Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is inviting members of the public to attend a free talk on dementia, which according to the Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Network for Dementia, is a condition affecting around 5000 people in the Bradford district, with numbers set to rise to approximately 6000 by 2020.

The talk will be held on 24 November 2016, 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm in Bradford at City Training Services and will be led by Dr Russell, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist and Chris North, Dementia Lead; both experts have significant experience of working with people living with dementia.

Dementia is caused by damage to the brain by diseases such as Alzheimer’s or a series of strokes. It is a progressive condition, which means that it will gradually get worse over time.

A diagnosis of dementia can be scary and confusing; however it is possible to live well with the illness.

Attendees will hear first-hand from Dr Russell and Chris North about the diagnosis of dementia, its treatment, the services available locally to support people (and their carers) who are affected by the condition, as well information on the latest dementia research findings. There will also be the opportunity for local people to get involved in the effort to develop a better understanding of the condition and its treatments.

Chris North, dementia lead at the Care Trust, said: “Increasing numbers of people are affected by dementia. There are over 40,000 people under 65 with dementia in the UK, one in 20 people over 65 will have dementia and the numbers increase to one in four people over the age of 80.  We know that these people are often vulnerable because of their condition. We already have a number of programmes in place to support people living with dementia, both with their physical and mental wellbeing. Being diagnosed is the first step to getting treatment and the key to opening up the doors to support.”

There is a national drive to improve diagnosis in dementia, with an ambition to achieve a diagnosis in at least 67 per cent of all cases.  In the Bradford district we are ahead of this national target, with local dementia diagnosis rates of between 77 and 94 per cent, amongst the highest in the country, enabling early treatment and support for the condition. The Care Trust runs 14 weekly memory clinics across the district, held in many different GP practices and community settings across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven. The clinics offer memory assessment, guidance and advice on managing memory problems and the likely causes, including anxiety, depression, or conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The clinics also offer treatments that might help to limit or control memory problems.

As well as assessment clinics the Trust offers a range of dementia friendly services including community mental health teams, dental services, specialist day care and the Care Trust’s award winning Dementia Assessment Unit.

Earlier this year the Care Trust launched John’s Campaign on the Dementia Assessment Unit to improve patient experience and make the Trust more dementia friendly. Carers of patients with dementia can now visit their loved ones at the Care Trust’s specialist dementia ward, visiting times are more flexible to offer extra support and to make loved ones feel more at ease. The national campaign aims to give carers of people with dementia the right to stay with them in hospital, unrestricted by visiting hours, in the same way that parents can with poorly children in hospital.

The dementia talk can offer further advice, guidance and signposting to support and will be held at City Training Services, 39/41 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5BY.

Limited places are available for the free dementia talk, which is open to people living in the Bradford district.   To book to attend the talk, please contact the membership office: Tel: 01274 228381 or email: ft@bdct.nhs.uk