PATIENTS and families living with dementia are to be given a vital lifeline with the launch of an advice and support hub.

Darlington Dementia Hub took to the town’s streets this week in a bid to reach out to locals who may need help and guidance.

Jenny Leeming, Dementia Support Worker for the Alzheimer’s Society in Darlington which has set up the hub, said there was a need for somewhere where families could drop in and get all of the contacts they needed to get help.

She said: “It is our aim to put information packs in all the town’s doctors’ surgeries and other public places so that help can be more readily available.’’

Mrs Leeming and other support workers were at Pease Monument, in Darlington, for the launch with their dementia bus and new information packs.

The brand new packs and flyers were paid for with a £1,000 from former Darlington Mayor Coun Tom Nutt who came along to Thursday’s launch.

Mrs Leeming said: “Our idea would not work without the support packs and when Coun Nutt agreed to support us we were thrilled.’’

She explained that once someone had been diagnosed with dementia they did not know where to turn for advice.

She said: “We have workers who are passionate about what we do and we want to reach out to these people and let them know they are not alone.’’

The new information packs offer advice and contain vital contacts that people may need, whether it be for a cup of tea and a chat or information about financial support.

It is also hoped that the literature will get word out to people that there is a support network and there is still a good quality of life even if they or a family member has been diagnosed with dementia.