The support we provide

The Essence Service offers a wide range of practical and emotional support for people living with a mild to moderate dementia diagnosis and their carers.

Our service is person centred, all support plans are tailored to individual needs.

We have a dedicated team of Essence Support Workers, an Essence Phase 2 Carer Navigator, a dedicated Essence Information and Advice Officer, a Carers Lifestyle Worker who provides practical support to carers, an Activities Facilitator and activity Tutors please click here to meet our team.

Essence support available includes:

Phase 1 - Support for clients diagnosed with dementia and their carers

Phase 2 - Support for carers

Information & Advice Service - Benefit support for clients and carers

LifeStyle Service - Support for carers

Activities and Events - for clients and carers, delivered at the Essence Centre and at various outreach venues across the City of Sunderland

Phase 1 – Our team supports people with a mild to moderate dementia diagnosis and their carers providing:

  • Information and advice to help improve and maintain good health & wellbeing

  • Signposting to relevant organisations that will benefit individuals and carers living with a dementia diagnosis, such as legal and financial issues and many more.

  • Emotional support to help you understand and live positively with a dementia diagnosis

  • Peer support group facilitation to enable positive connections with people with lived experience of dementia – both for the person with dementia and their carers

  • A variety of activities that are designed to keep your mind and body active to help maintain independence and have fun! Click here to see our current activity timetable

  • Listening ear support for both people with dementia and their carers

  • Dementia awareness training for carers

Phase 2

  • Our phase 2 carer navigator provides practical, social and emotional support to those caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis with higher need, helping carers navigate to higher tier support available.

  • Our essence lifestyle worker provides practical support to those caring for someone with a higher level of need including light housework, shopping and companionship support.

Additional support available

The Essence service offers a free and confidential information and advice service for Essence clients and their carers that focusses on benefit entitlements and income maximisation. Please ask your support worker for more information.

Please see our leaflets for more information

What people who use the Essence Service say about their experience of support.

“We wish to acknowledge how much the Essence Service means to us and the huge value it offers. The staff absolutely make it with a culture of kindness, smiles and genuine care."
“You were my go too. You were someone I could rely on and you always did what you said you would do. I will never forget the role that you played in the care for my mam."
"A huge thank you for offering mam a brilliant service. Mam attended the exercise classes and loved every minute. There were long lasting positive impacts from her time at Essence and an hour could lift her mood greatly due to the conviviality and friendliness of the place."
“Thank you Essence for the historic and current support I have received as a carer. We have both received an excellent service throughout our dementia journey."
“Words cannot describe how thankful I am for all the help, support and advise I have received in applying for benefits. I could not have done any of this without your help"
“You gave us a lifeline and a strong circle of friends following my husband's Alzheimer's diagnosis. We thoroughly enjoy the many activities on offer."
“Coming into Essence was the best decision we ever made. It was an absolute godsend and kept us going."
“We are so grateful for your help.”
"You don't realise just how much you do for people and the difference it makes; always cheerful, always helpful. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here today, I'd have gone under. Thank you."
  • Make a referral
Complete our referral form online, submitting information direct to our team.
  • Get in touch
Call our confidential advice line on 0191 514 1131.

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