The Living Well with Dementia group gives patients and their loved ones a chance to meet other people going through the same experience of a recent diagnosis, and to learn more about the services and support provided by organisations across Essex.
It is open to patients who have recently completed the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) programme provided by the Older People Day Treatment Service, which is based at Thurrock Hospital. The service is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
From March 2025, the Living Well with Dementia group will be open to everyone who completes the CST programme in Thurrock and Brentwood. The team hope to extend it to Southend and Castle Point in the future.
Staff members Lucy Hedge, Paige Wickington and Keeley Jacks set up the first Living Well with Dementia group in Thurrock in March 2024. Patients and their partners met once a month until mid-December.
Lucy Hedge, a Senior Occupational Therapist, said: “They loved it. They all got on really well and they looked forward to seeing each other every month.
“When you see them they have just been hit with this diagnosis of dementia. It’s frightening for the person who is diagnosed and for their families.
“But they come into the room and feel ‘it’s not just me’.”
Keeley Jacks, an Occupational Therapy Degree Apprentice, said: “It’s really nice to see the relationships and bonds they build.”
Staff invited speakers from various organisations to talk to the group about different types of support.
For example, Essex Police explained the Herbert Protocol, a national scheme that helps emergency services find people with dementia who are at risk of becoming lost. Essex County Council, the Alzheimer’s Society, Sport for Confidence, Thurrock Carers Service and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also shared information about financial, emotional, and health and wellbeing support.
Some of the feedback we received from patients and their partners included:
“We really enjoyed the monthly meetings with excellent hosts. Thank you.”
“Thanks very much to all the staff, it’s been brilliant.”
All said the group had been extremely enjoyable and they would recommend the service to others.
More information about our dementia services across Essex can be found on our services information page.