Dementia Support For Police Officers And Staff

Police officers and staff will be able to access tailored support from a Dementia UK Admiral Nurse from 1 September, thanks to a new initiative from the National Police Wellbeing Service.

Officers and staff living with dementia, or caring for a loved one with the condition, will be able to book a free, confidential one-to-one appointment with a dementia specialist who can provide expert guidance, emotional support and practical advice.

Around 982,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, with around one in 11 people over the age of 65 affected by the condition. As the population ages, thousands of police officers and staff will be balancing the demands of policing with caring responsibilities for parents, partners or other relatives living with dementia.

Steve Kent, Chair of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “This is a fantastic initiative. It’s a great resource for people to use if they’ve got concerns.

“I speak to a lot of experienced officers who tell me they’re becoming more forgetful. Quite often that’s down to the stresses of the job, life in general or simply not getting enough sleep. But it’s reassuring that they can speak to a specialist and get expert advice and, if needed, a bit of reassurance.”

Further details about the service will be published in Oscar Kilo’s August bulletin.