A new ‘one stop shop’ for people with dementia is launching in a London borough with one of the highest rates of the disease in the capital
The Memory Cafe will run at Longfield Hall, the community and cultural hub in Camberwell, and other venues in Lambeth, which is among the top 25 per cent of boroughs for emergency admissions for dementia or Alzheimer’s. *
The project will offer advice, advocacy and support for people with a dementia diagnosis and their carers, and provide social activities including art, drama and games.
It is being run by Longfield Hall Trust, with £138,800 funding from City Bridge Foundation, the owner of five Thames bridges and the London’s biggest independent charity funder.
Paul Martinelli, City Bridge Foundation chair, said: “Being diagnosed with dementia, or having a loved one who is, is a very daunting experience for anyone to deal with.
“As a borough with an ageing population, there’s a real need in Lambeth for a service like the Memory Cafe, which will offer vital support and guidance, as well as providing valuable opportunities for social interaction.”
Over the last few months, Longfield Hall Trust has been running a pilot scheme for people with dementia and their carers, the experience of which will help to shape the memory cafe when it launches in the autumn.
Will Ollard, Longfield Hall Trust chair of trustees, said: “When you get a diagnosis of dementia, there’s very little support available and you’re just suddenly plunged into this world of which you know nothing.
“The Memory Cafe will offer a one-stop shop where people with dementia and their carers can get advice and support, and will also be a place that’s familiar, where people can come and feel comfortable and where carers can get a bit of respite from the demands of looking after their loved-one.”
Anyone who has, or cares for someone with dementia who is interested in coming to the Memory Cafe when it launches is asked to contact Will Ollard by emailing willollard@longfieldhall.org.uk or calling 07530 529140.
