Churches Together in Cockermouth Area (CTICA) It is proven that lonely people are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, depression, dementia and other physical and mental health problems. Older people often become lonely through bereavement or if they are housebound. They might become overlooked, have difficulty navigating their way through modern life, and are terrified of being a burden to their families. Churches Together in the Cockermouth Area (CTICA) runs projects aimed at tackling loneliness in older people, such as the Linking Lives befriending service. This is aimed at adults who find themselves in need of some extra friendship and support and is provided through weekly home visits or telephone calls. Volunteers are carefully selected, vetted and trained, then matched with those referred to the service from statutory organisations such as social workers, social prescribers, GPs and community health practitioners, as well as charities, friends and family members or selfreferrals. CTICA also run regular social activities in and around Cockermouth, including Together@2 every Monday on the Highfield estate and a monthly Crafty Lunch Club. In January 2025, a new fortnightly Comfort Café was launched in the town – a joint initiative between CTICA and Linking Lives to support people who have suffered a bereavement, giving them a space to help them deal with their grief. Karen Dutton is project manager of the Comfort Café and facilitates the sessions. Karen, who is also a registered nurse, said: CASE STUDY 74 Dementia Action Alliance West Cumbria Too many people affected by dementia feel society fails to understand the condition they live with, its impact or how to interact with them. That’s why people with dementia sometimes feel they need to withdraw from their community as the condition progresses. Dementia diagnosis rates have stagnated as people are putting off getting their diagnoses with many people now facing dementia alone, and without access to the vital support that a diagnosis can bring. Dementia Action Alliance work to develop projects and initiatives for people living with dementia or other memory problems and for people caring for them. The work in West Cumbria is a partnership made up of many organisations, including Cumberland Council, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust Memory Team, Alzheimer’s Society, Copeland Age & Advice Service, Active Cumbria, Northern Fells Group, Workington Town Council, Lakes College, community pharmacies and social prescribers. The DAA run various activities across the whole region including anticipatory grief awareness sessions, music, singing and dancing groups, information and advice, Dementia friendly walks, memory cafes, Dementia friends awareness sessions as well as an annual pigeon race at Whitehaven Harbour! The DAA are working with the VCSE sector to address the lack of day care across West Cumbria, which has such a detrimental effect for people living with dementia and their carers. More information about the support available to those affected by dementia in Cumberland can be found on the DAA website. CASE STUDY 75 One of the many events organised by DAA West Cumbria, aimed at anyone living with dementia, worried about dementia or caring for someone with dementia. If we can enable people to feel confident about talking about death, dying and grief, which we’re very bad at, we need to normalise that so people feel comfortable and we can manage our grief in our own communities, but also signpost when we get stuck.
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