At ADSS we don't just support people with dementia, we also support the professionals who care for them.
Join a team that cares for you!
A dementia diagnosis changes lives, but it should never take away joy, friendship or purpose. Our wellbeing services bring people together through meaningful activities, shared experiences and genuine connections, helping people living with dementia feel valued, confident and supported to live well – because everyone deserves to be seen beyond their diagnosis.
If you’re living with dementia, or caring for someone who is, it’s easy to feel isolated, overwhelmed or unsure of what comes next. Our Dementia Wellbeing Groups offer something incredibly important - connection. They are warm, welcoming spaces where people come together to share experiences, build friendships, find support and enjoy life with dementia.
Led by our compassionate staff and volunteers, each group provides opportunities to laugh, learn, stay active and create meaningful moments with others who truly understand. For many people, these groups become more than just an activity; they become a lifeline, restoring confidence, reducing loneliness and bringing a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.
Many of our groups are designed for people living with dementia and their carers to attend together, creating precious shared experiences and opportunities to reconnect. We also offer dedicated groups for carers, providing a supportive space to talk openly, share challenges and realise they are not facing the journey alone.
Explore our groups and discover a welcoming community where friendships flourish, memories are made and no one has to face dementia alone.
Our Support Groups provide a safe and welcoming space for people living with dementia and carers to connect with others who truly understand. By sharing experiences, offering support and building friendships, participants gain reassurance, confidence and the knowledge that they are not alone.
For people living with a dementia diagnosis, these groups provide a safe and supportive space to share experiences, build confidence and connect with others who truly understand the realities of life with a diagnosis. Through open conversation, mutual support and shared understanding, attendees gain reassurance, practical coping strategies and the knowledge that they are not alone.
These groups are best suited to people who can actively participate in discussion and engage with their peers. To ensure the group is the right fit and will provide meaningful benefit, we carry out an assessment before attendance.
For carers, these groups provide a compassionate space to connect with others who understand the profound changes that dementia can bring to relationships, family life and daily routines. Whether you want to share your experiences, seek advice, listen to others or simply take a moment for yourself, you'll find understanding, encouragement and support from people walking a similar path.
Many carers tell us these groups become a lifeline, helping them feel less alone, build resilience and rediscover their own identity alongside their caring role.
Support for the person living with dementia can be provided separately, subject to assessment, to ensure the appropriate staffing and support arrangements are in place.
Young onset, a diagnosis of young onset dementia can bring unique challenges, often affecting people at a stage of life when they may still be working, raising families and planning for the future. Our Young Onset Groups bring together people under the age of 65 who are living with dementia, creating a space to connect with others who share similar experiences and understand the realities of living with a diagnosis at a younger age.
Through conversation, shared activities and peer support, attendees can build confidence, maintain their sense of identity and form meaningful friendships with others on a similar journey. To ensure the group is the right fit and will provide the greatest benefit, we carry out a simple assessment before attendance.
Rare Dementia diagnosis can be an isolating experience. Symptoms often differ from those commonly associated with dementia, leaving many people and families feeling misunderstood or alone. Our monthly Rare Dementia Support Group brings together people affected by rare dementias and their loved ones in a safe, welcoming environment where they can connect with others who truly understand. Delivered in partnership with Rare Dementia Support, these sessions offer friendship, understanding and a supportive community for those navigating a rarer dementia journey.
Support Near YouOur Memory Cafés take place regularly across the month at various locations in North Kent, Medway and West Kent, offering a warm and welcoming space for people living with dementia and their carers to come together. Whether you're enjoying a cup of tea, taking part in an activity, listening to a guest speaker or simply having a chat, our cafés provide friendship, support and a sense of community.
Run by dementia-trained staff and supported by dedicated volunteers, the cafes are a place to share experiences, access helpful information and connect with others who understand the realities of living with dementia. For many people, our Memory Cafés become more than just a monthly meeting - they become a place to belong.
Support Near YouOur Activity Groups are all about living well with dementia. Through shared experiences, meaningful activities and genuine connections, people can stay active, build friendships, try new things and enjoy moments of joy, purpose and achievement. Whether you're looking to get creative, spend time outdoors or simply enjoy good company, there's a warm welcome waiting for you.
The groups below represent a selection of our activity programme. Some activities are seasonal and may run at different times throughout the year, helping to provide a varied and engaging programme that offers something for everyone to enjoy.
