Cheers ... come on in to the bar with a difference
‘Pub’goes down a treat with people with dementia
People living with dementia are enjoying a wee tipple in the pub again thanks to a charity’s innovative bar project.
Iain Houston and Deborah Edgar, from Alzheimer Scotland’s Renfrewshire branch, came up with the Beer With Buddies idea over a year ago.
They have a large sitting room at their centre in Riccartsbar Avenue, Paisley, and they thought it would be a good idea to make a bar there.
Dementia advisor Iain explained: “I work with a lot of people with dementia and their carers. Men in particular said to me they weren’t really ones for going to groups but they used to go to the pub or the bowling, and that’s how they socialised.
“When people have got dementia, they can struggle to remember people’s names and get embarrassed, so they stop going out.
“We wanted to create a nice normal pub environment that people with dementia and their families will feel comfortable coming along to.”
Beer With Buddies officially launched at the start of the month and will hold regular events on the last Friday of the month from 4pm until 7.30pm.
People can enjoy a non-alcoholic beer or soft drink, order pub food at the bar or enjoy a game of darts or dominoes. A projector will show old football games and there will also be a holistic therapist on hand to give massages to carers.
Iain and Deborah presented their idea to The Lens, a group that encourages employees to come up with projects for their organisation, and they received £5,000 of funding.
It is also backed by Alzheimer Scotland, but Iain said they ask people for a £5 donation to cover food, drink and staff costs.
Iain said: “Everyone who came along to the opening night said it felt just like being in a pub.
“Sometimes in groups it can take people a bit longer to relax but, coming into the pub, they relaxed instantly.
“People who hadn’t met before were chatting away, like you would do in the pub.
“We were given some old bar stools and pub glasses from The Bull and The Cave pubs in Paisley.
“Auchentoshan distillery gave us a whisky barrel. It’s empty, but it has a whisky smell, so when you open the door, it really does smell like a pub.
“That sort of thing is important too. It helps stimulate that memory for people and helps them relax.”
Iain’s dad David built the bar and it’s on wheels, so it could be put away, but Iain said it’s proving so popular, they’re keeping it where it is.
“We’ve got a really nice sitting room. We weren’t using it to its full potential, so it’s quite nice to have the bar in there,” said Iain.
“We had thought it would be in there temporarily but it looks so good and everyone seems so relaxed with it in there we thought we’d leave it there.
He added: “It’s such a simple idea, but sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones.”
The first official Beer With Buddies will take place on Friday, June 29.
To find out more about the event or any of the other services offered by Alzheimer Scotland Renfrewshire in Riccartsbar Avenue, Paisley, give them a ring on 0141 887 1289, email RenfrewshireServices@alzscot.org or check the website www.alzscot. org and search for Renfrewshire.
Sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones Iain Houston