Posted under Blog on June 5th, 2014 by Editorial Team / No Comments

A new and innovative project called the Dementia Café has been launched by the UK’s Alzheimer’s Society.

Opening later this month, the Dementia Café will provide an opportunity for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, and their carers, to get out of the house and socialise. The hope is that it will give carers some relief from their full-time roles.

Visitors to these cafés will be able to share their accounts of living with Alzheimer’s, while experienced carers will be able to offer advice to those who are new to this role. The café will also host a variety of specialist speakers, including health and social care professionals and representatives from the local community, talking about their areas of expertise.

Marion Howell, services manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in west Essex, said: "The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Cafés can really help improve people’s quality of life. They give people with dementia and their carers the opportunity to socialise with others in similar situations and receive vital support. They are also a great source of information and guidance which can help people to live well with the condition.”

As well as the Dementia Café, the Alzheimer’s Society runs a number of services, including a post- diagnosis support service, a dementia support service and an initiative called Singing for the Brain. The organisation also run specialist support services, including reminiscence groups, a weekly gardening group, the Young at Heart group and education for carer classes.

This local solution to a nationwide problem demonstrates how communities can take action against Alzheimer’s disease. They provide meaningful support to people with the condition and those caring for them.

Tags: Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's society, dementia, Dementia cafe

Posted under Blog on March 15th, 2013 by Editorial Team / No Comments

A recent visit by Scottish politician John Pentland to the Living Well with Dementia Café held monthly at Motherwell Football Club has helped to highlight the valuable role played by such facilities.

Established in 2011, the Living Well with Dementia Café offers people with concerns over memory loss, or with a diagnosis of dementia, a place to gather, share their experiences and receive practical support.  The hard-working team behind the café hopes to build awareness of dementia, tackle stigma associated with the condition and provide advice on how dementia sufferers can continue to live safely in their communities.   The café also offers a memory clinic – the first step towards diagnosis and getting appropriate advice and assistance.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Pentland, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, said: “This is a fantastic service which provides a regular meeting point for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s and their carers to meet with healthcare professionals.”

This inspirational Scottish café is one of many such resources aimed at providing a social outlet for those living with, or concerned about, Alzheimer’s. 

Another neighborhood café, in Seattle, Washington, focuses on creating memories for those who have trouble remembering.  Started by the Greenwood Senior Center in north central Seattle, the Ampersand Pantry and Café, nicknamed the Alzheimer’s Café, offers dance, song and discussion groups for people suffering with Alzheimer’s. 

Marie Trainer, whose husband lost his battle with Alzheimer’s last year, described the camaraderie of the group. “Coming here there were no expectations,” she said. “He really enjoyed it.”

With the numbers of those living with dementia rising yearly, innovative and supportive ways of caring for those with the condition – and their loved ones – have become increasingly important.

Learn more about Seattle’s ‘Alzheimer’s Café’ here.

Tags: Alzheimer's, Dementia cafe, Scotland, Seattle