A friendly face: Peer support after diagnosis - "All I wanted after my diagnosis was to have have a cup of tea and a chat with someone living with dementia"

Dementia is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century (ADI, 2015). A Poll by Saga (2012) found dementia was the most feared condition for people over 50 years of age. Feelings of being lost or not knowing which way to turn after a diagnosis can lead to people becoming increasingly isolated and disengaged from post diagnostic support. The recent increase in dementia activism has encouraged some people diagnosed with dementia to challenge the prevailing stigma and offer new hope through openly talking about their diagnosis in the media, Dementia Friends sessions and attending conferences. Coping strategies after diagnosis can be found in “conversations with other people who are living well with dementia” (Norris,2016). The need for everyone affected either personally or professionally with dementia to work together prompted the establishment of a Dementia Network in North Wales. Members included people living with dementia and those working to support them after a diagnosis and the members agreed that greater Peer support would be appreciated at diagnosis. This resulted in partnership with people living with dementia, service providers and academics formulating a way to work alongside current post diagnostic support by introducing an individual peer support. The paper will discuss the Peer support initiative, how it complements post diagnostic support for people living with dementia and how this relates to the new Dementia Strategy for Wales.