We have a wide range of specialist services to meet the individual needs of every carer in Leeds and each month we shine the spotlight on one of our services. This month we’d like to tell you about our Dementia Hub.

Our hub offers information, advice and emotional support to carers who are supporting someone who is living with dementia or memory problems, both under and over the age of 65. We do this via one on one and group support sessions across the city . Our dementia carer training on Zoom is very popular and provide a thorough foundation for any carer wishing to learn more about dementia, coping strategies, services for people with dementia and their carers across Leeds and some important legal and financial aspects of supporting a person with dementia.

Our Dementia Hub is made up of dementia carer support workers, a young dementia carer support worker, volunteer dementia welfare callers and hospital based carer support workers. We work very closely alongside the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Memory Service, Alzheimer’s Society Memory Support Workers, Leeds City Council adult social care and many other organisations across the city.

What’s new?
The dementia carer support service in Leeds has been providing face to face support to unpaid carers for over a decade, with our team leader Lisa being in this role for 18 years. Throughout the coronavirus crisis we have continued to support carers with the same passion as we always have. We have adjusted our groups and training to take place online via Zoom and our 1:1 support to take place via telephone, email and zoom from our own homes. It has been a learning curve but we are thankful that we have been able to continue our work and to keep in touch with carers.

We have recently introduced a carers group for those carers that are new to the service. We continue with our longstanding dementia carers groups such as those taking place in Garforth, Pudsey, Yeadon and the Young Dementia Carers Group. All our carers groups are accessible via Zoom and technical support is available if required. We are also looking at some new and exciting ideas to support our carers. Keep up to date through the newsletter and on twitter @hub_leeds.

What should I expect from the service?
You can expect staff at Carers Leeds to be non-judgemental, friendly and professional. Our goal is to ensure that you as a carer have someone to turn to for support and that you are not isolated in your caring role.How can I get support?
If you are caring for someone who is living with dementia or memory problems and you want to access support, call our advice line on: 0113 380 4300 or email advice@carersleeds.org.uk.

If you are a professional and would like to make a referral, contact our advice line on: 0113 380 4300 or fill in this referral form.