Flexible, immediate support and signposting

The Dementia Advisers Service in Kent and Medway was set up to support people with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia and their carers. The service provides face-to-face contact to people in their own homes, telephone and e-mail advice and support to signpost the person with dementia and their carer to appropriate information and services. This article provides a summary of a local evaluation of the service conducted between March 2010 and March 2011 and the main findings of the 3 evaluation reports that were prepared as part of this evaluation.  People with dementia and carers using the service were asked their views via questionnaires and focus groups. In addition, local services such as memory clinics and the voluntary sector were also asked to participate in a telephone interview. The overall findings indicate that the Dementia Adviser Service has shown that it can support the person with dementia and their carer to navigate the care system and gain early access to advice, information and support.