FINDING activities and support for people living with memory problems and dementia should be a whole lot easier thanks to the launch of a new leaflet detailing what’s available in West Northumberland.

Fifteen different activities – from lunch clubs to health walks – are listed in the handy, directory that was launched at Corbridge Memory Cafe last Thursday by Adele Kinsella, whose idea it was.

Adele runs Singing for the Brain sessions on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society in Hexham Abbey and is passionate about spreading the word on the services available for people living with memory loss and their carers.

“I just know how important it is when you are living with memory loss to feel you are still included in what is going on and being with other people,” she said.

“In our singing group, it’s not just the singing that’s so good, it’s also the social side.

“Many of the carers have made friendships there, for example.”

Adele has produced 5,000 information leaflets that she is distributing to GP practices and medical centres and to libraries and advisory organisations in the area.

As well as her voluntary work for Alzheimer’s Society, Adele is also a complementary therapist for the Northumberland Cancer Support Group.

Adele’s son, James, has a printing business and produced the leaflet free of charge, whilst her daughters, Annick and Chantal, who live in Australia, helped on the creative and design side.

Melvin Stone, who set up the Memory Cafe in Corbridge two years ago, said: “It takes individuals like Adele to recognise that we need something like this to go out in the community to enable people to connect with various groups they may not know about.

“Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from a lady whose husband is in his early 50s and has just been diagnosed with dementia.

“I guided them to one of our walking groups which he thoroughly enjoyed and will go to again. This leaflet will really help people find out about things like that.”