Singing For The Brain
The Town Hall, School Road, Gillingham SP8 4QR
Every Wednesday from 2.00pm to 3.30pm (£2 per person)
For more information, please contact the Poole office on
01202 716393 or
Shaftsbury Memory Café
Venue Address: Friends Meeting Hall, Abbey Walk
Venue Postcode: SP7 8BB
Name of Co-ordinator: Cecilia Keedle-Isack
Telephone Contact: 01305 259740
Café times of opening: 10:00am to 12:00pm Tuesday fortnightly
Alzheimer’s Research UK offer free information booklets to help you find answers. All their leaflets are available by telephoning 0300 111 5555 or downloading on line at
Some of the leaflets available are:
Alzheimer’s and memory loss
All about dementia
What is vascular dementia?
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Treatments for dementia
Alzheimer’s and dementia: your questions answered
Genes and dementia
Dementia Advice Leaflet
What is dementia?
Dementia is the name for a group of illnesses that affect the brain. There are several types of dementia of which the most common is Alzheimer’s disease. The typical early signs of dementia are someone becoming forgetful and confused - forgetting people’s names or how to get home. Later, people are likely to find everyday tasks - such as shopping or cooking - difficult. They may also find social situations hard to manage.
The symptoms of dementia grow worse over time. It is gradual, and everyone experiences the changes at different speeds. There is no cure but there are treatments that help slow it down or help people cope with certain symptoms. And there are lots of ways of helping people live a full and happy life. These range from simple adaptations in the home to support from health and social care professionals, to financial help.
There are 850,000 with dementia in the UK and 45,000 people with Early Onset Dementia so if you or someone you know is diagnosed with it, you are not alone. It mainly affects older people, both men and women. But it can be found in younger people; around 16,000 people in the UK aged under 65 have dementia. Around two–thirds of people with dementia are women which is generally due to the fact that women live longer than men.
Having dementia does not automatically mean you have to go into a care home or hospital. Two–thirds of people with dementia live in the community. Being old doesn’t automatically mean you will get dementia. It is just more common in the elderly. Around 80 percent of people aged over 80 are bright and alert, if occasionally forgetful.
We have produced this leaflet to assist those newly diagnosed with dementia or friends, families and carers wishing to find out about local services in and around North Dorset which could offer help.
Myth busters
There is much popular misunderstanding and confusion about dementia. Perhaps not surprising since there is still much to learn about the illness. In general, we still don’t know exactly what causes it. And, although there are treatments, there is no known cure.
As we get older, most of us find our memory is not as good as it used to be. But it can be hard to tell if this is an early sign of dementia. Certainly becoming forgetful is a common symptom of dementia but memory problems can be caused by other things, too.
However, there are certain things we can say for definite and which should help you if you are concerned that you or someone close to you may have it.
- Dementia is not inherited (except in a very few rare cases). If someone in your family has dementia, you are at no higher risk of developing it yourself.
- You cannot catch dementia – it is not contagious.
- Most people with dementia do not die of dementia, they die of illnesses and infections that everyone else gets.
- Eating fish, ‘superfoods’ or special supplements is not a prevention against dementia.
- If you are overweight or have high blood pressure, you could be at higher risk of developing dementia because you are at higher risk of having a stroke or heart disease.
- People with dementia are not children, and will respond to how you treat them.
- Many people with dementia, with the right support and access to help and information can lead productive and happy lives for many years.
Recommended reading:
The Alzheimer’s Society website
The Dementia Friends website
We have put together a few of the services available to you.
Practice Lead – Dr Kathryn Mounde
Carers Lead – Mrs Sue Gray
Local information
Alzheimer’s Society Memory Advisers are here to provide expert practical guidance and support to people affected by dementia or people concerned about their memory. If you’re concerned about your memory, our Memory Advisers can support you through the diagnosis process. If you have a diagnosis of dementia, we can help you understand the condition, cope with the day-to-day challenges it brings, and prepare for the future. This includes helping you to access other support services, and build support networks within your community. Our aim is to help you feel supported, and maintain independence, choice and control over your life.We can also support carers of people with dementia, providing useful information, advice and signposting to local support services.
If you would like to know more about our Memory support and advisory service, please contact us on T: 0300 123 1916 E:
Our office based Memory Adviser can provide information and advice over the phone or assign you to a Memory Adviser for further support. We’re available over the phone from 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday.
We also run a range of services across Dorset for people with dementia. There is a Singing for the Brain group every Wednesday from 2-3.30pm meeting at the Town Hall, School Rd, Gillingham SP8 4QR. Singing for the Brian is a therapeutic music activity for people with dementia, their family, friends and carers.
To find out more about this or any of our other groups contact us on T01202 764352 E:
Melodies for Memories session
Yvonne Cable 07747 533252