Service details

Our Memory Team offers support and care for people experiencing memory loss and may be developing dementia. We provide a range of support, in a safe and welcoming environment. We will always treat you with dignity and respect and offer stability and comfort during what can be an anxious time for both patients and family.

The Memory Team is based at the Sophie Centre, Julian Hospital in Norwich, and serves older people in the North Norfolk and Norwich community. Patients may be experiencing behavioural changes such as confusion and memory loss which requires assessment, diagnosis, intervention and treatment. Our support is tailored to each patient’s needs and with active involvement from carers and family.

The Memory Team is staffed by a variety of professionals including Psychiatrists, Specialist Nurse Assessors, Support Nurses, an Occupational Therapist, Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Practitioners and a Reception /Admin Team. Our varied team helps us to offer the best possible support to those in our care.

All our clinical staff are mental health professionals with specialist knowledge in the field of memory difficulties and dementia and their detailed and comprehensive assessments for people with memory difficulties may lead to a diagnosis of dementia. Where we do diagnose dementia, we provide post-diagnostic support to reduce anxiety for patients and their families including:

• Signposting to other helpful services and organisations.
• Advice and education about their diagnosed condition.
• Treatments indicated by NICE guidelines.
• Follow-up and reviews on an individual basis.

One form of treatment is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). This is a NICE recommended treatment for people who have mild to moderate Dementia. CST is a group-based intervention that runs over 14 sessions and is led by trained staff. Each session is based on a different topic, and the groups encourage discussion about these topics. CST can help the memory and thinking for people living with Dementia and many people have reported it has improved their quality of life.

Support for carers and families

We recognise that families and carers can be a vital mode of support for patients, and that they need their own help too. So our support goes beyond our patients. We can offer post-diagnostic support, advice and information for carers, as well as a carers support group. We can also refer carers for a Carers Assessment which is provided by Carers Matter or Norfolk Social Services. For patients and families, further support is available from the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, Dementia UK, Carers Matter, Independent Age, to name a few.  GPs can also refer families and carers for assistance from an Admiral Nurse.

Referrals are typically made by GPs. Appointments are mostly offered in our clinic at the Sophie Centre, although home visits are also available when needed. Our team also offers telephone or video appointments over the internet for those not able to attend clinic or do not want a home visit.