Singing back the memories
You don't need a great singing voice to join in - in fact, you don't even need to be able to hold a note! Our Singing Back the Memories groups are all about having fun, sharing a laugh and enjoying the power of music together. Open to people living with dementia and their carers, these uplifting sessions are filled with familiar songs, friendship and plenty of smiles.
Singing has been shown to benefit both physical and mental wellbeing, helping to boost mood and reduce stress. Music has a remarkable ability to spark memories, even if words are hard to find, music often reaches places conversation can’t, offering a powerful way to stay connected.
Dancing through the decades
Our Dancing Through the Decades sessions combine the joy of music with gentle movement, creating fun, uplifting experiences for people living with dementia and their carers. Familiar songs can spark memories, encourage connection and lift the mood, while movement helps support physical wellbeing and confidence.
No dance experience is needed - just a willingness to join in and have fun. Our Dancing Through the Decades sessions currently take place across North Kent and Medway.
Horse therapy
Spending time with horses can be a powerful and calming experience. Our Horse Therapy sessions offer people living with dementia and their carers the opportunity to connect with nature, build confidence and enjoy meaningful interactions with these gentle animals in a safe and supportive environment.
These seasonal sessions take place during the spring and summer months and are currently available in the Dartford area.
Creative arts
Our Creative Arts sessions offer people living with dementia and their carers the opportunity to express themselves, learn new skills and enjoy the simple pleasure of making something with their own hands. From painting and drawing to seasonal crafts and creative projects, these relaxed and friendly sessions focus on the enjoyment of the process rather than the finished result.
Creative activities can help keep hands active, stimulate the mind and encourage conversation, while providing a sense of achievement and purpose. Whether you're a seasoned artist or haven't picked up a paintbrush in years, everyone is welcome to come along, get creative and enjoy spending time with others in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Support near youBehind every person living with dementia is often someone quietly carrying the emotional, physical and practical demands of caring. As relationships change and responsibilities increase, carers can find themselves feeling isolated, exhausted and overlooked.
Our carers' groups provide a safe and supportive space to step out of the caring role for a while, connect with people who understand and find strength in shared experiences. Whether you're looking for friendship, advice or simply the reassurance that you're not alone, these groups are here for you.
Carer Peer Support Group
These groups provide a compassionate space to connect with others who understand the profound changes that dementia can bring to relationships, family life and daily routines. Whether you want to share your experiences, seek advice, listen to others or simply take a moment for yourself, you'll find understanding, encouragement and support from people walking a similar path.
Many carers tell us these groups become a lifeline, helping them feel less alone, build resilience and rediscover their own identity alongside their caring role.
Support for the person living with dementia can be provided separately, subject to assessment, to ensure the appropriate staffing and support arrangements are in place.
Carer Learning programme
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, most people are handed a diagnosis but not a roadmap. Questions, worries and uncertainty can quickly become overwhelming, leaving carers feeling alone and unprepared for the challenges ahead.
Our free Carers' Learning Programme is designed to change that. This four-week course gives carers the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to navigate the dementia journey, while connecting with others who truly understand what they are going through.
Led by experienced dementia specialists, sessions explore everything from understanding dementia and responding to changes in behaviour, to planning for the future, legal matters, care options and looking after your own wellbeing. Just as importantly, the programme provides a safe space to share experiences, ask questions and realise that you are not facing this journey alone.
For many carers, this course becomes a turning point - helping them move from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain to feeling informed, empowered and supported.
Places are offered by invitation and can be accessed through referral from your Dementia Coordinator or by completing our online enquiry form below.
Living well with dementia should not depend on your culture, language, faith or background. Yet for many people, barriers such as language, stigma, accessibility or lack of culturally appropriate support can make it harder to access the help they need.
We are committed to reaching underserved communities across Kent and Medway, ensuring that more people can access information, support and opportunities to live well with dementia. By working closely with local communities and partners, we are helping to break down barriers, reduce inequalities and create services that are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of the people we support.
Find out more here about how we are reaching underserved communities and bringing life-changing dementia support to those who need it most.
Whether you're looking for support, friendship, activities or advice, complete our enquiry form and one of our team will be in touch to help you take the next step.
To find out more about what’s in your area, visit our Find support near you page. If you are interested in any of these groups, or if you have any queries, please get in touch.
