More than 200 carers of people with dementia from across the borough will receive help and support thanks to a grant from Middlesex Freemasons to the Harrow Carers charity.
The £57,000 grant will allow Harrow Carers to launch a dedicated Dementia Support Hub, which aims to improve the health, wellbeing, resilience, and quality of life of disadvantaged carers of people living with dementia and those they care for.
All carers will receive a needs assessment and a personalised action plan tailored to their specific circumstances. Once the plan is completed, a final check-in meeting will ensure all goals have been met and carers are equipped to move forward.
The funding will make a significant difference in the lives of these carers by enabling the provision of personalised, one-to-one support through a part-time Dementia Advice Worker. This trained professional will provide emotional reassurance, advocate for carers within statutory systems, and connect them with vital resources like emergency grants, food banks, and social support networks.
Carers will also gain access to practical tools to manage the daily challenges of dementia care, including help with completing forms, navigating healthcare services, and improving their financial stability. Through this project, carers will experience reduced isolation, improved mental health, and strengthened social connections, directly addressing the challenges identified by local surveys and national research.
The new Dementia Support Hub offers:
• One-to-one support from an AQS-accredited Dementia Advice Worker.
• Assistance with accessing welfare benefits, navigating complex statutory systems, and advocacy with relevant services.
• Emotional reassurance, crisis support (including access to emergency grants and food banks), and help connecting with faith groups, dementia cafés, or other local services.
• Outreach services, home visits, and virtual support via email, phone, or WhatsApp.
The NHS highlights that dementia is a condition leading to memory loss, confusion, behavioural changes, and the need for help with daily tasks. Carers often find the experience emotionally and physically draining, with research from the Carers Trust (2018) showing many become unwell themselves. The demand for support has surged, with referrals from the NHS and other agencies doubling from 82 in 2022/23 to 155 in 2023/24.
This increase is partly driven by Harrow’s aging population. with the borough having the highest percentage of elderly residents in North West London, with 2,524 people estimated to be living with dementia. This number is set to rise significantly as the population aged 65 and over grows from 38,800 in 2018 to 47,800 by 2027.
A lack of available services exacerbates the challenges carers face. Only 15-19 per cent of elderly carers currently receive support annually, and closures of respite and daycare services have negatively impacted their quality of life. Over 1,440 carers have reported mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety, with surveys indicating that dementia-specific support is in high demand.
Karen Gilchrist Head of Adult Services at Harrow Carers, said:
“We’re very grateful to Middlesex Freemasons for their generous grant which will allow us to provide carers of people with dementia with the help they need. The numbers of these carers is growing rapidly with referrals doubling in just a year. This support from the Freemasons is absolutely vital.”
David Allan from Middlesex Freemasons, said:
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Harrow Carers with their hugely important project helping local people who look after loved ones with dementia. These are people who often fall ill themselves with the stress of their roles and who urgently need the advice and support of this wonderful charity.”
