THE South Lakeland branch of the Alzheimer's Society has been chosen as one of six sites across the country to pilot a home-based support service.

The aim of the Mental Health Foundation's project, which will cover the whole of the UK, is to provide people with dementia, and their carers, with an advice, support and befriending service to help them plan for the future and access treatment and care.

Information and knowledge gathered from these pilot schemes will be shared to help develop and influence the way services are provided for people with dementia.

The branch is setting up a steering committee for the project, which will include members from Morecambe Bay Health Authority, the South Lakeland Primary Care Group, Cumbria Social Services, South Lakeland Carers and Age Concern.

Plans include employing two-part time staff to run a befriending and family support service.