Cara Macklin (Milesian Manor), Mid Ulster Councillor Sean McPeake, Ashleigh Davis (Dementia NI), Lauren Shivers (Milesian Manor) and Martin Murtagh (Dementia NI) at the launch of the Dementia Cafe.1
The cafe is being launched at Milesian Manor Care Home in Magherafelt ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day on Friday.
The new-concept care home was inspired by the Sterling University International Design Conference, it is a first-of-its-kind in the North of Ireland providing older people with a lifestyle-inspired home in which to fully enjoy their formative years.
The home focuses on providing residents with a collection of specially created spaces reflecting the activities they would have enjoyed previously along with a full programme of daily activities, encouraging independence and a life full of enjoyment ensuring the experience provides a positive one, not only for the residents but their relatives too who are encouraged to play a big role in their older relations lives.
It will take place monthly and provide support and education to families and carers who are caring for those living in the community with Dementia.
Expert nursing staff from Milesian Manor and Dementia NI representatives will be on-hand to help raise awareness, explain signs and symptoms, whilst Dementia NI members will share their first-hand experience about what it is like to live with the condition and how the local community can help.
Around 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK.
Latest figures from the Alzheimer’s Society show that nearly 20,000 of these live in Northern Ireland. Across the UK, the vast majority (almost 95%) of those living with dementia are over the age of 65.6 there are, however, 42,325 people under 65 who have dementia.
Also at the event was Martin Murtagh from Dementia NI.
Martin has been outspoken in the past about his battle with dementia and experience with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system.
Cara Macklin, Director at Milesian Manor explained the concept behind the dementia cafe.
“We wanted to be caring towards our local community and feel that the expertise we have in our home could be utilised further,” she said.
“Many people are not at the stage of needing full time care but still need a little extra help and guidance – often a loved one can feel under a lot of pressure having to support or care for someone living with Dementia, it can be stressful and upsetting and our Dementia Café is somewhere they can come to get support and advice, along with a cup of tea and meet experts in the field, but equally importantly they will get to meet other people in their own community who are going through a similar experience.”
Ashleigh Davis, Empowerment Officer,from Dementia NI said social gatherings were essential to people suffering from dementia.
“Dementia NI members meet on a regular basis at Empowerment Groups throughout Northern Ireland to enable people with dementia to have a voice, remain active and part of their community,” she said.
“Members meet in suitable venues to offer each other support through friendly social gatherings and raise awareness about what it is like to live with the symptoms of dementia.
“Dementia NI members help influence and inform how people can still live well with dementia. Through training and education, the members tell others what it is like to live with dementia, as well as challenge the stigma attached to a diagnosis by raising awareness.”
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Sean McPeake, said the project would be an important addition to the local community.
“Caring for someone with dementia can be a challenging and emotional experience and it can also be very isolating,” he said.
“This new dementia café is not only a place of respite where family members can meet other people to share their experiences, but also benefit from advice and support.
“This is a far-sighted project by Milesian Manor and my congratulations go to the staff for developing the café.”
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