A new dementia adviser service is being launched in Wiltshire to coincide with dementia awareness week (May 19-25).

Funded by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the service will be available to people with dementia and their carers.

It will provide personalised information and guidance, and give people a named adviser to support them.

Users of the service will be able to meet their adviser wherever they choose, including their own home, and the adviser will keep in regular contact with them, offering six monthly meetings.

Alzheimer’s Support will deliver the service in west and east Wiltshire, with the Alzheimer’s Society providing the service in north and south Wiltshire.

Dr Steve Rowlands, chair of the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group says: “This is one of a number of new initiatives which we have developed with our colleagues at Wiltshire Council, many of which are focussed on increasing the rate of early diagnosis of dementia.”

People who want to contact their local dementia adviser should call 01225 776481 if they live in west and east Wiltshire or 01722 326236 if they live in north and south Wiltshire.

Events during next week include a Joy of Reading event at Melksham’s Arts House Cafe, a dementia awareness event at The Shires Shopping Centre, Trowbridge, an art exhibition at Chippenham Museum, all on Monday, an MM special session at Bowerhill Village Hall and a Nutricia lunch and learn talk on Wednesday and a coffee morning at Singing for the Brain at Kennet Village Hall, Lockeridge on the Thursday.

Wiltshire Council is also launching a new collection of dementia books, available in Chippenham, Devizes, Trowbridge and Salisbury libraries.