A dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but understanding the condition can help you better support the person you care for. This support is open to anyone registered with us in Edinburgh or Midlothian.
One-to-one support
We provide one-to-one support for you, to help you cope with the impact of your caring role.
Our support conversations can be in person or over the phone. You can speak to an experienced Carer Support Practitioner who understands what it’s like to care for someone with dementia.
Carer Training events
Our free events and activities are a great way to meet others in similar situations to you. We aim to help you develop practical and emotional strategies for coping with your caring responsibilities.
Our recurring events for dementia carers include:
Understanding dementia
This online session will help you understand the basics of dementia and some of the challenges that come with the condition. It’s aimed at carers supporting someone in the early or mid-stages of dementia.
Stress and distress in dementia
This online session will help you understand and manage behaviour you might find distressing or hard to deal with. It’s aimed at carers supporting someone in the mid or late stages of dementia.
Coping strategies
This is a weekly online event where you can chat with other carers about the impact of caring on your emotional wellbeing, and how to develop strategies to self-regulate and manage difficulties.
Continence care
This session at our Midlothian Carer Centre is a space to ask questions, discuss products, and gain practical tips around supporting someone with continence issues. It’s run by a specialist nurse from the Bladder and Bowel Nursing Team at the Astley Ainslie Hospital.
Future planning
Hospital discharge
It can be very stressful if the person you care for goes into hospital, especially if they still need care after coming home. It’s important that you speak to healthcare staff involved, and let them know that you are the person’s carer.
Visit our hospital discharge page for more information on what to consider in this situation. We also have an e-learning video about hospital discharge.
Long-term care
If you care for someone with dementia, you may be considering helping them move into long-term residential care. We provide information on what to consider when choosing a care home and how you can pay for it.
We also offer free monthly one-to-one appointments: in Edinburgh, these are with an accredited member of SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisors) while in Midlothian these are with an independent financial planner.
Dementia services from other organisations
Dementia clinics with Dementia UK and Nationwide
Dementia UK and Nationwide offer free 45-minute appointments with specialist dementia nurses, for those with dementia and their carers to get personalised support.
All appointments are confidential and will take place in a private space. You can talk about topics like:
- Worries about memory problems and other possible symptoms of dementia
- How to get a diagnosis
- Understanding the diagnosis and how the condition progresses
- Practical tips for caring for someone who lives with dementia
- Adapting to and coping with changes in behaviour
- Financial and legal issues
- Transitions in care, including moving into residential care
- Emotional support, including anticipatory grief, bereavement and loss
These appointments take place at 17 South St Andrew Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AU. You can book using the link below, or text “APPOINTMENT” to 07478 724000 and someone from the Dementia UK team will call you back.
Reading is Caring events with Scottish Book Trust
The Scottish Book Trust runs a programme called Reading is Caring, which supports people living with dementia and their carers.
The sensory experience of reading can help those with dementia to feel less stressed, and to spark their memories. This activity can also help you bond, bringing you and the person you care for closer together.
They run two Reading is Caring online workshops per week.
Eric Liddell Community: Events and resources
The Eric Liddell Community offers a range of services for people living with dementia and their carers, including a music wellbeing programme, community support, and a daycare service.
They also run a free programme of events for all unpaid carers, which includes dementia-inclusive lunches.
Other resources
Caring for a person with dementia can be physically and mentally demanding, so it’s vital that you also look after yourself. No-one should face dementia alone.
These organisations provide advice and information on how to manage your relationships while caring for someone with dementia, symptoms checklists, and signposts to other services.
