Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dementia support service wants to hear views on new centre
NEW centres to support people living with dementia should be open by the summer.
The facilities in Angus are being set up following the pioneering work of Kirrie Connections, with a meeting in Forfar tonight aimed at moving forward that town’s project.
The Kirriemuir dementia hub was the first in Scotland to establish a meeting centre based on the success of a Dutch model, and plans to set up centres in Forfar and Montrose are advanced.
Meeting centres support people with mild to moderate dementia and their families.
A key characteristic is that the centres are influenced by the interests and needs of members, so those behind the Forfar plan were keen to see a good turnout at a meeting in Strathmore Cricket Club tonight at 7pm. The club is co-ordinating the project, but says it is a collective community project.
“We are approaching a very important stage in the development of the meeting centre,” they said.
“We hope to be open to the first members before the summer and need to be confident the project is moving in the right direction.
“Shortly after the meeting, we intend to be reaching out to people living with dementia and their carers, and inviting them to consider whether becoming a member would be a support to them.
“Before we do that, we would appreciate input from potential members on the plans we have. It would therefore by great to see them along at the meeting.”
In Montrose, the aim is to have the town’s meeting centre open next month.
Montrose Community Trust is teaming up with the YM Montrose hub on its project to create a meeting centre that will be open three days a week and support 10-15 members per day.
Project manager Gemma Lownie said: “There are more than 150 meeting centres in the Netherlands that have demonstrated benefits for people living with early dementia.
“Those include reducing behavioural and psychological problems, and delaying admission to residential care.
“Following a diagnosis of dementia, people often feel overwhelmed and confused about where to access help.
“We plan for our meeting centre to be a hub of activity and information, providing support on a local level.”
The Forfar and Montrose developments follow a £300,000 funding boost for Kirrie Connections to assist the Angus roll-out.
It received almost £200,000 after the Glasgow-based Life Changes Trust named the organisation as a local legacy partner.
Kirrie Connections landed a further £100,000 through Age Scotland’s About Dementia Project in partnership with the Scottish Government.