The Lived Experience Advisory Network (LEAN) (formerly LEAP)

At Dementia Jersey we are passionate about listening to the voices of our service users. We know that people with dementia and their family and friends have a wealth of knowledge and understanding that is only gained from experience. If this is shared it can help other people understand what it is like to have dementia or to care for someone with dementia. It can also help us at Dementia Jersey, health service providers, and businesses to provide services to meet people’s needs.

How we have listened

LEAN has now been up and running since October 2021 and over this time many of our clients have joined in discussions on a wide range of subjects that have been important to them.

We have noted what has been discussed and published reports on our website making them available for anyone to read. Dementia Jersey has actioned many of LEAN’s recommendations and shared these with other organisations as appropriate.

What we have been doing

The following are just some of LEAN’s recommendations that we have actioned or are in the planning stages.

We now have more Meeting Place Project sessions, enabling more people to attend and benefit from these very popular groups.
We have extended our Dementia Advice and Counselling services, and the range of carer support groups so more people can attend meetings at times to suit them.
We now offer training for family carers.
We are developing training for professional carers.
We now provide more community-based information sessions for the public to help people understand more about dementia thus helping to reduce stigma.
We have added to the range of activities we offer for people with dementia.
We have launched a brain health campaign to let the public know how they can reduce their risk of getting dementia.
Our Dementia Friendly Business scheme is now well established, making more businesses more accessible for people with dementia.
We are sharing LEAN’s recommendations widely across the island.

What to do if you would like to join in a LEAN discussion

If you have dementia and already attend one of the Meeting Place Project sessions, please speak to the leader of your group about LEAN.
If you are a carer then please do come along to the LEAN sessions for carers. Everyone is welcome to come and talk about their experiences. While enjoying a light lunch together we focus on a specific subject of interest. To enable people to talk freely, no names are shared and all the information discussed is anonymised. The meetings are led by Dementia Jersey’s Clinical Lead, Dr Sian Wareing-Jones.

LEAN sessions for 2025

If you attend the Meeting Place Project, LEAN sessions will be at your meetings in March, June, September and December 2025.

If you are a family member or friend of a person with dementia, the next LEAN sessions and subjects for carers will be:

Friday 14th March – Experiences related to driving

Friday 13th June – Experiences related to attending or being in hospital

Friday 12th September – Experiences related to communication

Friday 12th December – Experiences related to the services provided by Dementia Jersey

These meetings will all be from 12.:15 to 13:45 and will be at the new Dementia Jersey Offices in St Helier.

A light lunch will be provided.

If you would like to know more about LEAN, or to book a place at any of these meetings, please contact us by,

Email: info@dementia.je

Tel: 01534 723519