Lauded dementia support comes to Jersey

Saturday 31 January 2015

A UK scheme to help people with dementia, their carers and their loved ones is being extended to Jersey.

A list of 25 books has been compiled by professionals to give information about dementia, practical advice, personal accounts and suggestions.

The list – called the Reading Well Books -  has been endorsed by UK GPS, mental health professionals and government ministers, and now it’s coming to Jersey due to a joint effort by the Jersey Library, the Health and Social Services department and the Jersey Alzheimer’s Association.

The scheme will be launched at the library on Tuesday with a drop-in session between 4 pm and 7 pm.

Ed Jewell, Chief Librarian at Jersey Library, said: “The partnership between Jersey Library, the Health and Social Services Department and Jersey Alzheimer’s Association will help ensure that people are aware of and have access to these invaluable resources.

“We are also working with our partners to ensure all frontline Library staff receive dementia awareness training, to ensure we deliver excellent service to all our customers.”

And the manager of the Jersey Alzheimer’s Association said that the list would be a big support to those with questions about dementia.

Mark Blamey said: “The list of books includes professionally endorsed information for people diagnosed with dementia and carers, as well as support and guidance on how to live well with the condition.

“In terms of our charity's view of this project, I think it is a really important way of reaching people who for a variety of reasons might otherwise feel nervous about contacting either HSSD or their GP to get more information about dementia.”