Orbit East launches dementia help with Synergy cafe

Published by Orbit East & South for Orbit East in Care and Support and also in Housing

A new service for people with memory loss and early stage dementia launches in Newmarket this week, giving the community a much-needed facility where experiences of memory loss can be shared and information can be found. A dementia café aims to break down the stigma associated with the condition and will welcome people with dementia and their family, friends, health and social care professionals and volunteers in a relaxed café environment, where they can meet others living with the same condition. People can attend for a few hours or all day, as the café will run from 10.00am to 3.00pm every Thursday at Orbit East’s Childwick House starting on 21^st March. 

The service, we call a Synergy Café, uses the model developed by Sue Ryder in Ipswich which has seen much success. Sue Ryder is working with Orbit to replicate this in Newmarket.

Attendance is free and there will be a chance for people with dementia and family carers to partake in enjoyable activities together as well as gaining information and practical help.   A programme of speakers including professionals will come in and talk about how to manage and live well with the condition.   Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day to purchase. 

In consultation with is staff, local professionals, carers and residents Orbit found a gap in this type of provision for local people and its Independent Living division were successfully awarded funding from The Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance to set up and run Synergy Cafés in Newmarket, Brandon and Bury St Edmunds.

Says Helen Petitdemange, Orbit Independent Living Business Development Manager, “The café will help address the challenges posed by early stage dementia.  It will provide a safe, social space for people to interact with others who may at times feel alone and disempowered by the lack of accessible information on the condition. Many of our very sheltered scheme residents are living with some degree of memory loss and we feel this type of service is important as it has a significant role to play in giving confidence to learn about dementia and network with people in similar situations.”    

Jo Marshall of Sue Ryder says, “We are delighted that we are able to offer more people in Suffolk the opportunity to access support through a Synergy Café by working with Orbit to establish these in their sheltered homes. What is different about a dementia cafe is that it brings people together, people with the condition, their carers and circle of support and health and social care professionals This is an exciting opportunity to work together and through that ‘synergy’ we hope that more can be achieved.”

For more information;

Orbit Independent Living  - www.orbitindependentliving.org.uk

Orbit East - www.orbiteast.org.uk

Orbit Heart of England - www.orbitheartofengland.org.uk