dementia programme header showing an older lady with her daughter and giving information about the sessions (last Tuesdays of the month from 10.30 am for Falkirk and Clackmannanshire carers)

Dementia Information Sessions – January to March

Our new Dementia programme is out!

Come along to learn about topics that can help you care for someone with dementia.

Tuesday 27 January 2026: Dementia & Delirium


Delirium is common in people with dementia and can make them increasingly confused and distressed. Learn to recognise the signs and what you can do to help someone feel calmer and more in control. Find out how delirium is treated and how long it takes to recover.

Tuesday 24 February 2026: Dementia – Sundowning & Shadowing


You may notice that the person you care for becomes more confused and/or agitated in the late afternoon and evening. This is known as “Sundowning”. Learn about the steps you can take to help reduce sundowning, for their benefit as well as your own. Shadowing is a form of behaviour in which a person with dementia follows their caregiver around. Find out how to manage this behaviour by gaining an understanding of why this occurs.

Tuesday 31 March 2026: Dementia – Behaviour: Hints & Tips


Changes in behaviour can be one of the most difficult aspects of living with dementia. It’s important to see beyond the behaviour itself and think about what may be causing it. There may be specific reasons why the person with dementia is behaving differently. Come along to learn more about what you can do to help.

You can download the programme leaflet from here.

To book a place or for further information on any of the above, please contact your Training Co-ordinator:

👩  Donna Mulder – Working hours: 21 hours per week (Monday – Wednesday)
📱  07824 381280
📧  donnamulder@centralcarers.co.uk

If you are a carer in Clackmannanshire, you are welcome to join these Falkirk sessions either over Zoom or, if you’d like to attend in person, travel may be provided. Please reach out to Donna for more information. 

Information Sessions for Professionals

Falkirk Professionals, you’re invited!

Come along to network and learn about what we do and how you can help unpaid carers!

If you know any other professionals who work with carers, please let them know about this opportunity. This session will give professionals an overview of what we do at the Carers Centre and how we can work together to support the carers they work with.

✅ Learn how we support unpaid carers
✅ Meet our teams and learn what they all do
✅ Connect with other professionals
✅ Gain practical insights into the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, Adult Carer Support Plans and Young Carer Statements, the hospital discharge process involving the carer, and more!
Let’s work together to support carers in our community!

📅 Thursday 29 January 2026
⏰ From 10 am to 12 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or via Zoom

Register for the event here! 

⁉️  Alternatively, if you can’t make this one and you’d like to be informed about upcoming sessions via emails,, please register your interest here.

Invitation to Dementia Consultation

Consultation: Dementia – Services and Support

We are inviting Falkirk carers who care for someone with a dementia diagnosis to this consultation.

We would encourage you to join even if you haven’t attended the previous consultations, as your valuable insights can help shape dementia support.

Yvonne Cairns, NHS Forth Valley Dementia and Delirium Lead, and Emma Douglas, leader of the Community Mental Health Team for Older Adult Services, will be joining us again and are continuing to gather your views and experiences related to dementia services and support. The specific topic for this session will be confirmed later. During the session, Yvonne will also share top tips, and any progress that has been made to the services, thanks to carers having shared their experiences last time.

Please register by 2 pm on Tuesday 13 January; however, if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Thursday 15 January 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom

December Care with Confidence Programme

Our new programme has now been released!

Come along to learn about topics that can help you with your caring role. 

Tuesday 25 November 2025: Dementia – It’s all in your approach


Find out how to avoid some of the arguments and upset when dealing with someone with dementia. Learn how someone with dementia may perceive his/her environment and how you can adapt your behaviour to increase communication and benefit your family member’s quality of life.

Wednesday 03 December 2025: Xmas Muscial Memories from 12 noon to 3 pm 


More information to follow.


There will be no sessions for the rest of December. If you’d like to be informed about the new programme via email, please contact Donna. Otherwise, keep an eye on our latest news page in the coming weeks. 

To book a place or for further information on any of the above, please contact your Training Co-ordinator:

👩  Donna Mulder
📱  07824 381280
📧  donnamulder@centralcarers.co.uk

Information Sessions for Professionals

Falkirk Professionals, you’re invited!

Come along to network and learn about what we do and how you can help unpaid carers!

If you know any other professionals who work with carers, please let them know about this opportunity. This session will give professionals an overview of what we do at the Carers Centre and how we can work together to support the carers they work with.

✅ Learn how we support unpaid carers
✅ Hear from our teams
✅ Connect with other professionals
✅ Gain practical insights into the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, Adult Carer Support Plans and Young Carer Statements, hospital discharge process involving the carer, and more!
Let’s work together to support carers in our community!

