Our new monthly Memory Cafe welcomes you

Willowbrook View care home in Wichelstowe is officially launching a monthly ‘Memory Café’ for the families and friends of local people living with dementia.

Designed as a community support hub for anyone impacted by the condition, it will provide a safe space for people to share experiences, swap advice, or to simply blow off steam in a friendly and supportive environment.

Led by Willowbrook’s events and activities lead Emily Locke, the sessions will offer tea, coffee, cakes, and fun activities for participants to engage in, and occasionally feature dementia professionals and guest speakers who can share their insights on dealing with the condition.

The Willowbrook View team hopes the cafés will provide local people the normality, peer support, and practical advice they need to be effective carers for their loved ones.

Customer Relations Manager Chris Guest said “We are thrilled to be opening our Willowbrook View Memory Café! The world can feel like it gets smaller when you get that Dementia diagnosis, but it doesn’t have to.

“We hope having the opportunity to laugh, smile and talk with other people who truly understand you makes your world a brighter place. We can’t wait to meet you!”

The concept of a ‘dementia café’ has been growing in popularity in recent years, and there are now over 60 such groups scattered around the country.

Studies show this kind of regular community support can provide a vital sense of belonging for individuals with dementia and their care partners, boosting their emotional health and social engagement.

Aside from the emotional support, participants also benefit from the information-sharing aspects of the cafés.

In Swindon, there are over 2,400 over-65s living with some form of dementia, meaning one in 14 people will develop the condition at some point.

Emily Locke said: “Our aim is to create an active local support network so that no one in Swindon has to feel alone when grappling with dementia.

“People forget that dealing with dementia is not just challenging for those living with the condition, but also for their friends and family helping them through it.

“For us, it’s crucial that people feel supported themselves so they can properly care for their loved ones, and that’s what our new Memory Café is all about.”

The memory cafe is held on the first Tuesday of the month.

To learn more, email emily.locke@willowbrookview.co.uk or call 01793 38795

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