Living with dementia
What is dementia?
According to those who are living with it, dementia is ‘life-changing, debilitating, confusing, upsetting, challenging and frustrating’.
The term dementia describes a collection of progressive diseases that affect how our brains work - often impacting on our memory, language, thinking and reasoning. However, those living with it: “Aren’t going to turn up our toes and give up. We are still interested in the world and what is going on. We want to keep active, contribute and be a valued member of the community".
Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Groups
People living with dementia come together in these groups to help make the world more dementia-friendly.
They work with us to improve the services we offer to people living with dementia through involvement in service delivery and developments, teaching, training and recruitment.
They are also active in local communities, attending Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) meetings and offering consultation to banks, schools, theatres, museums and other organisations.
The groups are part of a national network of similar groups through the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP), which brings together people with dementia from across the UK to change and influence services and policies through dynamic projects such as ones on the use of language, clearer billing, signage and online with dementia diaries.
If you have used KMPT services, live with dementia and would like to know more about your local group, please get in touch using the contact details on the right hand side of this page or by completing this completing this online registration form.
The groups are as follows
Forget me nots - Canterbury, Faversham, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sandwich and villages
Bluebells - Medway and Maidstone area
SUNshiners - Dover, Deal, Hythe and Folkestone
Pathfinders - Sittingbourne and surrounding areas
Phoenix: Rising above Dementia - Ashford and surrounding villages
The New Seasiders - Margate and surrounding areas
Harbour of Hope - Dartford, Swanley and Gravesend
Dementia service user envoys
KMPT has four dementia envoys, who are keen to increase public awareness of dementia and living well with dementia and contribute to the development of KMPT services by being a source of knowledge, advice and consultation.
They are all people living with dementia who are registered KMPT volunteers, supported by our Older People’s psychology.
Visit our Dementia Envoys page to find out about roles, talks the envoys have given, interviews, publications and links.
Admiral Nurses
Admiral Nurses are experts in dementia and an invaluable part of our Community Mental Health Service for Older People teams.
Their knowledge and experience mean they can help manage the complex issues that may arise in families impacted by dementia, knowing just how to help, no matter what each family is facing.
As dementia specialists, Admiral Nurses help families manage complex needs, considering the person living with dementia and the people around them. They help people living with dementia stay independent for longer – and support the people caring for them so that they will have the strength to cope with the bad days, and the energy to enjoy the good days.
Admiral Nurses work in local community services, GP practices and NHS hospitals, care homes, and hospices.
Find out more about Admiral Nurses: What is an Admiral Nurse? | Dementia UK | Specialist dementia nurses
