Carers' Information Course 2026
This is the fourth consecutive year in which we have run an Information Course for our carers. As in previous years, the course ran over six weeks and our aim was to provide the attendees with as much information as possible, ideally before they knew they needed it!
Course Content
We kicked off with an introduction to Chrysalis, the course itself and the main types of dementia most often encountered which was hosted by our chair, Rosie Robson-Tinsley. This initial session was also an opportunity to get to know each other and to identify individual attendees’ needs. The session itself went well thanks to the participants being happy to share personal experiences, interested and inquisitive. This year’s group was all-female which belies a previous myth that it tends to be ladies who are afflicted most by dementia.
In Week Two, we were once again joined by Dr Rob Barker, a GP with Corbridge Medical Centre, specialising in research into elderly care. He described the support that a Primary Care Centre should provide and again impressed upon the group the need to push for annual reviews, both for their loved ones but also for themselves. The GP continues to monitor progression post diagnosis.
In the third week, Dr Fairmichael from the Fairnington Centre, Hexham attended again and explained the psychiatrist’s role – diagnosing the dementia type as accurately as is possible, prescribing suitable medications and checking for side effects. Medical advancements for dementia sadly remain limited but he took us through what’s currently available. Dr Fairmichael will be taking some time out to spend with his family. We will miss him but we thank him for his involvement and wish him all the best.
Just prior to Easter, we tackled the ‘legal stuff’, so Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney. For the third consecutive year, Julie Garbutt, a partner with Muckle LLP solicitors in Newcastle presented this session and made the subject matter manageable, comprehensible and relevant. We believe it gave our attendees ‘food for thought’.
After the Easter break, Dan Mackay of Carers Northumberland helped us to tackle the minefield that is benefits! Often people are simply unaware of what they might be entitled to or they just don’t have time to research. Dan was brilliant and Carers Northumberland will advise, help with filling out forms and offers workshops and social events for both carers and their loved ones.
Lastly, we were joined by representatives from Alzheimer's Society and Tynedale Hospice at Home as well as a Care Coordinator who each explained the different services they offer locally. As always, it was an excellent session; it’s very reassuring to know just how well they interact in our community.
We believe we achieved our aim of providing our attendees with both the necessary tools and the confidence to face the next stage of their personal dementia journey.