The first anniversary of the Ballybofey Alzheimer’s Café will be celebrated this month in the Villa Rose Hotel.
The cafe has brought comfort, joy and support to many local people since it began in September 2018.
Since then, the Café has met on the third Wednesday of every month from 11 am – 1 pm.
The Café will celebrate its first anniversary on the 21st August 2019 and would like to invite any person who is living with Dementia and their carers, family members or friends to join the party.
The first Alzheimer’s Café was started in the Netherlands in 1997 by Dr. Bere Miesen. The Alzheimer’s Café is more than just a “social outing”; it’s a gathering of people affected by or interested in Dementia.
The monthly gatherings are for the purpose of education, discussions, exchanging information about Dementia and the opportunities to socialise and meet others. Attending the Alzheimer’s Café is free of charge. People can come and go as they please, just like at any café.
Anyone who attends the Alzheimer’s Café can receive support, information, education about Dementia, and meet others in similar circumstances.
They also meet professionals knowledgeable about Dementia, members of the local Alzheimer’s Society or any other Dementia Support Group. People can converse, listen to one of the themed talks and enjoy refreshments and music.
Anyone living with Dementia, irrespective of what stage their illness is at are invited to attend the café.
The aim of the Alzheimer’s Café is to help reduce the stigma about living with Dementia, providing an opportunity for learning more about the condition, for providing information, practical support and opportunities for questioning and interacting.
Over the last year of the Donegal cafe, various professionals have delivered talks, engaged in discussions and Q&A sessions with people living with Dementia and their carers.
People have attended from their own homes, but also from Nursing and Residential Homes.
No one with an interest in Dementia is excluded, in fact they are warmly welcomed. Over the past year talks have been delivered by a Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Dietician, Bank Officials, to name but a few.
The owners of the Villa Rose Hotel, Tommy and Bridget Gallen have been extremely supportive in maintaining the Alzheimer’s Café. Their staff always provide a very warm and welcoming setting, providing tea, coffee and homemade scones.
The Café will celebrate its 1st anniversary on 21st August 2019 with a party. Anyone who is living with Dementia, their carers, families or friends are more than welcome to attend and see for themselves the positive impact the café has had on our community. The setting will be informal with song and dance and light refreshments. The Café also welcomes any volunteers who have an interest in Dementia and who like to become involved.
If anyone requires further information or has any queries please contact Fergus Sweeney on (074) 9189021 or Patricia McGinty on (087) 9271734
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