THE coronavirus pandemic, and the lockdown conditions imposed in an attempt to control it, present a huge challenge for everybody - but they are particularly challenging for people who are living with dementia.

So says Anne-Marie King, Alzheimer Scotland’s dementia adviser for Helensburgh and Lomond.

Talking to the Advertiser for Dementia Awareness Week, which runs until this Sunday, June 7, Anne-Marie says that while the small team normally based at the charity’s dementia resource centre in West Princes Street have all had to adapt to new ways of working during the lockdown, they are still available to provide help to anyone in the local area who needs it.

“The main message we want to get across is that we’re still here for people who are living with dementia,” Anne-Marie told the Advertiser.

“All the staff are working from home, but it remains our priority to ensure no-one faces dementia alone.”

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Alzheimer Scotland has boosted the capacity of its free 24-hour dementia helpline, while Anne-Marie herself is always contactable by phone or email or for a video chat with family members.

The charity’s regular support groups and therapeutic activities at the West Princes Street centre, including the popular Dementia Dogs sessions which were featured in the Advertiser earlier this year, have moved online, as have local family support groups.

Anyone who isn’t online can call Anne-Marie and have activity packs sent out to their home – while the charity is also offering a telephone-based befriending service for anyone who is missing face-to-face, or voice-to-voice, connections during the lockdown.

“Social isolation is a huge issue, both for people with dementia and their families,” Anne-Marie continued.

“The lockdown has meant a loss of the supportive networks that many people with dementia, and their families, rely on.

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“It has disrupted routines to an enormous extent – and routine is hugely important to people who have dementia. The sudden removal of those routines is an awful lot for people to have to deal with.

“Families, too, are anxious – about being separated from loved ones in care homes, about the possibility of exposure to Covid-19, about the length of time all this is going to go on for, and are feeling more ‘carer stress’, which is a significant issue.”

But while the local Alzheimer Scotland team is still working hard for the people who need them throughout the pandemic, there is something that you can do for them, too.

The charity wants people in Helensburgh and Lomond, and beyond, to hold virtual conversations with family and friends, over a cuppa and a cake, under the banner of ‘Tea and Blether’, to help spread the word about Alzheimer Scotland and its work.

“Everyone knows someone who is touched by dementia,” Anne-Marie said, “so we’d ask that you take some time during your Tea and Blether to tell people about Alzheimer Scotland and invite them to make a donation to our Just Giving page – justgiving.com/fundraising/teaandblether – and encourage them to host their own Tea and Blether too.

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“If you would like to get involved please get in touch with me – I’d be delighted to hear from you.”

In addition, Lindsay Voigt, a link worker with the charity in Helensburgh, is raising funds through a ‘Couch to 5K’ challenge, while other initiatives, locally and nationally, are planned for June and the rest of the year.

“The important thing for us is keeping people informed, giving them the emotional support they need, and giving them any practical information that we can provide,” Anne-Marie added.

“People can still contact us during this crisis, and we will still do whatever we can to help them.”

Anne-Marie can be contacted on aking@Alzscot.org or by telephone on 01436 642196 or 07588 531288.

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