Dementia local support
Age UK Stockport
If you're a carer and need practical and emotional support to continue to take care of yourself and support the person you care for visit the Age UK Stockport website.
They also offer advice on benefits and allowances you might be entitled to following a diagnosis of dementia. Call: 0161 480 1211
Alzheimer’s Society Stockport
The Alzheimer’s Society Specialist Dementia Support Service:
- provides you with tailored information and advice from compassionate and experienced staff
- helps you keep your independence and improve your well-being
- helps you feel confident and supported knowing that someone is here for you when you need help
- provides you with information, guidance, practical and emotional support to help you understand more about dementia and enable you to 'live well with dementia'
- offers one-to-one support if you you're living with dementia; if you're a carer or family member
Call: 0161 477 6999
Email: stockport@alzheimers.org.uk
Attendance Allowance forms
If you're aged 65 and over, Attendance Allowance is a benefit that helps with the extra costs of long-term illness or disability, either physical and/or mental. For example:
- you may need someone to 'keep an eye on you'
- you may need help with personal care
- you must have needed help for 6 months or more
It is not means tested and is tax free. You can find help with completing the forms from Signpost or Age UK.
Blue Badge
If you're disabled with severe mobility problems or a hidden disability you can apply for a Blue Badge. This is a national scheme and will mean you can park closer to your destination to access services more easily.
Carecall from Stockport Homes
Carecall is a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year, tele-monitoring service for older or vulnerable people. They also provide other technological and tracking options.
Call: 0161 218 1655
Email: carecall@stockporthomes.org
Carers Allowance
If you spend at least 35 hours a week providing regular care to someone who has a disability, you can apply for Carer's Allowance. The person you care for must be getting a relevant benefit because of their disability, which in some cases has to be paid at a certain rate. Call: 0800 731 0297
Carers information course
This course is designed to help you start your carer journey with the right information and support. It's really useful for families or friend carers.
Call: 0161 716 4531
Email: stockportdementiacaretraining@nhs.net
Continence Advisory Service
The Adult Continence Service offers expertise and knowledge of continence to help you manage your continence issue. You can expect a thorough, individual assessment of your condition by a qualified nurse who understands how incontinence can affect your dignity and impact on your quality of life. You can benefit from advice on continence products that are available. Call: 0161 835 6476
Community transport
The community transport service is delivered by 2 local experienced organisations, Stockport Car Scheme and Easy Go Community Transport.
Easy-Go Community Transport has adapted vehicles to accommodate different types of wheelchairs.
The Stockport Car Scheme has dementia trained volunteer drivers who use their own cars to take you:
- to medical appointments. For example: doctors, hospitals, dentists and opticians
- to your social group or day centre
- to visit friends and family
- to the hairdressers
- personal shopping
Call: 0161 419 3580
Ring and Ride is an accessible, low-cost minibus service for people who have difficulty in using public transport. Call: 0845 688 4933
You can find more information about accessible transport in Stockport on the council website.
Council Tax reduction
If you, or a person in your household, are in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance due to a diagnosis of dementia, you may be eligible for a Council Tax reduction on severe mental illness (SMI) grounds. Claim forms are also available from Alzheimer’s Society.
Day care and respite care
If you live within Stockport and have a diagnosis of dementia, the Weekend Day Centre is a registered charity providing an informal weekend and bank holiday care facility for both you and your carer. Call: 0161 483 5612
The Daisy Chain Club in Marple offers support and care for people with dementia
Step Out Stockport provides a range of social, personal and practical support. They're open Monday to Saturday. Call: 0161 480 0480
If you're living with an age related condition like dementia, the Always Active Day Centres offer a range of activities, and a chance to socialise and meet friends.
Domestic Abuse
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse you can find find details of services that can offer support on the Stockport Council website.
Stockport Without Abuse is a local charity who offer a range of services to help and support women, men and children who are affected by domestic abuse.
Stockport Women’s Centre provides support, activities and groups, including support for those experiencing domestic violence.
