Special day organised for dementia patients after pandemic break

Guests excited for free day out with family and carers

A GLASGOW foundation is hosting its first Christmas lunch for people with dementia in almost two years.

Beneficiaries of the Battle Against Dementia (BAD) Foundation will be able to enjoy a Christmas day out with their families and carers for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

The BAD Foundation supports people in Glasgow and the west of Scotland who are directly affected by dementia, but coronavirus had put a halt to all its initiatives.

BAD’s founder Douglas Mccluskey said: “It’s absolutely fantastic and a long time coming to be able to organise something now that restrictions are a little looser.

“It’s been a great window of opportunity for us to actually put something back that people can come and enjoy and have a relaxing day seeing their families.”

The festive lunch will be held on December 6 at Balmore Golf Club, with entertainment provided by Rod Stewart tribute act Simply Rod.

Mccluskey managed to involve 50 dementia patients as well as their families and carers.

He said the guests’ response has been enthusiastic: “It was quite funny, because a lot of them have responded saying ‘how much is it going to be? That’s fantastic’, almost in disbelief.

“They couldn’t actually grasp that it was a free day for them to come and enjoy.

“As you can imagine, it’s always very strange for people with dementia, especially going through Covid, as a lot of things have been restricted. They’re absolutely ecstatic about it.”

Launched in 2018, the charity provides funds for people with dementia and their families to help relieve the stress caused by the condition.