however, block payment post this session will apply. Paying in advance will be for an 8 week block which equates to £40.

Frome Dementia Action Alliance Memory Café.  The Alliance is made up of different charities and organisations in Frome who help people with Dementia. For anyone affected by dementia.  No charges. 

When: last Wednesday of every month from 2pm -5pm

Where: Masonic Hall on North Parade, Frome, BA11 1AU 

A relaxed drop-in for people with memory problems and their carers / family. Come along for companionship, information & advice, occasional talks, fun activities – and a cuppa!

When: 3rd Wednesday of each month, 2pm to 3.30pm

Where: Methodist Church Hall, Southover Wells, BA5 1UG

Music 2 Connect run a free monthly music & singing therapy session for people living with memory problems, dementia and their carers. Held monthly on the third Friday of the month at The Salvation Army Hall, 21 Commercial Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BU.

Please arrive at 1:45 pm for a 2pm start,  tea & coffee are provided.

For more information or to let them know you would like to attend please contact Judi on the number below.

• Somerset Lifeline – Our Lifeline service is for vulnerable people, victims of abuse, hospital discharge and anyone, at any age, that is living alone. Our service enables people to live independently in their own home and gives peace of mind to family and friends. Available in Mendip, North Somerset, Sedgemoor, West Somerset (Somerset).
• Life Connect 24  – personal alarms and pendants for the elderly or disabled, people living alone and at risk of falling or in need of reassurance, people suffering from long term illness such as dementia, epilepsy or heart disease.
• Age Co Personal Alarm  –  Personal alarm will give you the security and confidence to continue living independently in the home you love. Part of Age UK
• Connected Living (Aster) – Provide the latest digital monitored home alarms, solutions and GPS locator devices to support you to live your life, your way knowing that help is at the touch of a button 24/7. Connected Living offer FREE, no obligation demonstrations across the whole of Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset and our trusted Technicians will visit you in the comfort of your own home.

Research has shown that listening to a personal playlist can improve the lives of those living with dementia. Use this website to create a personal playlist to share songs and memories with family, friends and carers.

Reconnect provides housing related floating support to older people with dementia or memory problems. The support is delivered within their own homes, to assist clients to develop or maintain their independence and quality of life. The nature of the support may cover housing issues, safety in the home, budgeting, benefits, life skills and improving social networks. This service is offered free of charge to eligible people living in Somerset.

RBL have six care homes across the UK for Armed Forces community and their families, five have with specialist dementia care.

In association with the Alzheimer’s Society UK. Come and join our friendly singing group,  Wednesday mornings 11:15-12:45 at the Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells BA5 2PU. £5 per person to include refreshments.

An informal singing, drumming and musical interaction group for older people including those living with dementia by Somerset Arts Well – Music for Wellbeing. Suggested donation £3-£5 or whatever you can afford. Refreshments included.

10.30-12 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays in the month. (12 January, 26 January, 9 February, 23 February, 9 March, 23 March)  United Reformed Church High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DZ

Thursdays 10:30-12:00 St John’s Community Hub, High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DR (accessible from St John’s car park BA6 9LJ)

Adult Social Care supports adults of working age and older people who have disabilities, mental health problems, a sensory loss or general frailty.

A fun filled singing group, for people with Dementia, Memory Loss and their carers.

Tuesdays – 1:30pm-3:00pm at Masonic Hall, North Parade, Frome, BA11 1AU

The Shepton Mallet Dementia Alliance Association run a Tea & Skittles social group, where you are welcome to come along and enjoy a game of skittles  followed by tea/coffee and biscuits, aimed at people living with memory problems, dementia and their carers but is open for anyone to attend.  We ask for a £2.50 donation to attend, no need to book, just turn up.

The group meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 2.30pm – 4pm at The Charlton Inn, Charlton Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5PH.

For further details please contact Anne on the details below;

Free to attend. Nature and wildlife activities in Frome, for people with dementia or memory loss. Learn about wildlife together.  Activities include arts & crafts, wildlife gardening, nature walks and more. Open and inclusive to suit all abilities and interests. Please call ahead to book your space and check location. Carers and family members welcome too. Free to attend, transport available.

Mells, Walled Garden – Mondays 2pm – 4pm