Dementia UK Sign Up Information

Do it for Dementia Nurses this winter

Take on a challenge event for dementia specialist nurses in 2020

Thank you for everything you do to support Dementia UK! We’re excited to hear what you do next, so any time you start thinking about fundraising please get in touch; we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Best wishes,
Your Dementia UK Community and Events team

Email: fundraising@dementiauk.org
Call: 020 8036 5440

Michael's story

Thank you for your support over the last year. This Christmas, will you help more families living with dementia get the support they desperately need?

This Christmas, will you help more families living with dementia get the support they desperately need?  

As you may know, caring for someone with dementia can be desperately lonely. The person you care for is there physically, but you might not feel that they’re really ‘them’ anymore. For people like Michael, it’s utterly heart-breaking. 

Michael is caring for his beloved wife Sue, who has Alzheimer’s disease. He has been struggling with feeling like he has lost his best friend. That’s where Admiral Nurses step in. Michael was referred to Lizzie, his Admiral Nurse. Thanks to Lizzie’s regular visits, support and advice, Michael no longer feels so alone.

Please give a gift today and help support families facing dementia this Christmas

Learning disability and dementia leaflet

Top social media posts

Here is some popular social media activity from the last month (click the images to view the original post):

This Christmas, will you help more families living with dementia get the support they desperately need?

What makes Admiral Nurses so special?

Our list of gifts for a happy and inclusive Christmas for people with dementia

This Christmas, remember a loved one while supporting families living with dementia

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation to our Christmas Appeal, and sent messages of support. It's not too late to make a donation - a gift from you today could help provide more Admiral Nurses; specialists in dementia who can offer advice, support and understanding to struggling families.

Top social media posts

Considering a care home for a person with dementia

Sign up for your Time for a Cuppa tea party

Dedicate a challenge

You may have already set yourself a challenge this year, and no matter what that might be, you can join #TeamDementiaUK and dedicate each step, run, swim, jump, cycle to someone special. Let’s do it together and #DoitforDementiaNurses.

Top social media posts

There's no better excuse for a cuppa and some cake than raising money for Dementia UK!

1. Choose a date and invite your guests
2. Bake (or buy!) some cakes
3. Enjoy a lovely day catching up over tea and cake, while raising money for Dementia UK

Our new awareness campaign

Lives on Hold, our new awareness campaign, launches online today. We know there are many thousands of families living with dementia who are unaware of the advice and support we can offer them through our Helpline, advice leaflets and videos. 

We want to ensure that they, like you, know about and are able to access the vital support that our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses provide.

The one and two minute videos show how life for carers of people living with dementia is similar to living in lockdown for many months and often years. As life begins to get back to a new kind of normal for most people, families living with dementia will see little change. 

The main videos feature three of our ambassadors - Jim Broadbent, Phyllis Logan and Adelle Tracey - as well as reality star Georgia Kousoulou and musician Naughty Boy, all of whom have or had relatives living with dementia. Admiral Nurses, carers and staff also talk about what they miss most about life before lockdown. 

Please share the one minute video on your social media channels (which you can do from the link above) so we can spread the word to as many people as we can.

If you are in a position to do so, please also consider making a donation to help us be there for every family that needs us, now and in the future. 

Barbara and Rob Perry's story: inspiration for This is Dementia

Time for a Cuppa Together

In these uncertain times, we're really missing a cuppa and a chat with our loved ones - so we've created a perfect opportunity for you to connect with friend and family, as Time for a Cuppa goes online! 

An update on our campaigning work during the Coronavirus pandemic

We are hearing from many family carers who are vulnerable, worried and without access to the support that they need during these challenging times.

Here''s an update on our current campaigning work.

Coronavirus and dementia: frequently asked questions (updated)

We're constantly updating the coronavirus hub on our website.

Visit it to read the latest advice from our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, including the list of frequently asked questions coming through to our Helpline.

Making your home safe and comfortable for a person with dementia

The spring issue of Closer to You magazine

Mental Health Awareness week: our wellbeing tips

Do it Daily for dementia nurses

As home schooling is likely to continue for at least a few more weeks, we have the perfect way to keep children entertained and doing something to make a difference.

By taking on our Do it Daily challenge, children complete five days of active, creative and skills based tasks and raise money to help us support more families struggling to cope with dementia. 

We have suggested activities for each day, plus a handy chart to check off as each challenge is completed.

Only together: towards better specialist dementia support 

• 35% of family respondents stated that no service or support was offered to them at all after diagnosis
• 82% of GP respondents highlighted 'time and capacity pressures' as an issue in supporting people affected by dementia
• Three in five Admiral Nurses agreed there was a lack of information on the condition and/or its impact given to people affected by dementia at diagnosis

• Find out what actions you can take to support our campaign
• Share your experiences of good or bad support following a dementia diagnosis with us
• Share our Only together campaign on Facebook or Twitter using the buttons below, and encourage others to get involved 

Our Helpline is here for you

With many parts of the country in lockdown and questions over whether we will be able to meet loved ones this Christmas, it is understandable that many carers and people with dementia are feeling anxious and frightened.

Our Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline is for anyone with a question or concern about dementia. This includes providing critical emotional and practical support to carers affected by coronavirus. 

Contact our free Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline by calling 0800 888 6678, or by emailing helpline@dementiauk.org. Phone lines are open 9am-9pm, Monday-Friday and 9am-5pm at weekends.

Remember a star this Christmas

Meaningful activities: Reminiscence

Top social media posts

We share extra content on our social media channels. Here is some popular social media activity from the last month (click the images to view the original post):

Our new leaflet series: after a diagnosis of dementia

Getting a diagnosis of dementia can be really hard, for the person diagnosed and for their family members and friends too. Our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses have written a series of five new information leaflets to help navigate through some of the worries and challenges that you might have. These are on: the emotional impact of the diagnosis; the way your roles and relationships might now change; understanding and dealing with stigma; staying healthy after a diagnosis of dementia; and driving.

