Services for people with dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia is the progressive loss of the powers of the brain. As a result, the memory fails and the person may lose the ability to perform quite simple, every day tasks. They may not recognise where they are, what day of the week it is, or who people are. They may be more aware of the past than the present. Personality changes may also occur.

There are two main types of dementia:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Vascular dementia

There have been a number of developments over recent decades which have helped both people with dementia and their families. Importantly, dementia is no longer seen as an embarrassing illness and is now accepted as a condition like any other.

People who have dementia, and their carers, have access to mainstream services and services dedicated to the specific needs associated with dementia. We work in partnership with other agencies and the health service to provide a range of services to help individuals and their families affected by dementia.

The central area of Aberdeenshire has a specialist dementia team.

This team provides psychiatric, social worker / care management and nursing liaison services to people with dementia and their families /carers.

The team is in fact two ‘sister’ teams. One based in Inverurie Hospital and draws its referrals from health practices in Inverurie, Kemnay, Ellon, Oldmeldrum, Fyvie, Tarves and Westhill. The other is based at 25 Gordon Street, Huntly and offers similar services in the Huntly, Alford, Insch, Strathdon and Rhynie health practice areas.

All other area of Aberdeenshire are served by older people's services and NHS Grampian psychogeriatric services which can be accessed through your GP.

Finding out what your needs are

In order to find out your needs and to establish which services could best meet those needs, an assessment will be carried out. This is called a community care assessment. It may be carried out by a member of the social work older people's team or someone from the community dementia team for people living in the central area of Aberdeenshire.

On completion of the assessment, the care manager / dementia team member assigned to your care will discuss your needs with you and your family. They will provide you with information about mainstream servises and specialist sevices. Once needs are identified, the care manager / dementia team member will agree a care plan and make arrangements to implement services and any other assistance required as part of the care plan.

A typical plan may include aspects of:

• practical support
• financial support
• health support
• social support
• long term care options

If you need help looking after yourself, or a relative or friend needs help, you should contact your local social work office.

For people living in the central area of Abdeenshire, you should contact the community dementia team.

If you are unsure whether you fall within the boundary of the community dementia team please contact them and they will be able to advise.

If you are in hospital or attending a clinic, you can ask to speak to social work staff based there.

Will I have to pay for services provided?

There are charges for some services. The amount you will be expected to pay will depend on your income. This will be fully explained to you by the person carrying out your community care assessment before you agree to a particular service. There is no charge for the assessment of your needs or welfare benefit checks.