#SpeakUp: South East Sheffield Community Dementia Advice Service - conversations with clients and carers

Healthwatch Sheffield gave the South East Sheffield Community Dementia Advice Service a small grant to engage service users and carers in conversations about their experiences during the pandemic and the challenges they have faced.

A key challenge during the pandemic was that many people living with dementia were separated from their families. For people who lived in care homes, visiting restrictions could be difficult for residents and their relatives.

People reported mixed experiences with the support they received from health and social care services. Positive experiences included GPs doing home visits, the support provided by the South East Sheffield Community Advice Service as a ‘one stop place to go’, and being able to rely on Parkinson’s Clinic for support.

Poor experiences included not being able to see preferred GP, difficulty accessing services including GPs and pharmacies, and care agency staff coming late at night to give medication.

People also faced difficulties navigating the system. Many people expressed disbelief that things could improve, and a lack of trust in the health and social care system.

Communication was a challenge during the pandemic, including communication from services to families, from staff to families, and between different organisations and professionals.

A number of recommendations were made in the report.