Tag Archives: Norfolk
Carers group has successful run helping people in the fight against isolation
Extreme isolation and loneliness, which saw a woman from north Norfolk house-bound for three weeks at a time, was the inspiration behind a successful carers support group in Wells.
Juanita Spencer, of Theatre Road, cared for her husband Jack for more than a decade, after he developed dementia and survived a number of strokes, before he died in January 2011.
During that time, the 78-year-old said she had felt extremely isolated, especially during the first few years.
Dementia friends in Norwich come together to help raise awareness
Dementia Friends gather at The Forum in Norwich for National Dementia Week.
Picture : ANTONY KELLY
More than 100 people who have trained to better understand dementia gathered on the steps outside The Forum in Norwich to show their commitment to making the city dementia-friendly.
Since January, businesses and organisations around the county have been working hard to ensure they are dementia friendly, training their staff to better understand the illness which is set to rise in prevalence by 35pc in Norfolk over the next eight years.
There are now more than 40 members taking part in the bid – among them EDP and Evening News publisher Archant – all pledging support and specific objectives pledges.
Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Age UK Norwich, said: “It’s about us all thinking and understanding more about dementia.”
In Norfolk, some 14,000 people have dementia, but experts believe the figure will rise to 19,000 by 2025.
First dedicated mental health unit for mothers and babies to open in the region
One of just three new units in the country
Jessica Bannister and family. New mothers with serious mental health problems will be able to receive specialist inpatient help closer to home as the regions mental health trust is set to open the areas first dedicated mother and baby mental health unit.
New mothers with serious mental health problems will be able to receive specialist inpatient help closer to home when Norfolk and Suffolk NHS FT opens the region’s first dedicated mother and baby mental health unit.
The eight-bed unit – which will ensure mums and their newborns can stay together while the mother is receiving acute psychiatric care – will be based at Hellesdon Hospital, in Norwich. Due to open in 2018, it will take referrals from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, as well as other parts of the country.
