Suffolk Libraries is launching a new Reading with Dementia support group and dementia café at Stowmarket Library in partnership with Christies Care.
The new group is part of Suffolk Libraries new Reading with Dementia project which provides support, companionship and resources to anyone in Suffolk affected by dementia, through a number of library-based support groups.
The new group at Stowmarket launches on Thursday 19 September at 10.30AM to 12PM with a special event providing hot drinks, café and live music from local Ukulele band ‘Wot No Cake?'.
The group will then run every Thursday from 10.30AM to 12PM and is open to anyone living with dementia and their families.
The aim is to provide a friendly social setting for anyone affected by dementia to come together to meet and chat to people in a similar situation. Christies Care is kindly supporting this new group at Stowmarket Library and on the third Thursday of the month, will be attending the session to talk about caring for people with dementia and offering advice for anyone affected by dementia.
Christies Care Stowmarket Registered Manager, Katie Parker, said:
“Being new to the Stowmarket community, Christies Care is passionate about getting involved with as many community opportunities as possible. This group will allow us to support and answer any question people have around care and how they can be supported to remain independent for as long as possible. All whilst having a chat, cuppa and hopefully a slice of cake. Being part of this new partnership with Suffolk Libraries continues our great working relationship together.”
The Reading with Dementia project is being led by Suffolk Libraries' Community Champion Coordinator Kayleigh Kent. Kayleigh said:
“Dementia is a condition which affects thousands of people in the UK and as a county with a higher than average proportion of over 65s, many people in Suffolk are living with dementia. We hope that these groups, with additional information and books on the subject, will help many people and their families. As with many of these very serious and life-changing conditions – having a forum to talk to others in your situation can make a big difference and make a big difference in the impact it has on your life. Anyone interested in the new group is very welcome to come along on the 19th September!”
Research shows there are nearly 950,000 people in the UK with dementia and 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia in the UK.
Suffolk Libraries’ Reading with Dementia project is being funded through the Reading Well Community Champions project delivered by The Reading Agency.
Reading with Dementia groups are already running at Ipswich County Library every Monday at 2:15PM and at Newmarket Library every Thursday at 1PM. The groups are run by knowledgeable Community Champion volunteers and use the Reading Well for Dementia book collection curated by The Reading Agency as a tool to help open discussions about dementia.
There is no need to register or be referred, you can attend the sessions as often or as little as you like. There’s no obligation to get involved in discussions until you feel comfortable doing so and there’s always a hot drink and a listening ear waiting for you.
For more information about the groups or the Reading with Dementia project, please contact Suffolk Libraries’ Community Champion Coordinator via kayleigh.kent@suffolklibraries.co.uk or visit our Reading With Dementia page.
Suffolk Libraries is particularly keen to engage with people from minority ethnic groups, anyone with a learning disability and the LGBTQIA+ community. Suffolk Libraries is also keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering to support the sessions. Anyone interested can download a volunteer role profile for more information.
Christies Care provides compassionate, high-quality home care services across Suffolk, empowering and supporting you or your loved ones to live independently in the comfort of your own home. Their dedication to exceptional care has twice earned them the prestigious ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission, placing them in the top 4% of home care providers in England.
