Services in Bridgend and District

Services offered

• Alzheimer's Society Cafe - Bridgend
  Activities for people with dementia and their carers. Information and support is available in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Light refreshments are available. Entertainment, activities and guest speakers. Cafes are in Nolton Church Hall, Bridgend and the Vernon Hart Centre in Maesteg.
• Carers Information Programme - Bridgend
  Six weekly sessions at various local venues to include the following topics: What is Dementia? Financial & Legal issues. What services are available to you etc.
• Carers Support Group - Bridgend
  Social Group for carers of people with dementia
• Dementia Support - Bridgend
  Provides information and outreach service to include home visits where appropriate
• Information Provision - Bridgend
  Providing information via telephone, email or letter to anyone with a concern about dementia.
• Side by Side Befriending
  Funded by a generous grant from the Big Lottery, and part of an all Wales project, our Side by Side befriending volunteers are specially recruited and trained. They offer friendship and support to people living with a diagnosis of dementia, through one to one home visits and Social Interest groups. For carers our telephone volunteers offer support and a listening ear by making contact on a regular basis. Our aim is to help reduce the social isolation often experienced following a diagnosis and to support people to carry on doing the things they enjoy. (NB Our volunteers are unable to offer personal care)
• Singing For The Brain - Bridgend
  We meet regularly for sessions that last for about one and half to two hours and include a relaxed welcome with refreshments on arrival. After about half an hour the singing leader calls everyone into a circle and uses a greeting song to welcome everyone by name. The session begins with some gentle tried and tested vocal warm-ups and breathing exercises used by singers around the world to strengthen the voice, ease tension and relax the muscles in hands, feet, neck and shoulders. This increases lung capacity and increases blood flow to the brain, helping keep the brain in optimum condition. Action songs increase the playful exercise element and give challenges to the brain which people with memory problems often cope with very well. Use of rounds, call and response, and other ways of creating simple harmonies helps concentration. Well known songs are used to evoke verbal and emotional memories. New songs are taught to help challenge and extend skills. Sessions are usually unaccompanied though some leaders occasionally use a keyboard and invite light percussion or other accompaniment from participants. We generally finish with a quieter song as a calming finale, and to wish each other well till we meet next time
• Trips, outings and social events - Bridgend
  Available to people with dementia and their carers. Please contact the branch for more information.
• Younger Person with Dementia Social Group - Bridgend
  Social opportunities for younger people with dementia and their carers