The City of Hobart’s Dementia Friendly Café offers people with dementia and caregivers a space to socialise and unwind in a safe, relaxed environment.
Mathers House, a community asset right in the centre of Hobart, offers a Dementia Friendly Café on the last Wednesday of every month, with the next event to be held on 27 September.
Dementia Action Week (September 18-24) is the ideal time to highlight the benefits of such community events and break down some of the stigma and isolation attached to this disease.
Hobart Welcoming and Inclusive City Portfolio Chair Zelinda Sherlock said the café offered help and a reprieve for people with dementia – such as Tony Shae (pictured) – and their carers – like Tony’s wife, Cheryl (pictured).
“What is really lovely about this café is it is for people who are living with dementia, and that could be someone in the very early stages or someone in the advanced stages of the disease,” Cr Dr Sherlock said.
“But it is also for their carers, be it a paid worker or a wife or husband or child or parent or friend or whoever depending on the situation.
“The idea is for two hours there is a strong social inclusion aspect, and you can meet others and have some time where you feel supported and connect with community in a safe space that is free and welcoming.”
Libraries Tasmania and Dementia Friendly Tasmania run a similar café in Kingston and have now partnered with the City of Hobart to bring one to Mathers House.
Libraries Tasmania Digital Inclusion Coordinator Josie Hurst said a range of activities were offered in a non-structured way that triggered memories and curiosity, be it through knitting, woodwork and repairs, dominoes or cards.
But the library is also offering technological advice for people with the illness to access free dementia assistance apps, as well as carers limited by their responsibilities access to e-books, audio books and e-films through its services.
And the library is also delving into its archives to assist people with dementia.
“We’ve got a beautiful, rich treasure chest of images and things from the archives,” Ms Hurst said.
“It helps you trigger your memory, but you don’t leave people in the past, you bring them back to the now.
“We would have images from say Tourism Tasmania on how Tasmania might have been promoted in the past through old adverts and posters, but then you’d have the new ones too right alongside them.
“I’m super proud of the work the staff have done with this.
“We have got some really keen staff members who have been instrumental to take it upon themselves to develop a suite of activities we bring each time.”
Dementia Friendly Tasmania’s Anne Jones said the café can aid in several areas.
“We aim to tackle the stigma dementia carries, and guest speakers speaking about what is available in the local area, plus speakers from Centrelink and aged care services,” Ms Jones said.
“Support for the carers is also available, for people living with dementia we offer activities and support and a few hours out of the house, where they can talk to others in the same situation.
“I encourage the community to come along and enjoy the café.”