Meeting details:

📅 Thursday 27 November 2025
⏰ From 2 pm to 4 pm
📍 At the Carers Centre in Falkirk or via Zoom

Register for the event by emailing Dayna: daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk

⁉️  Alternatively, if you can’t make this one and you’d like to be informed about upcoming sessions, please register your interest here.

invitation to falkirk carers voice

Invitation to November Falkirk Carers’ Voice

Falkirk Carers, you’re invited!

Come along to have your say!

During November’s Voice, we will have guest speakers related to Carers Rights Day. Kerry Storey from Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol (SFAD) will join us, along with Falkirk’s Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS). They’ll share information about the support they offer.

Meeting details:
📅 Monday 24 November 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 At the Carers Centre in Falkirk or via Zoom

Register for the event here: https://form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/falkirk-carers-voice
Or get in touch with Sharlene Ramage, our Carer Participation Development Worker: sharleneramage@centralcarers.co.uk

⁉️ Did you know that you can read the previous meeting minutes on our website? Go to https://centralcarers.org/information/publications/

Carers Rights Day 2025

 🧡 Empowering Local Carers 

We are inviting unpaid carers from the Falkirk District and Clackmannanshire to a special Carers Rights Day drop-in event, which aims to empower carers with knowledge, support, and connection.

📍 Location: 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB
🕛 Time: Drop in between 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday 20 November 2025

This year’s national theme, “Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights,” shines a spotlight on the importance of carers understanding their legal entitlements and accessing the support they deserve. With over 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK – many of whom don’t identify as carers – Carers Rights Day is about making sure no one is left behind.

What to Expect on the Day

The Centre will offer a welcoming space where carers can:

  • 💬 Speak directly with the Adult Carers Team and Short Breaks Team
  • 🧠 Test their knowledge at the Interactive “True or False” Rights Wall
  • 📝 Share views through questionnaires and postcards
  • 🎥 Tell their story at the Video Booth, with selected stories featured online (with consent)

The goal is for carers to leave feeling informed, valued, and connected. As Sharlene Ramage, our Carer Participation Development Worker, shared during Carers Week: “Many carers are unaware of the support available to them, or what they’re entitled to. That’s what we’re here to help with.”

Real Stories, Real Impact

The Centre’s work is rooted in the ensuring carers are recognised and supported. Local carers have shared powerful stories of how this support has changed their lives:

  • Fiona, 54, cares for her husband with early-onset dementia. A grant from the Time to Live Fund allowed them to take a short break together, improving their well-being and strengthening their bond.
  • John, who retired early due to health issues while caring for his wife, found renewed purpose through music. With help from the Carers Centre, he received a grant for music therapy sessions, combining his love of singing and guitar with much-needed respite.
  • Young carers have found a safe space at the Carers Centre to balance school and caring responsibilities. One said, “It’s the only place I feel like people understand what I’m going through.”
  • A carer who had never used a computer was supported to get online and now joins regular Zoom sessions. “I didn’t think I could do it, but now I feel connected and less alone.”

Why Carers Rights Day Matters

Carers Rights Day is about more than information – it’s about empowerment. Whether you’re caring for a child with additional needs, a sibling, an elderly relative, or even a neighbour, you have rights, including:

  • The right to request an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement
  • The right to access support services
  • The right to request flexible working arrangements
Join the Conversation!

No booking is required – just drop in! Whether you’re new to caring or have years of experience, this is your chance to learn, connect, and be recognised.

 

Invitation to November Clackmannanshire Carers’ Voice

Clackmannanshire Carers, you’re invited!

Join us to have your say!

On the agenda:

Care Reform Bill overview
‘What a break means to you’ consultation and Short Breaks Q&A
Updates from
▫️your Integration Joint Board Carer Representative
▫️Health & Social Care Partnership, NHS and 3rd Sector
▫️our Carers Centre
Any issues or concerns shared by carers

Meeting details:
Thursday 13 November 2025
From 10 am to 12 noon
Hawkhill Community Centre, Alloa

Register for the event here: https://form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/clackmannanshire-carers-voice
If you are a professional interested in attending, please contact Nicola on 01324 611510 (option 2) or nicolaweedon@centralcarers.co.uk.

⁉️ Did you know that you can read the previous meeting minutes on our website? Go to https://centralcarers.org/information/publications/

Consultation: Dementia – Stress and Distress

We are inviting Falkirk carers who care for someone with a dementia diagnosis to this dementia consultation.

We would encourage you to join even if you haven’t attended the previous consultations, as your valuable insights can help shape dementia support.

Yvonne Cairns, NHS Forth Valley Dementia and Delirium Lead, and Emma Douglas, leader of the Community Mental Health Team for Older Adult Services, will be joining us again and are continuing to gather your views and experiences related to dementia services and support. This session will focus on stress and distress, while Yvonne will also share updates and any progress that has been made to the services, thanks to carers having shared their experiences last time.

Please register by 2 pm on Monday 24 November; however, if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Thursday, 27 November 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre