Belong Chester is marking Dementia Action Week (18–24 May) with events highlighting both the impact of dementia on families and the support available locally.

Admiral Nurses provide much of that support, working with families in and around the city to help them understand and manage the condition.

The role was developed in response to the experiences of family carers, and is named after Joseph Levy - known as "Admiral Joe" - who lived with vascular dementia.

As specialist dementia nurses, they support people with conditions including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia, as well as their families and carers.

At Belong Chester, the free service is delivered in partnership with Dementia UK, the national charity responsible for supporting and developing Admiral Nurses across the country.

Nub News spoke with local Admiral Nurses Bridget Lawler and Caroline Clifton to understand how their role extends beyond clinical care, and the importance of community outreach such as their free B's Café.

"We teach people to step into their world," Bridget said. "Our role is to support the families of people who live with dementia. Because the families need a lot of support and they don't really get a lot of support."

Nub News spoke with local Admiral Nurse Bridget Lawler, who has worked at Belong for a number of years (Image supplied)

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As an Admiral Nurse, she teaches families how to effectively communicate with someone living with dementia, relying on patience, empathy, and the use of non-verbal cues.

This includes using short, simple sentences, maintaining eye contact, minimising distractions, and speaking slowly. It is also important to approach the person from the front where possible, listen actively, and use reassuring touch or visual aids to support conversation.

Rather than arguing or quibbling, the focus should be on validating their feelings and responding with reassurance and understanding.

Families are supported to move away from trying to correct or challenge confusion, and instead focus on understanding the person's experience and responding in ways that reduce distress. For many, that support also involves navigating difficult emotions such as grief and guilt as roles within the family change.

Alongside emotional support, Admiral Nurses also help families navigate practical challenges such as accessing financial support, arranging allowances, and finding tools that can help keep loved ones safe.

"If we can just help one person to get through a difficult time, just to listen, then your job is worth it," Caroline added.

Families can access support as often as they need, with Admiral Nurses working flexibly depending on individual circumstances.

That approach is also evident at Belong Chester's monthly B's Café, which offers an informal space for people affected by dementia to meet others and speak with an Admiral Nurse and care team.

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For those outside the service, the café offers a way to access support informally and speak to an Admiral Nurse face-to-face.

Open to both Belong customers and members of the wider community, the free sessions are designed to provide advice and support in a relaxed setting over tea and coffee.

There is no set structure to how people take part, with staff saying the focus is on creating a space where families can talk openly, ask questions, or simply spend time in a supportive environment.

For many who attend, the café also provides the opportunity to meet others going through similar experiences. Caroline explained that peer support can be just as important as professional advice, particularly for carers who may feel isolated or out of their depth.

"We want carers to meet each other as well," she said. "We can tell people, you shouldn't feel guilty, you shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that, until we're blue in the face - but if they hear it from somebody else in the same situation, it's really powerful."

The team also work with families in the community, including those supported by Belong at Home services, helping people remain in familiar surroundings for as long as possible before a move into full-time care is needed.

Belong Chester will also host a Dementia Action Week Open Day on Wednesday 27 May 2026, offering the opportunity for families and members of the public to find out more about local dementia support and meet members of the team.

You can find out more about Belong's Admiral Nurses service here.