The Value of Being a Dementia Support Co-Ordinator

By Claire Marrett, Service Delivery Manager at Together Dementia Support

At Together Dementia Support, our Dementia Support Co-Ordinators are at the heart of everything we do. They’re not just leading groups and delivering sessions, they’re building relationships, holding memories, and walking alongside people living with dementia and their families through some of the most challenging and meaningful moments of their lives.

To truly understand the impact of the role, we wanted to share the words from our Service Delivery Manager, Claire Marrett, who has been part of this journey for many years. Her reflection below captures the emotional depth, joy, and the importance of what it means to support someone through their dementia journey.

“As I was meandering around doing my shopping last Saturday, I suddenly, for no apparent reason, had a memory of Jack, a man whom I had supported during my time working in Salford.  He lived with dementia and struggled with his speech. He had been a gardener for the council, was a real Salford character, and was very proud of his job. He may have been my favourite client at the time, and we enjoyed lots of banter together (although we know we shouldn’t have our favourites, it’s hard not to!) His wife struggled as a carer as his condition advanced, and Jack eventually moved into a care home. I saw his wife a few years later, and she let me know that Jack had since died. I told her how much I remembered about him and how it was a pleasure to have known him. We had a little cry together, and then she told me she had plans to move to the seaside; she had sold her house and bought an apartment. I felt happiness for her that she was able to move on and hopefully improve her quality of life. I didn’t feel sad as I left her, just a sense that life has to move on and carers, too, deserve new opportunities and a fresh life. It doesn’t have to be at the seaside - although that did sound idyllic! In dementia work, you meet so many people, and can work with the same people for a number of years.  Running a Friendship & Activity Group, you may be working with 15 people each week and you get to know their history, their heritage, their family, and their quirks. We see members enjoy and benefit from the activities that we offer. We take people on trips, locally and further afield, and really show person-centredness in what we offer at the group. For example, if Helena is from Hungary, we can organise a Hungarian-themed day where Helena is the centre of attention and can share her first-hand knowledge with the group! If the person with dementia lives alone, all these special themes and activities could mean even more. You know your members value the group: you see them smile when they get off the bus, you observe them chatting with their friends or with volunteers, you see them learning a new skill or laughing over a silly game! As a group leader, you feel a great sense of pride and achievement in all of these things. Part of this journey, as a Dementia Support Co-ordinator, is that, when the inevitable happens, and the person either has to leave the group as their dementia has progressed too far, or they become ill and pass away, it’s hard for us too.  Those members have been part of our dementia family at TDS, and we often see the positives, fun, and joy more as we are not the 24-hour family carers. As a manager here, I must recognise when individual staff or the whole delivery team may be grieving. We support each other, share photos and memories between ourselves and the family. We can also offer to go for a walk together, or with the bereaved carer, attend the funeral, and offer counselling if a staff member needs more support. The Friendship & Activity Group may feel different for a while, and the members and volunteers might need space and time to remember and talk about the person, too. What keeps us going and helps us to accept the loss is knowing that the TDS family was important in that individual’s life and gave their last years of life a better quality. At Together Dementia Support, we play a unique role where we not only offer respite and support to carers but also offer a meaningful weekly space full of activities and friendships, a place where, from the moment you are picked up by the minibus, you feel special and valued. This is a very privileged position to be in that we all take seriously.

Claire’s story reminds us that the role of a Dementia Support Co-Ordinator goes far beyond delivering sessions. It’s about recognising the whole person, honouring their story, and helping them live well with dementia for as long as possible.

Whether it's organising a themed day around a member’s heritage, supporting someone through bereavement, or simply sharing laughter over a silly game, our team members form a unique part of the lives of those we support.

💜 We’re currently recruiting for a Dementia Support Co-Ordinator. If Claire’s words resonate with you, and you’re someone who is compassionate, creative, and committed to person-centred care, we’d love to hear from you.

📄 Click here to find out more and apply

Together, we can make every moment matter.

TDS Staff with Members