This project will deliver a single point of service information for people with dementia and their carers in East Berkshire.  We are adopting a scheme used in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) in 2009 where a set of 12 mental health guides was produced.  Dementia was incorporated into the older person’s guide and we intend to adapt this successful evidenced based innovation.

The current problem for people with dementia and their carers is that they do not know where to source information on the services available. To solve this problem we will create three directories of dementia services within East Berkshire. The directories will be divided into voluntary sector services, statutory services and additional useful information such as benefits, legal information, telecare, care home and home care provision. Each service in the directory will provide an overview of their ethos, geographical area covered, list of activities, how to access and contact information. These directories of services will also be available to professionals.

We are adopting the idea of these directories being produced in hard copy and making them available through the local Dementia Care Advisors, memory clinics, voluntary sector organizations and statutory services.  Additionally, we are adapting this by commissioning a ‘Dementia Web’ to include this service information which would also incorporate a 24 hour dementia helpline. This was initially launched in Oxfordshire in 2006 and commissioned by a further seven county councils since.

The local Berkshire East Dementia plan indentified in its gap analysis that there was a need for comprehensive, accessible information for people with dementia and their carers.  This was also supported by a consultation event on the dementia strategy in Windsor and Maidenhead in 2009.

The need for a single point of resource information available in the local area is only going to increase. In Windsor and Maidenhead the number of people predicted to have dementia is set to rise from the current rate of 1,724 people to 3,045 by 2030 an increase of 77%. In Slough the increase over the same time period is 1,112 to 1,696 an increase of 52% and in Bracknell Forest the numbers increase hugely as its ‘new town’ population ages from 1,062 to 2,060 with a 94% increase.

Currently Berkshire East is only reporting a diagnosis rate of 35% of the predicted population. As this issue is being addressed by the new CCG’s providing training to GP’s through protected learning time the numbers of people being diagnosed will increase quite rapidly in the near future.

Deliverables

• Provide a single point of information for services in the local area.
• Better and quicker access to information on dementia services.
• Access for all by producing the directories in other languages and large print.
• Provide a 24 hour helpline to support people with individual information and emotional needs at a time that is convenient to them.
• Provide information on services that people with dementia and their carers may not have otherwise known about.
• To support people to have a better quality of life.
• Reduce isolation for people living with dementia and their carers.
• An easy to read and straight forward directory.
• Provide additional information on benefits, legal information, support networks, finding the right care home, home care provision and telecare.
• Provide current and reliable information that is regularly updated.

Timetable

Anticipated outcomes

• People with dementia and their carers will be provided with streamlined information from one source. Currently, this can be very time consuming, difficult to access and may cause high levels of stress and anxiety.
• Increased opportunity of accessing respite for carers.
• Support and information available 24 hours a day though the helpline.
• Enable people to exercise choice and control and live well with dementia as a result.
• Providing people with information at the very earliest stage of their illness enables them to plan ahead and benefit from the services and support available.
• Accessing services earlier has been proven to reduce care home admission and people are able to maintain their independence for much longer.
• Enabling people to access services at the right time and from the right place will reduce the need to attend A & E in a crisis.
• Reduce isolation by enabling greater access to community services thereby improving their wellbeing.
• Access to services and support that people may not otherwise have known about.
• Opportunity to mix and match services from different providers which suit their interests and needs as they develop.
• Confidence that the information provided is reliable and trustworthy.

Progress update

All three localities are near completion of their dementia directories. They will be disseminated widely to ensure that people with dementia and their carers have access to this single point of information. All newly diagnosed will receive them at Memory Clinics and through the Dementia Advisors.

Subsequently they will be translated in to various languages and other formats ie. Audio and they will be available on websites electronically too.