Dementia Support Group

The Alzheimer's Society, based in St Leonards, held an awareness day this week at Tesco in Ravenside to help draw attention to what's on offer to victims and the people who look after them.

Sarah Neighbour, befriending scheme coordinator for the Alzheimer's Society, took the opportunity to signpost the Bexhill Carers Support Group which is held at Sackville Road Methodist Church on the third Wednesday of every month at 2pm - the next is on December 19.

The group has been "fairly well attended" in the past but at the moment no-one is turning up and the fear is that the sessions will come to an end.

Sarah said: "This is a carers' support group meeting, but basically what we are finding is that a lot of carers don't know we exist, and don't know where to turn as far as getting help, whether that's financial assistance or practical help at home.

"They do not know where to go to source that help...we can certainly point them in the right direction, and provide them with support and advice about Dementia itself.

"We reckon there are around 1,000 people in the area but we have very few on our books...We know that we can help people, but unless we get to them we can do nothing about it."

The Alzheimer's Society also provides a befriending service and is currently looking for volunteers to help with home visits and personal contact with people suffering dementia.

"We are looking for volunteers to offer an hour a week or fortnight to visit a person with Dementia in an informal way, just for extra stimulation and a new face, a how-are-you and what-have-you-been-doing...

There are currently 15 people in the area in the waiting list hoping for a befriender to visit, and Sarah is hoping more volunteers will come forward.

For more information call her on 07948 074897 or 01424 720640.