Three Towns dementia centre opens

North Ayrshire Council has officially launched its new Dementia Support Service for people affected by the condition.

Based at the Thistle Day Service in Stevenston’s Moorpark Road West, a team of eight Dementia Support workers offer advice, information and specialist support to people with dementia, their families and carers.

The local authority’s spokesperson on Health and Social Care, SNP Councillor Anthea Dickson, welcomed the new facility, saying, “I am delighted to see the new Dementia Support Service being launched.

“The memory cafes, for example, provide an excellent service and I know how valued they are by users and their families.  They provide opportunities to meet with professional staff and others with shared experiences of dementia.”

Cllr Dickson added, “It’s vital for people to know they are not alone and that there are services to support them.”

The new facility was officially opened by Ardrossan man Robert Stevenson, whose wife was diagnosed with vascular dementia two years ago.  Mr Stevenson said, “It can be difficult to ask for help but there is a lot of support out there.”

Dementia Support Worker Avril Donnelly visited Mr Stevenson at home to tell him about the services that are available.  Mr Stevenson said even just an hour of respite allowed him to pop out to the shops or go for a walk, adding “Through the Service I have also been able to meet other carers who have a wealth of information and shared experiences.

“I would recommend that anyone who is a carer to someone with dementia, or who knows someone in that position, contact the Dementia Support Service.”

Memory cafes across North Ayrshire operate on a drop-in basis and offer a friendly, relaxed and welcoming setting where people with dementia and their carers have the opportunity to access practical information and emotional support.

The Service also produces a North Ayrshire Dementia Newsletter every three months, containing information about local services, national dementia issues and practical advice.

Anyone who feels they or someone they know would benefit from the service should contact the Council’s Dementia Support team on 01505 684362.