Wick dementia café afternoons could be a 'win-win situation'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A monthly dementia café in Wick could prove to be a "win-win situation" for care home residents and people from the wider community who are affected by the condition.
Starting next Wednesday, the two-hour get-togethers at Seaview House will allow information about dementia to be shared in an informal setting.
It is a collaboration between Seaview House, run by Barchester Healthcare, and the national charity Alzheimer Scotland, which aims to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.
The café will be run jointly by Gayle Magennis, general manager at Seaview House, and Isobel Stevenson, Alzheimer Scotland's dementia advisor for north Highland.
They emphasise that it is open to anyone in the community affected by dementia, along with their carers. It will take place in the care home's main lounge.
“It is just a case of coming in," Gayle explained. “It's for the general public and it's an information café, basically.
"If they've got any questions about dementia, or any concerns about their loved ones that are maybe showing signs, or if they're living with dementia, they can just come along and it's more like a social thing.
"Our residents will be able to mix with some of them and it'll just be a get-together.
“On the back of that we're then hoping to maybe form subgroups from it, like walking groups, or joining forces with Cycling Without Age – just giving the elderly population a bit more involvement in the community. That's what the aim is.
“And obviously it's a great opportunity for our residents to mix with the public as well. It's a win-win situation if it takes off.
“It'll be like an afternoon tea kind of thing – a coffee and a cake and a biscuit and a chinwag with people who have all got something in common."
The first dementia café takes place on Wednesday, April 19, from 2-4pm. Although it is being planned on a once-a-month basis, that could change depending on the level of interest.
“It's just very dependent on uptake," Gayle said. "If a lot of people come, it might be that we could do it more frequently. That's the hope, anyway – that we get lots of interest.
“Primarily it'll be for information, and we'll just take it from there and see what else we can offer and develop from it.
“There are lots and lots of people living with dementia in the community, so I think it would be lovely to pull them all together and be able to support one another."
Isobel Stevenson said: "The dementia café is a place for people affected by dementia and their carers to come and have a cup of tea and a chat and to meet others in the same situation in a relaxed environment. Everyone affected by dementia will be very welcome to attend.
"The benefits of socialising are great and those who attend can get support, if needed. They will know that they are not alone and hopefully they will make new friendships."
