This session looks at innovative approaches within community-based dementia support services which are available in the North Ayrshire area, the main provision is a community based dementia support service which is free, other services also include residential respite in a purpose built resource centre. Contributed by: North Ayrshire Council

1. NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
Dementia Services in North Ayrshire
18 March 2014
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

2.  Fear of dementia means that people can delay in coming forward for
diagnosis and support
 Information and support after diagnosis for those with dementia and their
carers has been reported as poor or non-existent
 Services do not always understand how to respond to people with dementia
and their carers, often leading to frustration and poor outcomes
 People with dementia and their carers are not always treated with dignity
and respect
 Family members and people who support and care for people with dementia
do not always receive the help to protect their own welfare and to enable
them to go on caring safely and effectively
 Dementia diagnosis is increasing
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

3.  The dementia support service provides advice, accurate information and
specialist support which addresses the unique needs of people living with
dementia and their carers
 Support is provided at home or in the local community on a short-term basis
 We offer advice and information that is both flexible and responsive to your
needs and aim to improve both you and your carer’s quality of life
 Our aim is to help people continue to live at home for as long as possible
and provide support to carers
 The service is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year
 Referrals are made to and received from Anam Cara – our Dementia Respite
Centre
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

4.  Service users and their families had been asking for help – simple, help
 Service users and their carers have had little in the way of engagement with
specific reference to dementia
 Service users want to stay at home for as long as they can
 Carers asked for our support with training and are trained along with the
staff teams
 Carers want services that are flexible and wrapped around them and their
loved one
 Carers want to know what other services are out there and how to access
them
 Carers and service users want their voices to be heard and their opinions
listened to
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

5. Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35
 The staff all have an touch screen tablet which is utilised for a wide range
of things
 The tablets can facilitate activities that help support people to remain
active and alert within their home
 The activities range from bowling and bingo to poetry to reminiscence.
 The tablets also have a questionnaire with picture prompts which service
users can complete
 Information about local lunch clubs, day services and social centres are
loaded onto tablets
 The tablets can be loaded with news features, updates and local
information as well as service specific documentation

6.  We currently have 7 Dementia Support workers across North Ayrshire
 We are currently developing the service on the Islands of Cumbrae and Arran
in conjunction with Health Partners
 We have memory café’s within every locality (6 in total)
 The service is free and available to all age groups
 We have provided services to over 500 people with dementia and their carers
in North Ayrshire
 The service has a twitter account which has over 450 followers and has
“tweeted” over 2500 tweets informing the audience of various articles
surrounding dementia and sharing good practice
 The service recently won a COSLA Bronze Award for Tackling Inequalities
and Improving Health
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

7.  Dementia Support Service fully mainline funded from 01 April 2013
 1st Year Report on 31 March 2013 and 2nd Year due on 31 March 2014
 Further Partnership working within the role of the Keyworker
 Continued and on-going delivery of the Promoting Excellence Framework
 Service works closely with Anam Cara Respite Service
 Formal and recorded engagement with Service users, Carers and Carer’s
Groups
 Third year move to from short to medium term intervention
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35

8.  Call us 01294602720
 Tweet us @NAdementia
 Blog www.northayrshiredementia.wordpress.com
 Visit us
http://www.northayrshire.gov.uk/SocialCareAndHealth/HelpForAdults/Dementi
aSupport.aspx
Session: E24 North Ayrshire Council ‘Dementia Services in North Ayrshire’
Room: Carrick 2, level 1
Time: 12.05 – 12.35