Dementia support groups in the UK: how to find one

Dementia support groups in the UK include dementia cafes, peer support groups, activity groups, Singing for the Brain sessions and online forums, for people with dementia and for their carers. The quickest way to find one is the Alzheimer’s Society ‘find support near you’ directory or its Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.

At a glance

• Groups run in person, online, by phone and sometimes at home; many welcome the person and their carer together.
• Alzheimer’s Society lists dementia cafes, peer support, activity groups, Singing for the Brain and a companionship service.
• Dementia UK offers free Admiral Nurse advice by phone, video, webchat and clinics.
• Scotland has Alzheimer Scotland and a 24-hour helpline; Wales has a Welsh-language support line.
• Your GP, memory service or council can point you to local carers’ groups.

What types of dementia support group are there?

These are all described by Alzheimer’s Society, which lists services that take place at local venues, online, by telephone or at home. The NHS also highlights memory cafes as informal drop-ins where people with dementia and carers share advice and support, and recommends Singing for the Brain because singing is known to improve mood and wellbeing.

How do you find a group near you?

1. Use the Alzheimer’s Society dementia directory (‘find support near you’) to search by area.
2. Call the Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 and ask a Dementia Adviser. The Society also lists options for people who need support in another language or have speech or hearing difficulties.
3. Ask the memory service or GP. After a diagnosis, NICE guidance expects professionals to give information on local support groups.
4. Contact the council or a local carers’ centre. The NHS says social services or a local carers’ centre can tell you what day centres and groups are nearby.
5. Try Carers Direct on 0300 123 1053, which the NHS says can point you to local carers’ support groups.

In London, our page on dementia support in London collects local routes in one place.

Which groups are for carers?

Carers have their own needs, and NICE recommends that carers be offered psychoeducation and skills training, ideally in groups, covering dementia education, communication, self-care and planning ahead. Useful contacts the NHS lists for carers include:

• Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline: 0800 888 6678 (free).
• Carers UK helpline: 0808 808 7777 (free, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).
• Dementia Carers Count support line: 0800 652 1102 (free).
• Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Forum and Carers UK’s Carers Connect forum, for online conversations.

Ask the council for a carer’s assessment too, which is free for anyone over 18 and may lead to a break or links to local support. See carers assessments and carers’ grants and breaks.

What help can Admiral Nurses give?

Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses working with Dementia UK. The helpline is open 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends, and callers can include people who have or suspect they have dementia as well as family members and carers. There is no time limit on calls. Dementia UK also offers virtual clinic appointments by phone or video of 45 minutes, face-to-face clinics and live webchat. You can ask your GP or social worker whether your area has a community Admiral Nurse service.

What is it like to attend for the first time?

It is normal to feel nervous. Groups are usually informal, and nobody has to speak. Some tips:

• Take a relative or friend along the first time.
• Ask in advance about cost, access, parking and whether carers can attend, because charges differ by group and the Society’s pages do not state a standard fee.
• Try more than one group. Styles vary, and a quiet cafe may suit one person while a music group suits another.
• Think about timing. Some people with dementia are more tired or confused later in the day; see sundowning in dementia.
• If the person is reluctant, frame it as a social outing and try one visit before deciding.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

In Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland provides support and a 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 3000, and the Scottish Government guarantees a year of post-diagnostic support through a link worker. In Wales, Alzheimer’s Society lists a Welsh-speaking support line on 03300 947 400. For Northern Ireland, ask your GP or local health and social care trust, and check the Alzheimer’s Society directory. Our guides to paying for care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland explain the differing rules.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a diagnosis to go to a dementia cafe?

Not necessarily. Alzheimer’s Society describes dementia cafes as for people affected by dementia, including people thinking about a diagnosis, whether their own or someone else’s. Check with the group organiser before you go.

Are dementia support groups free?

It varies. Alzheimer’s Society pages do not state a standard charge for its groups, so ask the organiser before you go. Dementia UK, Carers UK, Dementia Carers Count and Alzheimer Scotland helplines are free to call; the Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Direct numbers are charged at the standard local rate. Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse service is free to use.

Can carers go without the person with dementia?

Yes. There are carer-only groups, information programmes and online forums. NICE says carers should be offered training and support from diagnosis onward, and group sessions are likely to work best.

What if we cannot leave the house?

Alzheimer’s Society lists services delivered online, by phone or at home, and offers a companionship service for people who feel isolated. Dementia UK offers phone and video clinics and webchat.

Where can I talk to someone today?

Call the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 or the Dementia UK Admiral Nurse helpline on 0800 888 6678. Both offer advice and support. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

Where to get help next

If a group is not enough, a day centre or respite care can give both of you a break. Our guides to coping with a dementia diagnosis and caring for someone with dementia may also help, and you can look at local services through find care.

Sources

• Alzheimer’s Society: Your local dementia support services
• Alzheimer’s Society: Dementia cafe
• Dementia UK: Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline
• NHS: Looking after someone with dementia
• NHS: Activities for dementia
• Alzheimer Scotland: Post diagnostic support

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.