Our Empowered Carers project smashes its project targets in World Alzheimer’s Month – supporting dozens of carers of people living with dementia in its first year.

Empowered Carers is an online one-to-one support programme providing carers with practical advice that will help them and their loved ones to be more able to cope with the realities of living with dementia.

The two-year project has a target of supporting 50 carers to reduce carer stress, enhancing wellbeing and reducing admissions into hospital and care homes for people with dementia – it is already supporting 32 carers with demand increasing as it enters year 2 of delivery.

Sessions have been delivered online to carers as well as over the phone and face-to-face and carers have built IT skills along the way as well as being connected to community support.

Rachel Hoyles, project lead, said: “The project offers a new way of delivering support to carers in Salford that has not been available before and it has been an exciting first year, working with carers and partner organisations across the sector to provide the best service.

“Carers receiving support from us have said that having a listening ear, having time to think about their current situation and gaining knowledge on dementia has enabled them to avoid crisis and cope better.

“We are absolutely delighted with the outcomes so far and hope to continue with this success and progression in year 2 to meet the demand in Salford.”

The project is a partnership with Age UK Salford, it is funded by Salford CVS and Salford CCG through the Third Sector Fund, with support from the University of Salford, who will evaluate this new approach to carer support.

CEO of Age UK Salford, Dave Haynes, added: “We have been moved to hear the feedback from people engaged with the Empowered Carers project; innovation through technology harnessed to make a real difference to carers lives.” 

For more information on Empowered Carers go to http://empowered-conversations.co.uk/empowered-carers/