Dementia Forward find out how we can work together.

This is a specialist dementia charity providing information, practical help and emotional support for people living with dementia, their families and carers across North Yorkshire and the surrounding area.

Whether you have a dementia diagnosis, are worried about memory problems, or care for someone affected by dementia, we are here to help.

How We Can Support You

We offer a range of dementia support services designed to meet you wherever you are on your journey.

Dementia Helpline – Advice, Information and a Listening Ear

If you need to talk to someone who understands dementia, our dedicated dementia helpline is here for you.
Call us Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm, for:

• Confidential advice and information about dementia

• Emotional support for carers and family members

• Guidance on local dementia services and benefits

• A friendly, understanding person to listen

Community Hubs Across North Yorkshire

Our community hubs are welcoming, dementia-friendly spaces where people can:

• Meet others living with dementia and their carers

• Take part in activities, groups and events

• Access practical information and one-to-one support

• Build confidence and reduce isolation

Each hub is run by experienced staff and volunteers who understand the challenges of dementia and young onset dementia.

Get Help – Make a Referral to Us

If you would like support for yourself or someone you care for, you can make a referral quickly and easily.

Complete our Online Referral Form [link to your referral page].
Once we receive your form, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your situation and arrange tailored dementia support.

You can also contact our helpline if you need help filling in the form or are unsure what support you need.

Our Dementia Services in North Yorkshire

We provides person-centred dementia support across North Yorkshire and nearby communities, including:

• Information and advice following a dementia diagnosis

• Support for people with memory problems or mild cognitive impairment

• Carer support, including emotional support and signposting

• Groups and activities for people living with dementia

• Specialist information about young onset dementia

We work alongside families, carers, health professionals and local services to ensure no one faces dementia alone.

Get Involved and Support Our Dementia Charity

Your support helps us continue to provide vital dementia services locally.

Volunteer with Us

Join our amazing team of volunteers and help make a real difference to people affected by dementia. From helping in community hubs to supporting fundraising events, there are many ways to get involved.

Fundraise for Us

Every donation helps us reach more people living with dementia and their carers. You can:

• Take part in a fundraising challenge

• Organise a community or workplace event

• Make a one-off or regular donation

Your generosity helps sustain our helpline, community hubs and specialist dementia support services.

U&ME Campaign – Young Onset Dementia Support

Our U&ME Campaign is raising awareness of Young Onset Dementia and creating a ground-breaking resource for people under 65 living with dementia in the UK.

The campaign aims to:

• Increase understanding of young onset dementia

• Provide hope, positive stories and practical information

• Connect people with young onset dementia and their families

• Influence better support and services across the UK

Find out more about the U&ME Campaign [link to your campaign page] and how you can get involved.

Contact Us

If you have questions about dementia, need support, or want to know more about our services, we’re here for you.

• Call our dementia helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm) Local Helpline: 03300 578592

• Use our Online Referral Form to request support

• Visit our Community Hubs to connect with others and access local help

Dementia Forward is here to provide understanding, reassurance and practical help — so that no one in North Yorkshire has to face dementia alone.

This is the leading dementia charity for North Yorkshire. We began in 2012, responding to a need for local support services for people with dementia, and have grown to cover the whole county – now also offering day services just over the border in the East Riding.

WHAT?

We run a North Yorkshire Helpline which receives up to 1,000 calls and 200 referrals a month to our Dementia Support Advisors. Support advisors offer an initial home visit to provide advice, information and support, and they remain the main contact for the person with dementia and their family from there on in. We also have a Dementia Specialist Nurse who can provide psychological support, and will liaise with other professionals and organisations to ensure coordinated care. In addition, Dementia Forward provides wellbeing services, including cafes, Hub Clubs and young onset dementia groups, and we are passionate about raising awareness and dementia education.

WHERE?

Our Helpline covers the whole of North Yorkshire.

Wherever you call us from, it is the cost of a local

call. Our clients are supported by support advisors

who live and work in the same area, so they know

the geography and the local services available.

WHY?

Over 50% of the UK population is in some way

affected by dementia, and there are around 10,000

people in North Yorkshire living with the condition.

Dementia doesn’t just affect the person with the

diagnosis; it has an impact on the whole family

and wider support network. Our vision is that when

a person is concerned about their memory or has

been diagnosed with dementia they will continue to

live well, along with their families, partners and local

communities. They will feel supported, informed

and included. That is why we are here,

and why after 10 years we continue

to grow and develop the services

we offer.

Fundraise for us Choosing us as your Charity of the Year, or holding a fundraising event, is a great way for your team to support a local cause and demonstrate your commitment to making a difference in your community. We can be on hand to help you with fundraising ideas and promote any challenges/events you organise.

Sponsor an Event We would be interested in talking to you about sponsoring any of our events or services that you think fit with your business. We can offer you an opportunity to promote your company; while raising money for Dementia Forward. Payroll Giving Donating to charities through your salary is quick and easy. If you are an employer offering this service, please let your staff know they can choose to donate to Dementia Forward. If you would like to sign up, there is more information in the Donations section on our website. Raffle prizes Products, vouchers, signed goods and experiences all make great raffle prizes, and would be gratefully received. Having enticing prizes is an excellent way to increase our ticket sales and showcase what your business has to offer.

Volunteering Do you offer your staff volunteering days? Or do you have time off in the week and would like to contribute to our work, using your skills or learning new ones? Why not talk to us about what you would like to do, and we will help find the ideal role for you.

Donate There are lots of ways to donate to Dementia Forward. Send us a cheque, visit our website, or simply text SUPPORTDF followed by your donation amount to 70085 to give that amount. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message. Training In order to integrate dementia support into the everyday lives of the local community, we work closely with communities and businesses to offer guidance and dementia awareness training. Being dementia aware benefits customers and as a result benefits the business, which may lead to enhanced brand reputation, returning customers and increased revenue. It is also a positive way to support staff who are affected by dementia, and we can talk to you about how to support employees or volunteers living with a diagnosis or caring for a family member.

Ways in which you can supportus and boost your business… If you would like to get in touch about any of the above If you would like to get in touch about any of the above, or if you have some fantastic ideas of your own, please call 01765 601224 or email amy.senior@dementiaforward.org.uk. Thank you in advance for your support.

• Progressive Nature: Dementia is typically progressive, meaning symptoms are mild at first but worsen over time as more brain cells die and different areas of the brain are affected.
• Impact on Daily Life: The cognitive decline is severe enough to interfere with a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks, such as managing finances, driving, or personal care.
• Varied Symptoms: Symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is damaged and can include memory loss (especially recent events), difficulty concentrating, problems with language and communication, confusion, personality changes, and difficulty with movement.
• Emotional and Behavioral Changes: People with dementia may also experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, and a loss of empathy or social awareness. 

• Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form, caused by the buildup of abnormal proteins (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) in the brain, which damages nerve cells and their connections.
• Vascular dementia: Caused by problems in the blood supply to the brain, such as strokes or mini-strokes, which damages brain cells.
• Lewy body dementia: Characterized by abnormal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein (Lewy bodies) in brain cells, which can affect thinking, movement, behavior, and mood.
• Frontotemporal dementia: A rarer form that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to changes in personality, behavior, and language. 

• Genetics and family history.
• Cardiovascular factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and smoking.
• Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, heavy alcohol use, poor diet, and social isolation.
• Other conditions including untreated hearing loss, depression, and severe head injuries. 

• Medications to temporarily improve cognitive symptoms.
• Therapies like occupational therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and reminiscence work.
• Lifestyle adjustments such as physical activity, a healthy diet, and social engagement.
• Caregiver support and planning for future care needs.