Case Study: Dulwich Helpline and Southwark Churches Care (DH&SCC)

The Dementia Project, Southwark, South London.

DH&SCC is a Charity offering activity and social groups to improve the quality of life and the physical and mental health of isolated older residents in Southwark. Its vision is to support older people in feeling part of their community and the life that is going on around them. The Charity recognised that there was limited support available locally for people attending its groups recently diagnosed with dementia. To fill this gap funding was secured to set up The Dementia Project to help alleviate the increased feelings of isolation and loneliness reported by those newly diagnosed and to increase access to support for those less in touch with local services. The project involves two groups, a fortnightly reading group and a fortnightly support group. The Dementia Project is managed by a by a paid co-ordinator, supported by a project worker and volunteers.

Community based support to reduce isolation experienced by people Demographics newly diagnosed with dementia. White British 77% White Irish 2%  The support group aims to build and regain confidence through shared Indian 4% discussion about the impact of a dementia diagnosis for themselves and Caribbean 9% their family. Memory tips and problem solving on fictional or real life African 2% dilemmas takes place based around changing topics, as well as visits from Black-other 4% individuals and organisations within the local community. The reading group Not Stated 2% encourages people to continue to enjoy reading, through shared reading and discussion over a short piece of prose or poem. Facilitation 1 FT Project Co-ordinator  The groups are held at a local GP surgery which offered its meeting room 1 sessional project worker free of charge. This ensures a community focus and helps to normalise Pool of 22 volunteers for groups dementia services delivered in a community setting. and befriending  DH&SCC actively encourages and supports independent travel to the group, Occasional tutor for group providing a companion to ‘walk and travel the journey’ if needed, supported support by maps and memory aids. Transport is provided for those who cannot or are no longer able to manage the journey using public transport or by Funding walking. 100% Charitable grants

 People with dementia are encouraged to attend existing activity and social Services are free to users groups offered by DH&SCC. This helps to normalise dementia within a community environment and enables people with dementia to maintain their Facilitator comment interests and activities. The groups are dementia friendly, with trained facilitators and improved labelling so people can familiarise themselves “Our project allows people easily. with dementia to socialise  DH&SCC offers specialist workshops for volunteers to build confidence and and integrate within the community knowledge in dementia to better support the project groups and individuals. like everyone else. Trained volunteer befrienders are matched with people with dementia, for It increases confidence and enables both long-term support and companionship and to assist them in attending people to continue the groups. to be as independent as possible and live life to their fullest”

Member comments

“I Love your group – it is so lovely, we have a real laugh”

“I attend the monthly peer support group. I don’t do anything else apart from this group – and it’s something I really look forward to. It’s easy, it’s a lovely group. Everyone is so friendly! I particularly loved the last session where the Dulwich Picture Gallery visited”

“This is the best thing I’ve done since Christmas”

“Mum hasn’t stopped talking about the group since she got home”. Contact details: www.dhscc.org/ourservices.htm 020 8299 2623