Keeping spirits up and avoiding social isolation is a vital part of dementia care. Having the opportunity to get out of the house for a couple of hours and mix with others in a similar position is often a lifeline for those with dementia, and their carers too.
The opening of a new dementia cafe at Rowland's in West Port, Selkirk is therefore reason to celebrate and will provide people in the Scottish Borders with a valuable new resource.
LOCAL groups have pulled together to provide a bit of cafe culture for people living with dementia along with their family, carers and friends.
Borders College, Rowland’s Cafe and NHS Borders MHOAT (Mental Health Older Adults Team) are setting up a café and drop in centre where people can meet once a month to chat and seek advice.
People can meet for a morning coffee with scones on the second Tuesday of every month from 10am at Rowland’s café.
Members of the MHOAT team, who provide a community based specialist mental health service for people who have a diagnosis of dementia, will be on hand to give advice and the venue will also have a range of information available for anyone who would like to know more about dementia.
The Board of Directors at Rowland’s have provided the venue whilst students from the Access Department at Borders College will provide a coffee morning service.
Dementia Cafes are run in various locations throughout the Borders.
Their main purpose is to offer an informal, pop-in venue for people who are living with dementia, their family and carers and anyone who is worried that they or a loved one might be developing symptoms of dementia to meet with each other, as well as members of our team, in order to get advice, support and information about the condition.
“Rowlands cafe is an ideal venue for a dementia cafe as it is friendly, comfortable, central and easily accessible.”
NHS Borders Community Psychiatric Nurse
Source: Border Telegraph 11/1/16
