Dementia Support Line
Questions and answers: Getting the support you need on Talking Point
Q&A sessions on our online community are an opportunity to get an expert opinion about a situation.
Talking Point, our online community, is a place where you can share experiences and advice – or simply let off steam – with other people affected by dementia. You can also ask experts questions through the community’s Q&A sessions, which focus on a different subject each time.
These sessions happen live at a scheduled time and date, but you can also take part by asking questions in advance, and you can read answers and comments afterwards as well.
Chance to ask
Q&A sessions provide a great opportunity to get an expert’s take on a specific question.
For example, in a recent session Angelo Makri from our Knowledge Services team, who focuses on wellbeing, answered questions about how carers can look after themselves. People asked him about coping with guilt, organising replacement (or respite) care, communicating how you feel to family and friends, and caring for someone else when you have a health condition of your own to manage.
Other Q&A sessions have looked at paying for residential care, loneliness, medication, lasting powers of attorney and managing money.
The expert is often someone from the Society, but we include people from other organisations too – another recent session about living with dementia and cancer featured a Macmillan nurse who specialises in dementia.
Dementia Support Forum
Visit our online community to get advice, share experiences, connect.
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Upcoming sessions are usually announced on Talking Point a week beforehand.
Anyone can see all of the questions and answers, not only while the session is happening but also after it’s finished. To ask a question and take part, you need to become a member of the online community – this is free, and it’s perfectly fine to use a made-up name to do this.
You can post a question either before or during the session, and the expert will reply directly on the day. If you’d prefer to ask a question anonymously, you can email the Talking Point team for them to ask on your behalf.
Whether or not you join Q&A sessions, you will find plenty of support on Talking Point from thousands of people who understand what you are going through.
Patricia Gordon
saysI have fact sheet 407 on drug treatment for Alzheimer’s which is 3 years old.Is their more recent update material available.
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Patricia,
Thanks for getting in touch.
The PDF version of the Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease factsheet (407), which was last reviewed in 2018, is currently the most up-to-date version we have: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-10/407LP%20Drug%…
Since we aim to review and update all publications every three years, this factsheet is currently being reviewed, with a view to updating the PDF.
However, it may be helpful to know that in addition to regular updates, we make changes to information online. These pages are the most up-to-date versions of our factsheets.
You can find the online version of our Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease factsheet here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/treatments/drugs/drug-trea…
We hope this helps.
Alzheimer's Society blog team
Janice Collins
saysMy mum.and Dad are 94 and 91. Mum has Alzheimer's and Dad has Lewy Body Dementia. They unfortunately contracted Covid but thankfully are recovering and in an assessment centre. There was a meeting today where it was suggested it may be time for them to hav 24/7 care. We are keen to keep them at home as both react terribly to being away from the family environment. We would like to fight for home care 24/7 but not quite sure where to start and how to defeat any obstacles that may be thrown in our path
Hello Janice,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are relieved to hear your parents are both recovering from coronavirus.
It sounds like you may benefit from speaking with one of our trained dementia advisers. They can listen to the full situation and provide information and advice. You can call the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line
We hope this is helpful, Janice.
Alzheimer's Society blog team
Terry Byrne
saysHi
I think I have dementia early stages. I understand that you may loose some senses etc.
If that is the case can other senses become sharper?
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your comment, and I'm really sorry to hear that you think you may have dementia.
If you've not already spoken to your GP about your symptoms, we would strongly recommend doing so. There are lots of benefits to receiving a formal diagnosis which you can read more about here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/dem…
In terms of your question about senses, you might want to talk to one of our trained dementia advisers by calling 0333 150 3456. They can give you some more information about this, and they can also give some advice and support about the symptoms you're experiencing. You can find out more about our Dementia Connect support line here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline
I hope this is helpful, Terry. Remember we're here for you, so please do call the support line if you need any support.
Best wishes,
Alzheimer's Society blog team
geraldine mcfadden
sayshello. my mother ( 88 ) complains constantly of pains mainly on her legs and tops of arms.there doesn't appear to be any medical reason for this and wondered if anyone had anything similar and could advise us on what we can do to ease the pain for her. thank you.
eileen
saysPain is a huge issue with my mum and it is leading to aggression. sometimes the level of pain she displays does not appear to concur with what can be seen.
Did you find anything else out?
Eileen, we'd recommend speaking with one of our dementia advisers by calling the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. This is a great way to get dementia information, support and advice specific to your mum's situation. (More information about the support line, including opening times, can be found here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line)
You may benefit from talking with other people affected by dementia within our online community, Talking Point. Feel free to browse and read others' experiences, or create an account to reply and connect with others. You may find similar situations to yours and your mum's shared there: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/
Please do call the support line on 0333 150 3456 if you need to speak with someone about this, Eileen.
We hope this is useful.
Alzheimer's Society website team
Rory Alexander
saysHi. I wonder whether dementia occurs after a working life and then when retired, your brain muscle is not used and so dementia sets in. How to combat this if I am correct?
Regards
Rory Alexander
Hi Rory,
Thanks for your comment.
There's no single thing that causes dementia, but there are certain things that can make a person more or less likely to develop the condition.
Keeping your mind active is one way to reduce your risk of dementia, but this can be different for different people and according to different types of dementia. There are other preventative measures you can consider too.
You may find our page on 'How to reduce your risk of dementia' helpful: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-preventio…
We also have lots more information on risk factors and prevention here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/dementia-risk-factors-and-…
Hope this is helpful,
Alzheimer's Society blog team