If you have just been diagnosed with dementia, you may be worried and unable to take everything in. Give yourself a little time to adjust. It might help to talk it through with family and friends.
It’s important to know that you are not alone – there is estimated to be over 950,000 people in the UK living with dementia. It’s possible to live well with dementia and there is support available for you and your family.
Bracknell Forest Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults (CMHTOA) has services to support you and your family members throughout your journey with dementia. These include:
- the Memory Clinic
- the Dementia Advisory Service
- occupational therapy
- social workers
- community psychiatric nurses (CPN)
- speech and language therapy
- psychologists
Whatever your needs we are here for you.
Staying socially active after a dementia diagnosis is important for emotional wellbeing and cognitive health. Regular interaction, whether through community groups, hobbies, or online connections, helps reduce isolation, boost mood, and maintain independence.
Discover support groups and events
If you have a family member or friend who supports you, they may also want to know about the help available for carers. There are many local and national resources offering information, emotional support, and practical guidance.
You can find useful information from the:
Top 10 practical things to do
If you or someone you care for has just been diagnosed with dementia, our checklist is a great place to start when looking for support and resources. You may want to save the list to revisit at a later time.
Memory service
The Memory Service is run by the NHS. Following a dementia diagnosis the Memory Service may prescribe memory medication to improve your thinking skills or manage mood, sleep, and behaviours. They will also discuss referring you or the person who supports you to various other local services and support groups.
For more information about your medications, you can look them up on the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT).
Patients and carers can discuss pharmacological treatments directly with Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust pharmacists using the Medicines Information hotline on 0118 960 5075. The hotline is open from 9am to 1pm on weekdays.
Learning more about dementia
Understanding dementia can empower you and those supporting you. A wide range of free and low cost learning opportunities, online training, and trusted information sources are available to help you learn more, build confidence and improve day to day support.
Understanding dementia course
The Bracknell Memory Clinic offers a free understanding dementia course for unpaid carers.
The course covers essential information about how dementia affects thinking, memory, perception and behaviour. It also covers practical strategies for supporting wellbeing.
Courses are available online and in person. Call the Bracknell Memory Clinic on 01189 046 900 for more information.
Dementia UK
Dementia UK provides expert information, guidance and training led by specialist Admiral Nurses. Their free online course, Dementia: what next? helps carers understand dementia progression and build confidence in supporting someone living with the condition.
Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society has a wide range of learning opportunities, including factsheets, dementia information pages, and practical guidance for carers.
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
You may also be invited to attend a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) group. This is a programme of themed activity sessions held at the Memory Clinic 1 morning a week for 14 weeks. CST is one of a number of different approaches including therapy, that can support a person with dementia to cope with memory loss.
If you have someone that supports you with tasks at home, they may like to find more information for family carers.
Driving with dementia
If you are driving with a diagnosis of dementia you must tell:
- the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- your car insurance company
You can report your diagnosis to the DVLA using the Report your medical condition form on GOV.UK.
Having a diagnosis of dementia doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop driving. You can continue to drive for as long as it is safe to do so.
The Alzheimer's Society guide on driving and dementia includes more information on driving after a dementia diagnosis. You may also find it helpful to use this NHS driving decision making tool (PDF, 5.8MB).
Employment
If you are still working, you may like to read the Alzheimer’s Society booklet on employment (PDF, 2.7MB). This gives information on work related issues including your right to reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Planning ahead
When you have been diagnosed with dementia you may already be dealing with changes that you did not expect. It can be even more difficult to think about the future. However, thinking ahead is a good thing to do. It can help you prepare for a time when it may be difficult for you to make decisions for yourself.
For more information, read about planning ahead on the Alzheimer's Society website.
Research
If you want to know more about dementia research and how you can get involved, you can register your interest with Join Dementia Research by:
- phone: 0300 222 1122
- website: Join Dementia Research
Advocacy
If you would like someone to help you to represent your views, you can access our local Advocacy Service:
- phone: 0300 343 5702
- website: The Advocacy People