We're marking Dementia Action Week (19-25 May) by urging families and carers of those living with dementia to explore the support they can access to help loved ones live safely and independently, for longer.
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer, with symptoms including issues with memory loss, confusion and needing help with daily tasks. It can also lead to problems with language and understanding, and changes in behaviour. With one in three people in the UK living with dementia not having a diagnosis, these symptoms mean that maintaining a safe and warm home can be a real challenge.
The campaign is led by the Alzheimer’s Society, which uses the week to continue to raise awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis for people affected by dementia.
We're encouraging people to consider a host of free-of-charge services which can help those living with dementia, while giving family and carers a degree of peace of mind:
- Signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR) – this helps us identify customers who need priority support in a gas emergency. By registering for this free service, you will receive extra help if you’re without your gas supply, either in an emergency or because of planned work. We can also provide electric heating and cooking appliances or even alternative accommodation to keep you safe and warm while you’re without gas. You can also ask your supplier to send your bill to anyone who has agreed to receive it (i.e. a family member, or carer)
- Fitting a locking cooker valve – our locking cooker valve can help people with dementia, and autism, retain their independence at home and provide reassurance to friends, family, and carers. We fit the simple safety device, for free, to your existing gas cooker pipework. When the valve is locked, the gas supply to the cooker is stopped. This eliminates the risk of the cooker being unintentionally turned on or left on, and gives peace of mind to carers or relatives that the cooker can’t be used when they leave the house or the room. The carer or relative can easily turn the valve on using the key when the cooker is required, enabling the household to continue to use their gas cooker safely.
- Seeking support through one of our partnerships – we are growing our partnerships to further help those living with dementia. We are currently working with five organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, Sage House Dementia Support in West Sussex, Dementia Support in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, Alzheimer’s Dementia Support Services in Kent and Age UK Oxfordshire. We also work with Age Scotland. Our partnerships help provide support, including energy safeguarding, which delivers both practical advice and emotional support, and provision for extremely vulnerable customer groups to access key services and live in safe and warm homes, including unpaid carers of those with dementia and older people.
Janet Duggan, our Community Partnership Manager, said: “Dementia Action Week gives us the opportunity to remind people of the varied free services we offer to help support both those living with dementia, and their loved ones.
“Living with dementia, and caring for someone with dementia, can be extremely tough, and we want to alleviate some of these pressures. We want to help reach more people and provide them with the help they need to ensure they receive the right support to keep them independent as well as safe and warm in their own homes.”
For more information, see our Help and Advice section.
