If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with dementia it can be a lonely and isolating time.
In Wrexham there is a great deal of support available, and the information and links below will guide you to groups and services that are on offer to you in the county borough.
Rhosllanerchrugog dementia friendly villages
With support from volunteers, Rhos Community Council and the Rhos Community Agent have formed an action group to make Rhos, Johnstown and Ponciau Dementia Friendly villages.
Dementia Friendly Villages are places where residents and businesses understand dementia, treat those living with it respectfully and support them.
If you would like to know more, or would like to contribute to the planning, please email Rhoscommunityagent@gmail.com or call 07851 798630.
Wrexham Dementia Friends art group
A free art group for people living with dementia and their carers.
Singing for the Brain
This group is open to anyone living with dementia and their carer. It’s free to attend, and you don’t need a great singing voice. Sing a variety of songs and learn some fun warm ups, all in a friendly and supportive environment.
Memories – Dementia Lunch and support
On the first Thursday of each month, visit Happy Hedgehog Café to have lunch in a supportive environment. Call 01978 354933 for more information.
Occupational Therapy support
The occupational therapy service works with both children and adults to offer functional assessments to support people with disabilities or chronic illnesses to remain independent for as long as possible and to achieve what is important to them as individuals in line with their well-being outcomes.
Carers Trust drop-in at the Wellbeing Hub
Taith Ni (Carers Trust)
Unpaid carer café
On the first Tuesday of every month, 12-1pm, come to the Wellbeing Hub, Crown Buildings, Wrexham.
You can have an informal chat, meet other peers who are juggling carer- and/or work-life balance and NEWCIS will be there to help unpaid carers with confidential advice over a cuppa.
Wrexham Dementia Friendly Steering Group
A small dedicated group have set out to achieve dementia friendly status.
The Memory Support Pathway
This is an umbrella term for the partnership between four organisations (NEWCIS, Alzheimer’s Society, Carers Trust and Carers Outreach) to support people with dementia, their carers, family or friends. There is pre- and post-diagnostic support, hospital impatient support and dementia centres.
Support can be access either via a referral from a GP or other health care professional, a self-referral or via the Carers Trust.
Alzheimer’s society
Self-referral
Welsh speaking line 03300947400
English speaking line 03331503456
Carers trust
01492542212
NEWCIS
01352752525
Carers outreach
01248 370797 (Covers Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey)
Herbert Protocol
When a person goes missing, it is very distressing for family and friends and can be even more worrying when the missing person has dementia.
The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family members or friends can fill in to help the police in their search for people with dementia who go missing. Having this information ready to provide can save worry and time. The form contains a list of information to help the police, including:
- medication required
- mobile numbers
- places previously located
- a recent photograph
A PDF form and all the information can be found on North Wales Police website (external link).
For more information, email commissioning@wrexham.gov.uk.
Stove Guard (cooker-off device)
Sometimes called a “cooker cut-off device”, a stove guard cuts the power to the cooker to prevent a fire. Depending on the brand, it may sense heat, or a combination of heat, cooking fumes (smoke & steam) and human presence.
With 50% of fires starting in the kitchen, stove guards can play a significant role in preventing a fire. It has been designed for all types of accommodation. They ensure that residents can cook normally, but also remain safe. They’re especially valuable for keeping elderly and vulnerable people and people living with Dementia safe from cooking fires.
You could be entitled to one of these devices in your own home. Email commissioning@wrexham.gov.uk.
Music for dementia
Music is a wonderful connector and has the ability to bring people together in the here and now. It can enliven, stimulate and enable people living with dementia to express themselves creatively through musical engagement.
Research shows – and lived experiences demonstrate – that music can help reduce the often distressing symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, apathy and anxiety.
Knowledge is power
The Knowledge is Power booklet (external link) gives you handy hints that might help make life a little easier after diagnosis.
The booklet was created in a collaboration between the following groups in the DEEP network – Caban Bangor University Educators, DEEP United Dwyfor and Meirionnydd and Fuse and Muse in Swansea.
Dementia Adventure
Dementia Adventure events (external link) thinks differently about dementia. We look at what people can do, not what they can’t. We believe that with the right support, everyone with dementia can get outdoors, experience the wellbeing benefits of nature and enjoy more active and fulfilled lives.
We offer:
- supported holidays (external link)
- dementia training for family and friends (external link)
- dementia training for professionals and organisations (external link)
You can find out more on the Dementia Adventure (external link).
The Rainbow Foundation
The Rainbow Foundation is a provider of support to people living with dementia in their own homes, in the community, and at their day opportunities hubs. They also provide transport and food to various locations and have centres in Marchwiel, Penley and Chirk.
The Rainbow Foundation offer a range activities and services, including:
We offer access to new opportunities, learning, health promotion and we support our clients and their carers through difficult times. Our groups and social environment effectively tackle loneliness, improve resilience, and enable meaningful connections to be made.
Whether you are looking for a social hub to make new friends or looking for some structure and assistance during the day, our Day Opportunities service can help provide meaningful social contact in a safe and secure environment.
Delivered through a combination of talking therapy and signposting services, your social prescriber can help you come to terms with a dementia diagnosis for yourself or a loved one, and offer support as you navigate next steps.
Advance care planning as part of the Compassionate Cymru programme will support you as you plan and review your future care needs and make informed decisions as to your care requirements. This includes yourself, those close to you and your care providers both now and in the future.
Rhos Reminiscence group
Join us at Rhos Library to:
- Share your memories
- Reminisce with books
- Try out new activities
- Meet and chat with others
We meet on the third Friday of the month, 11am-12pm. We welcome individuals, families and carers. Free refreshments will be available.
Phone Michelle on 07851 798630 for more details.
Rhos Library
Princes Road
Rhos
Wrexham
LL14 1AB