Walk 30 miles in September

Dementia UK''s COVID-19 carer survey

We're interested in hearing about your experiences as a carer during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). We want to find out whether COVID-19 has had any impacts on your caring role and if you have any concerns as restrictions ease.

We want to ensure your voice is heard. Your views will help to inform our campaigning and public affairs work and media activities, as well as tailoring our information and support resources to best meet your needs.

The survey is for family or friends who are caring for a person with dementia, either at home or from a distance. The survey should take around 15 minutes to complete - depending on how much you would like to say - and will close on Monday 7th September 2020.

New Ambassador: Naughty Boy

Top social media posts

We share extra content on our social media channels that you won''t find in our enews, including fundraising achievements, organisational updates and stories of families'' experiences with dementia. Here is some popular social media activity from the last month (click the images to view the original post):

How to communicate remotely with a person who has dementia

Together we can make a difference - when we Donate it for dementia nurses

Coronavirus and dementia: our advice

We're constantly updating the coronavirus hub on our website.

Visit it to read the latest advice from our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, including the list of frequently asked questions coming through to our Helpline.

Volunteering during lockdown

P.s. If you have already included Dementia UK in your Will, thank you so much. Your kind gift will make a difference to the lives of families affected by dementia.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - information for families looking after someone with dementia

We know that this is a worrying time for families looking after someone with dementia. The weeks ahead are going to be challenging. But there are a few things you can do to look after yourself, and the person with dementia, during this time.

Please remember that you never have to struggle on alone. If you have any concerns about caring for someone with dementia through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please call the dementia specialist Admiral Nurses on our Helpline, on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org.

The Helpline is open seven days a week, 9am-9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on weekends

Coronavirus and dementia: frequently asked questions

During these unprecedented and uncertain times, all of us at Dementia UK are working hard to ensure that families with dementia feel supported and listened to.

We've produced a hub on our website, full of advice from our Admiral Nurses, including a list of commonly asked questions to our Helpline, which we will update as the situation develops and as new questions are asked.

You do not have to struggle alone

Dear Bruce,

We're really excited to tell you about a brand new fundraising event taking place this autumn!
 

Raise your Game

This October, get together and play the games you love, have fun and raise vital funds for dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.  

Dear Bruce, 

Seven years ago, my husband Ian was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. He was 54. We were all devastated by the diagnosis but I think our two children were hit hardest by it. I don't mind admitting that it was overwhelming, at first.

But then we were referred to Sharon, our Admiral Nurse. Sharon's support for us has been phenomenal. 

She helped me communicate with my children around what was happening to their dad, and guided us through a system that still does not make it easy for families living with dementia. Sharon's expertise and calm reassurance kept us all going.

I honestly don''t know what we''d have done without her.

Because of the support I received from Dementia UK, I want to do everything I can to help make sure that everybody who needs an Admiral Nurse, gets one. 

Bruce, will you Remember a Star and make a donation today to help recruit, train and develop more Admiral Nurses?

I'm sorry to say that my beloved Ian died earlier this year and we all miss him terribly. We've been so grateful for Sharon's continued support - she really has been a tower of strength for both me and my son and daughter.

This will be our first Christmas without Ian, and Sharon has suggested we try to remember the good times as a way to bring the family together. Ian loved the family coming together at Christmas, so we're going to Remember a Star in his memory - and think fondly of all those Christmases we spent together.

Will you join me in remembering a loved one this Christmas? 

Making a donation and adding a name to the Remember a Star tree is a wonderful way to support families living with dementia.

Thank you so much for helping people who may be struggling to cope with the demands of dementia get the help and advice they desperately need. 

With best wishes for the Christmas season, 

Marion
Dementia UK supporter

Reflections on Black History Month from Helpline Nurse Mutsai Hove Bird

Mutsai Hove Bird, Admiral Nurse on our Dementia Helpline, writes about Black History Month, the experience of dementia in Black communities, and Dementia UK''s commitment to the delivery of person-centred, culturally tailored care to meet the dementia support needs of families and people from Black communities.

How do the clocks changing affect people with dementia?

''Sundowning'' is a common issue for many people with dementia, and is a term used for the changes in behaviour that occur in the evening, around dusk. Some people diagnosed with dementia experience a growing sense of agitation or anxiety at this time.

As the clocks go back this weekend, and with evenings becoming darker earlier, visit our website for tips on managing sundowning, and preventing it from happening.

Closer to you

The autumn edition of our supporter magazine, Closer to you, is now available online. Get a cup of tea or coffee and have a read through of all the news from Dementia UK over the last few months - including a great interview with our new Learning Disability Admiral Nurse, Jane Nickels. 

Jog 50 miles in November

Top social media posts

Here is some popular social media content we posted in the last month (click the images to view the original post):

Dear Bruce, 

Today marks the start of our new fundraising event, Raise your Game. Hundreds of our supporters have already signed up to dig out their games, have fun with friends and family and raise vital funds to help our Admiral Nurses support more families living with dementia. Will you join them?

Caring from a distance

When you''re caring for a person with dementia from far away, this can bring its own challenges. Whether they live alone, with someone, or in a care home, hospital, or anywhere else, there are lots of things you can help them with. 

Read our leaflet for practical tips from our Admiral Nurses.

Going on holiday with a loved one with dementia

Look out for families with dementia this winter

The Helpline is urging communities to improve their knowledge of the increased risk to people with dementia during the wintertime, with some important advice from our Helpline Nurses.

Dementia UK mugs now available to buy

Top social media posts