TWO new dementia support services have been launched in Tavistock thanks to the Tavistock Memory Café, which estimates there could be around 400 people in the town suffering with the disease.

The memory café, which recently celebrated its 13th anniversary, has developed the new services — a monthly ‘Care and Share’ session and a weekly Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) session — to complement other essential dementia services in the town.

Graham Coiley, chair of trustees for Tavistock Memory Café, said the need for dementia support and care had ‘never been greater’.

‘The Alzheimers Society predicts that one million people in the UK will be living with dementia by 2025,’ he said. ‘Around one in six people over the age of 80 have dementia and with Tavistock’s older population it is likely that you will know a friend or family member who is living with the disease.

‘It is estimated by Dr Steve Pearson, fellow trustee and consultant in memory assessment and dementia research, that there may be around 400 people in Tavistock living with dementia.’

The café provides locally-based support fortnightly for those who are either living with dementia or their carers, friends or family. It provides the opportunity to get out and about, meet friends, get involved in activities that keep the brain stimulated, for carers to obtain advice and for them to have a break from their caring responsibilities in a safe environment.

The new Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) sessions will be weekly starting on September 11 for 14 weeks. CST is a structured therapy that follows a standard format of orientation and then structured activities organised by a facilitator who leads and supervises the session.

Graham said: ‘It has a well-established evidence base, including professional reviews and has been shown to be as effective as the cognitive medication that is prescribed for dementia and has no side effects — plus it’s fun to take part in. The hope is that people will be able to take the learned techniques and put them to use at home.’

The CST programme will start on Wednesday, September 11 and run through to Wednesday, December 18 from 11am to noon at Tavistock Library.

The Care and Share sessions will be run by memory café volunteers engaging with carers from Home Instead Senior Care. The sessions offer a range of activities to help trigger memories, encourage getting involved, a social lunch and family carers can leave their loved one for some time, reassured that they are well cared for and safe. These take place on a Saturday, between 11am and 3pm at The Anchorage Centre.

Both Care and Share and the CST programme are being funded by the Tavistock Memory Café, which is a charity reliant on generous donations, minimal grant funding and the commitment and compassion of volunteers.

‘The services we provide mean people can get out and about,’ said Graham. ‘The disease can be quite isolating — it can be difficult to take someone with dementia out as they can get confused, tired or sometimes even violent. Being able to come to a safe place where people understand the disease and what it is like for the carers is invaluable.

‘We’re very fortunate in Tavistock that we have a few dementia support groups in the area. We are a very dementia-friendly town with lots of dementia friendly activities going on in the town, but there’s always more we can do. With an increasing number of people with dementia it’s important we keep adding services to support them.’

Anyone interested in attended any of the Tavistock Memory Café services or volunteering to help, please contact Heather Rayne on 07765 644843 or email [email protected]

For more information visit www.tavistock memorycafe.co.uk