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Live webchat – speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse

Get specialist dementia advice through our free live webchat. Speak directly with one of our Admiral Nurses for guidance, emotional support and practical tips. Available Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

What is the live webchat?

Our live webchat lets you have a real-time text conversation with a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse, directly through our website. It’s free to use and you don’t need to download anything.

Whether you have a quick question or would like to talk through a situation, our nurses are here to listen and help. You can also save or copy the conversation afterwards, so you can refer back to it later.

Who is the service for?

The live webchat is for anyone affected by dementia who would like support from a specialist dementia nurse.

It may be particularly helpful if you:

  • feel anxious about phone calls
  • would like a copy of the conversation to look back on later
  • are deaf or hard of hearing
  • find it easier to read and write in English than speak it
  • would like to ask questions or talk privately, without worrying about others overhearing the conversation

The service is available to people living with dementia, family members, carers and anyone else who supports someone with dementia.

When is it available?

Opening hours: the live webchat is available Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

Expected waiting times: once you start a chat, you will be asked a few quick questions and then be connected to an Admiral Nurse, typically within several minutes. Waiting times may be longer during busy periods.

Please note: if you are still waiting in the queue at 4pm, you will not be connected, as the service closes at that time.

Outside these hours: if you visit our site outside opening hours, the chat icon won’t be available. You can, however, call our Helpline on 0800 888 6678 between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm at the weekends.

How does the webchat work?

  1. When the service is open, you’ll see a chat icon at the bottom of your screen. Click it to begin.
  2. We’ll ask for some brief details to help us understand your situation before connecting you with an Admiral Nurse.
  3. You’ll be connected to an Admiral Nurse for a real-time conversation. Take your time; there’s no rush. If you need to step away briefly, just let the nurse know.
  4. When the chat ends, you can save or copy the conversation for your records.

Please note: An Admiral Nurse will only be able to see your messages once you are connected to the live webchat.

What are Admiral Nurses?

Admiral Nurse Vic

Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who provide practical advice, emotional support, and expert guidance to families affected by dementia. They understand the challenges you’re facing and can help you navigate complex situations, from managing symptoms to planning for the future.

When not to use the live webchat

  • The live webchat is not suitable for medical emergencies or crisis situations
  • If you need urgent medical help: call 999 or go to A&E
  • If you need medical advice but it’s not an emergency: contact NHS 111 (call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk)
  • If you’re in emotional distress or crisis: please get in touch with our free Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 (open Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm) or contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours) or visit samaritans.org
  • If you’re worried about someone’s immediate safety: call 999.

Other Dementia UK services

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Your conversation is confidential and handled in line with our privacy notice. We’ll explain how we use your information at the start of the chat.

Yes, you can use the service from anywhere, although our advice is tailored to UK services and support systems. 

Yes, the live webchat is completely free. You’ll need an internet connection to access it, but there’s no charge for using the service. 

If all our nurses are busy, you may need to wait a little longer to be connected. If you’d prefer not to wait, you can call our Helpline or explore our information pages. You’re also welcome to try the webchat at a different time. 

Please note: if you are still waiting in the queue at 4pm, you won’t be able to speak to an Admiral Nurse, as the service will have closed for the day.

If it feels helpful, you may want to think about what is worrying you the most or any questions you would like to ask, but there is no pressure to do so. The Admiral Nurse will support you to talk things through at your own pace during the chat. 

If you need to step away during the chat, that’s okay. Let the Admiral Nurse know if you can. Live chat conversations happen in real time, and if the chat is inactive for a while, it may end.

If this happens, you’re welcome to start a new chat when you’re ready. Our nurses understand that people may need to pause or step away, and they’ll support you when you get back in touch.

When the chat ends, you can choose to have a copy of the conversation sent to you by email. This gives you a transcript that you can look back on in your own time, or return to if you need it again.

The live webchat box may look slightly different depending on your device or browser settings, such as text size or display preferences. This won’t affect your ability to use the service.