Greater Manchester domestic abuse helpline. Call: 0161 636 7525
Driving
If you're given a diagnosis of dementia, for example; Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, you must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) by law.
Call: 0300 790 6806, Monday to Friday from 8am to 5:50pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Ask for the CG1 health questionnaire.
You can also download the CG1 health questionnaire from the GOV.UK website.
Alzheimer’s Society also have a useful guide about driving and dementia.
Early Dementia Users Co-operative aiming to Educate (EDUCATE)
EDUCATE are a group of people in Stockport living with dementia. Their aim is to help others understand more about the condition and what it means to have it. Members talk about how they manage the problems dementia can create with the aim of motivating others to take a more optimistic attitude to it.
They also have several social activities for people with dementia and their carers:
- drop in
- pop up cafe
- reading group
- allotment group
If you'd like to find out more, or need their help, visit the EDUCATE website.
Call: 0161 716 4531
Email: markperry@nhs.net
Fire Risk Assessment Team
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service offer free home checks, free fitted smoke alarms and advice on fire safety to make your home safe. They're currently operating virtually. Call: 0800 555 815
Herbert Protocol
The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme introduced by the police in partnership with other agencies. It encourages carers to compile useful information about a loved one to help locate them if they go missing.
To help the police locate and return your loved one back home safely and quickly, download the vulnerable adult missing persons profile.
Home library service and local libraries
Local libraries have a wide range of reminiscence materials, self-help guides and reading groups.
The home library service can deliver materials to your door. Please note there may be changes in these services due to the current COVID pandemic.
LGBT+
While everyone's experience of dementia is unique, there can be many challenges that are specific to a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
If you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans and have dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society website explains how you can live well with dementia.
'Bring dementia out' is a new programme from the LGBT Foundation. It aims to address the challenges faced by LGBT people living with dementia and those who are supporting them. Call: 0345 330 3030
Speak out with dementia is an online peer support group for LGBTQ+ people living with a diagnosis of dementia. If you'd like to join the group, or need more information, email info@openingdoorslondon.org.uk
RADAR Key
A RADAR Key, also known as disabled toilet key, is a skeleton key that opens more than 10,000 disabled toilets in the UK.
You can buy the keys from Age UK and Stockport Disability Service (SDS) for £2.
Call: Age UK on 0161 480 1211 or SDS on 0161 218 1220
Signpost Stockport for Carers
Signpost Stockport for Carers is an independent charity providing information and support for carers in a manner sensitive to the needs and difficulties faced by carers.
The Dementia Carers Advice and Support Service is specifically aimed at carers of people with dementia who find it difficult to access groups.
Signpost for Carers also can provide support with completing Attendance Allowance forms, advising on other benefits and supporting carers and ex-carers with any other practical and emotional needs they might have.
Call: 0161 442 0442
www.signpostforcarers.org.uk
Singing for the brain
Alzheimer’s Society is running a virtual singing for the brain get together via Zoom.
Stockport Council Adult Social Care
The Adult Social Care team may be able to provide you with support to help you, or the person living with dementia, to remain living independently and safely at home for as long as possible. They can advise you on the support available and on options for long term care and residential care if needed.
They'll assess your needs to find out if you’re eligible to receive social care support.
For information, help and advice call 0161 217 6029. For out of office hours call: 0161 718 2118
Stockport’s multi faith group for Asian elders
Stockport’s Asian multi-faith community get together offers a great opportunity to have some fun, make friends, enjoy lunch and take part in a range of activities.
Travel vouchers from Transport for Greater Manchester
If you cannot use ordinary buses because of eyesight or mobility problems, you could get travel vouchers for taxis or accessible travel like Ring and Ride. To order vouchers call: 0161 244 1000.
Welfare Rights
The Citizen’s Advice service provides free, independent, impartial and confidential advice about:
- debt and money management
- benefits
- consumer rights
- immigration
- family
- health and housing
- Universal Credit applications
- welfare and benefits
- housing
- work matter
Call: 0300 330 9073
Email: info@castockport.org.uk