DISC

DISC - Dementia Info & Support for Carers

Who are we?

BACKGROUND

DISC (Dementia Information and Support for Carers) is a service offered specifically for Carers of people with confusion and memory problems (Dementia).
Caring for someone with dementia can, at times, be difficult, exhausting, lonely and overwhelming. We at DISC therefore work with and for those carers who have been so affected to enable them to continue their, in some cases, 24 hours a day, caring role.

The service started in June 2003 with funding from both the Local Authority and the Government’s Carers Strategy Fund. A very small team of Dementia Support Workers were recruited to provide support to the Carers of people with dementia.

In September 2005, because of the success of the project and the demand for its services, the project was able to increase its capacity by appointing a part-time Manager and three additional part-time Support Workers to complement one part-time and one full time support workers. There are currently seven staff including one part-time office manager.

The hallmark of the DISC service is a person centered flexible approach which aims to support carers at ALL stages of their ‘journey’ from the point of diagnosis. The service is designed to be flexible and responsive to changes in carers’ circumstances recognising that carers will require differing levels of support at different stages of the ‘journey’.

SERVICES PROVIDED

The range of support available includes:

• Ongoing support and advice
• Person centered flexible approach
• Information on aspects of the law, benefits and finances
• Liaison with statutory and community sectors (advocacy)
• Free Dementia Awareness training for carers
• Carer Support Groups
• Respite Care to enable carers to have some time away from their caring reponsibilities
• Social outings
• Call Care facility
• A shoulder for a carer to cry on!

CARER SUPPORT GROUPS

The Carers Support Groups meet on the last Wednesday of each month while the Asian Carers support group meets on the first Wednesday every TWO months. There is also an evening drop-in facility on the first Tuesday of each month for those carers who can not attend during the day.

For further information please contact us on 0121 554 9355 

You can e-mail us at carers@discbirmingham.co.uk