Portsmouth’s Hartford Court invites guests, friends and residents to come together for a monthly dementia support group, the Memory Café.
With temperatures of 30 degrees, a heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are the elderly. Therefore, this was the perfect time to host the Mocktail Memory Café for 15 guests. The afternoon session was a chance for individuals living with dementia to enjoy an engaging, stimulating and interactive experience while also sampling delicious and nutritious, vibrant coloured mocktails and juices.
The popular community event has taken place since June 2017 with the aim of encouraging the local community to come together and create understanding plus friendship based on experiences of dementia. The session also provides a worthy and valuable chance for carers to meet likeminded people to understand how to care and understand those who are living with dementia.
Megan Best who is from Hartford Court and it also a dementia friend (champion of the Alzheimer’s Society), says: "It’s been great to bring people together, to socialise and talk about dementia and also get to know each other.
"It is wonderful to see everyone chatting, networking, learning and making friendships together. Dementia can be an isolating experience and often people feel like no one will understand and there is no where to turn.
"Our Memory Café brings people together to create and support a dementia friendly Portsmouth community and I’m proud to make a difference."
Pictured: Beryl Browne with Sarah Davies, manager at Hartford Court
