Free dementia cafe opens in Citywest
A FREE, community-based Dementia Café is starting in Citywest today, Tuesday January 16, and is open to all those living locally with dementia and their family, friends and carers.
Run by the TLC Nursing Home in Citywest, the monthly café will provide a social outlet for residents of South Dublin County while also providing people with information and support in a safe, relaxed and friendly environment.
Each café will have a 30-minute presentation on a related topic, such as medication, fitness, legal issues or nutrition, after which there will be a short Q&A followed by tea, cake and a chat.
Elaine Keane, Director of Clinical Services at TLC Nursing Home Group, told The Echo: “The café will provide a safe and relaxed place where people with dementia and their families can support each other in a social setting.
“Many of our residents [with dementia] and their families say that what makes it difficult to cope is the isolation, they feel disconnected from their community.”
TLC hopes that the café will provide people with dementia and their families with a social event that they feel comfortable in, and one which may help in building their confidence to try other outlets.
However, Ms Keane stressed that more awareness around dementia needs to be raised in communities and that, through the café and linking in with local services, efforts will be made to help integrate those with dementia and their families into their communities.
“[People with dementia may find it hard to socialise] due to a challenge that is perceived or real,” Ms Keane said.
“We want to help make it as easy as possible for them.”
She added: “We will also be tapping into local services and providing information on where to get local day care support for example, we’ll be sign posting to local services.”
According to Ms Keane, the first four cafes are mapped out but after that they hope that participants will help to shape the café, and put forward ideas for what they would like to do or discuss.
The first Dementia Café will take place in the TLC Nursing Home on Fortunestown Lane on Tuesday, January 16, at 6.30pm.
The first meeting will be an introduction to the café and all are welcome to simply turn up.
Family members and carers can attend on their own.
For further details on the café, which will be held on the third Tuesday of every month, call Linda on 4689300 or Elaine on 087 2282885.
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