Free clinics for people living with dementia are opening in Sandbach.
They’ll be staffed by specialist Admiral Nurses at the branch of Nationwide at 14, Penda Way, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, in a partnership between the bank and Dementia UK.
Practical and emotional advice on all aspects of dementia will be offered, from worries about symptoms to getting a diagnosis and understanding how the condition can progress.
The clinics, open to anyone impacted by dementia, will offer support to families and individuals in a safe, comfortable and private space for people to discuss any aspect of dementia.
Appointments can be booked via Dementia UK’s website.
The clinic is part of Nationwide’s social impact strategy, Fairer Futures, which addresses four of the UK’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships – family poverty (Action for Children), youth homelessness (Centrepoint), dementia (Dementia UK) and cancer (The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity).
Nationwide is funding 30 specialist Admiral Nurses and is hosting clinics in 200 branches across the country.
Sarah Cooper, Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to Cheshire to offer support and advice to families affected by dementia in the area.
“Our clinic programme, in partnership with Nationwide Building Society, has now been running for over a year, which has enabled us to reach thousands of people across the country who need the support of a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse.”
Charlotte Kensett, director of customer experience and social impact for Nationwide, said: “Dementia impacts millions of families and that’s why we’re incredibly proud to have brought life-changing support into 200 of our branches and helped more than 30,000 people through our partnership with Dementia UK.
“As a mutual we believe we have a role to play in strengthening the communities we serve and supporting those most in need. Through our social impact strategy, Nationwide Fairer Futures, we’re committed to changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better.”
Ahead of the clinics’ launch, Dementia UK shared some of the common signs and symptoms people should look out for in themselves and others.
Dementia is often associated with memory problems, but the first symptoms are not always memory-related, meaning sometimes people don’t recognise the early signs.
The signs of dementia differ from person to person, but the common symptoms include:
• memory problems – increasing forgetfulness, difficulty retaining information, and getting lost in places that used to be familiar;
• changes in cognitive ability – difficulties with decision-making, a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and problems understanding time and place;
• communication issues – struggling to find the right words, confused or rambling speech and calling people and items by the wrong name; and
• changes in behaviour and personality – becoming agitated, upset or impatient more easily than usual, acting impulsively in ways that are socially inappropriate, experiencing restlessness such as pacing or fighting.
Anyone concerned about having symptoms of dementia should book an appointment with their GP as soon as possible.
To book a confidential and in-person appointment with an Admiral Nurse at the Sandbach clinics, go to dementiauk.org/nationwide.
