PEOPLE living with more rare forms of dementia in Dumfries and Galloway will have the opportunity to get out and about at Caerlaverock this autumn through a creative initiative with Rare Dementia Support.
Rare Dementia Support (RDS), a charity attached to University College London, focuses on providing care, support, and wellbeing activities for people affected by seven rare types of dementia, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, familial frontotemporal dementia, familial Alzheimer’s disease, posterior cortical atrophy, primary progressive aphasia and young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
In November this year it will be offering activity days around the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust site at Caerlaverock, aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing forpatients, carers, family members, and bereaved people affected by these seven rare forms of dementia. The activities are funded by the Linbury Trust, as part of the cultural programme at RDS.
The work is complementary to support services which RDS can offer, including the direct support team and regional support groups. The project team hopes that initiatives like this will lead to more people knowing about and signing up to access support with Rare Dementia Services (RDS).
NHS Dumfries and Galloway dementia consultant Wendy Chambers said: “People living with rarer types of dementia can often feel isolated and alone which can be stressful. Rarer forms of dementia can present unusual challenges – for the people living with them, their families and their care partners.
“This opportunity for in-person support, in the region, is really valuable and I would encourage everyone affected by one of the seven forms of rare dementia to take it up. And I would say to our clinical staff, community health workers, social workers and everyone else who comes into contact with people affected by rare dementias: think about how this would help the people you work with.
“Caring for people with dementia is a team effort, and it’s great to be able to work alongside third-sector groups like Rare Dementia Support to help people in the region affected by dementia.”
The Caerlaverock activity day has been planned for 15th November 2025, with an online introduction on 6th November, and is now open for booking. Anyone interested should email [email protected] or call 020 3318 0243 for details of how to sign up.
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