Posted on Thursday 12th April 2012
L-R: Louise Wisdom (Dementia Support Worker, Alzheimer’s Society), Dr Jim George (Elderly Care Consultant, Cumberland Infirmary) and Louise Dias (Dementia Support Volunteer, Alzheimer’s Society)
A new initiative between North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and The Alzheimer’s Society offers patients and visitors to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle the opportunity to access advice and information if they are concerned about their memory or a friend or relative’s memory.
The Alzheimer’s Society now has an Information Point located in the Atrium area of the Cumberland Infirmary. The stand, which is permanently on display with information leaflets, has a representative from the Society available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns about failing memory every Tuesday afternoon between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. The stand will provide local information and will change in response to frequently asked questions.
Dr Jim George, an Elderly Care Consultant at the Cumberland Infirmary, is delighted with the new initiative. He said: “Dementia is an illness which is emerging from the shadows. Until now, dementia had the same status as cancer thirty years ago – rarely talked about and feared. Now we are beginning to realise that dementia is potentially a treatable medical condition and there is much that can be done to help.”
Fiona Moncur, Locality Manager of The Alzheimer’s Society for Cumbria, praised the work of local staff from both organisations for establishing the Information Point. She said: “We know that there are many people out there who are worried about their memory, but who are also worried about taking that first step and talking to their GP for fear of what they may be told. This stand will enable people to access information or speak in confidence about any concerns they have before taking that first big step.
“The Information Point is important to Alzheimer’s Society in the area and will help to provide an additional much-needed access point for both people with dementia and their carers at a time when it is estimated that the number of people living in Cumbria with dementia will increase from 7,283 to over 10,040 by 2021.”