WHEN Jamie Graham was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007, he and his wife Vicky, had no idea what kind of help was available to them.

But they quickly found the Forget-Me-Not Centre, run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, a great source of support, allowing Jamie to be himself regardless of his condition.

The centre in Colston Close, Park South, provides a therapeutic day service for people who have been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

The aim is to enable individuals to share their experiences and overcome their concerns with the support of skilled therapeutic staff, building on people’s strengths and focusing on the person rather than the illness.

Often, these are people who are still of working age and have not only the illness to contend with, but commitments and responsibilities to work and family.

Jamie said: “It’s very distressing to find that some things you were able to do just aren’t there anymore. To find that all the songs you knew are no longer ‘in there’ for instance.

“But by working at it, getting involved in groups and activities such as the centre’s Wednesday hikes and pushing back at life, you can feel some of those things that make you who you are returning.”

Lynda Hughes, centre manager, has worked closely with Jamie and many other people to help bring back their sense of confidence, independence and enjoyment of life.

She said: “Much of what we do is making sure that people retain their day to day skills, whether that’s getting on a bus, being able to go shopping or enjoy going for a long and muddy country hike.

“People think that once a skill is gone, it’s over. But with support and constant practice people can still do things they used to. I think those who don’t understand dementia often have an alarming idea of what those who have it are like. Anything that can break down the misconceptions is great. At Forget-Me-Nots we let people be who they are, not what people think they should be.”