Oxford United welcome Dementia Oxfordshire to our game against Blackpool on Saturday. They are a county-wide dementia support service helping people with dementia live as fully and happily as possible in the community.
Alice's story, below, shows how Dementia Oxfordshire can help those living with dementia:
Alice lived in Oxford as a child but moved away many years ago, only to return recently to be nearer members of her family. She now lives on her own in a flat within the city.
Alice was referred to a dementia support worker by one of the City Dementia Advisers (DA) as she could potentially have become quite socially isolated. The plan was for the DA to work together with Alice so she could become more familiar with local activities that could be accessed via public transport, e.g. buses, to help her maintain her independence.
Person-centred care lies at the heart of the Dementia Oxfordshire Service (DOS). For her DA, her first visit with Alice was about starting to build a trusting relationship and to get to know what was important for Alice and for her to feel at the centre of any activities and plans.
Linking closely with the DA, they planned a number of local activities, which involved exploring various local bus routes – a challenge for both Alice and her DA. This included taking a bus to Headington where they could enjoy a coffee together.
Very helpfully, this bus took them past a Supported Housing Unit, where Dementia Oxford run a ‘coffee/activities’ group fortnightly, and Alice was introduced to this group, which she thoroughly enjoyed and has independently been coming to, by bus, ever since. Alice really enters into the activities and interacts so well other members of the group.
Alice suggested a visit into town as she was keen to see the new Wesgate Centre and had not been into town for many years. This proved to be another interesting outing and meeting another client.
In fact, this ‘by chance meeting’ with another client, has led Alice to be keen to join the monthly lunch club that he attends… this lunch club is also on Alice’s local bus route, which is easy to access.
Alice is a very sociable lady, who likes to keep stimulated and busy, so another activity is with the local Age UK Oxfordshire Charity Shop, where Alice is hoping to work as a volunteer. The shop Manager has been so helpful in supporting this development, which should start soon.
As the visits with Alice are coming to an end, Alice says she feels her confidence in getting ‘out and about’ has increased and she does not feel quite so alone now she has made new contacts. Her son is also reassured to know he can contact the DOS at any time, should the need arise.
To contact Dementia Oxfordshire, call the Support Line on 01865 410210, email info@dementiaoxfordshire.org.uk or visit www.dementiaoxfordshire.org.uk