Kenilworth gets specialist dementia nurse service after residents' donations

Donations made by Kenilworth residents have enabled Waverley Day Centre to appoint a specialist dementia nurse for the town.
From left to right: Jill Blake, Jeremy Wright MP, and Louise Gillard-OwenFrom left to right: Jill Blake, Jeremy Wright MP, and Louise Gillard-Owen
From left to right: Jill Blake, Jeremy Wright MP, and Louise Gillard-Owen

The donations will help fund Louise Gillard-Owen, an Admiral Nurse, for the next two years, who will provide practical and emotional support to families in the area who are living with dementia.

Louise said: “I’m in a really privileged position, and I’m looking forward to supporting the community in Kenilworth.”

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The appointment was celebrated at an official launch at the centre on Friday March 4, and was attended by Jeremy Wright MP and several town councillors.

Mr Wright said: “I think this is great news for Kenilworth. The provision of some real practical support for people with dementia is very important.

“We have a lot of people who care for loved ones with dementia and those people need support.

“Waverley Day Centre has been a rock for the elderly community in Kenilworth for a long time, and I think the appointment of an Admiral Nurse is a very sensible thing.”

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Louise will provide support to both people living with dementia and their carers in the town by being their first point of contact.

She will offer specialist advice and emotional support to families, starting from diagnosis all the way to post-bereavement.

Waverley Day Centre’s chair of trustees Jill Blake had been trying to recruit an Admiral Nurse for Kenilworth for a while.

She said: “I met an Admiral Nurse about two years ago and was bowled over by what they do. It’s taken about a year to get the service up and running.

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“I’m over the moon that we now have this service. It’s just something I’ve dreamt of and really wanted to have in place for Kenilworth.

“We can extend the services that we offer day care visitors and go out to families in the community who we know are very much in need of support as they care for loved ones with dementia.”

It is hoped the day centre can continue the service beyond the initial two-year period subject to funding.

Families in the town who need Louise’s support can call the centre on 01926 852365.