Introduction Healthwatch Essex is delighted to publish this “Dementia handbook for carers”, and to make it freely available to people across Essex. It brings together – for the first time – information about dementia, and about the sources of care and support that are available to people living with dementia, or who care for a loved one or friend who may be living with the condition. We know that people often struggle to find the information they need about dementia. Not long ago, Healthwatch Essex undertook a research project to find out about people’s experiences of caring for friends and loved ones with dementia. We found that people experience difficulty and confusion when trying to find out about care and support services. As one person told us, ‘It’s like a puzzle you have to try and sort out – how the bits fit together‘. This handbook is designed to help people to figure out the puzzle. It was originally produced by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Reading, and has been adapted for use in Essex by Healthwatch Essex. The University worked closely with a group of carers for people living with dementia, and the resulting handbook was ‘codesigned’ by these carers to be in a format and style that suited their needs. The handbook aims to answer many of the questions people may have if they, or a loved one or friend, has dementia or the symptoms of it. The handbook also provides information about the range of services that are available in Essex. There are sections on day-to-day living, support, legal and money matters, an A–Z of symptoms and behaviours and a section on record keeping and updating relevant care documents. The handbook is available to download from our website http://www.healthwatchessex.org.uk/. If you have any questions that aren’t addressed in the handbook you can also phone the Healthwatch Essex Information Service on 0300 500 1895. In adapting this handbook, we would like to thank the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for their support and permission. We would also like to thank Essex Dementia Care, Essex Cares and the Alzheimer’s Society for their support in helping us give the handbook an Essex focus.
Dr Tom Nutt Chief Executive Officer, Healthwatch Essex