Cafe in Bordon welcomes people with dementia and their carers

A warm welcome and a slice of cake is promised for people living with dementia and their carers at the Sunflower Cafe in Bordon.

The Sunflower Cafe is a monthly drop-in cafe run by Right at Home where both carers and their loved ones have the opportunity to share their experiences over refreshments as well as to benefit from expert advice and support from the Right at Home team.

Claire Skilton, Care Manager at Right at Home, is the organiser of the cafe: “We hold our cafe on the fourth Thursday of every month from 10.30am to 12pm at the Mustangs Building, Budds Lane in Bordon. If you provide care for someone with dementia, you are both welcome to come along. You will find a friendly and safe environment with people who understand what it’s like to live with dementia and to provide care for someone who has it. As professionals in the field of dementia care, we’re also able to offer expert advice for those those who want it.”

Right at Home, which runs the cafe with help from Whitehill and Bordon Community Trust, started its Sunflower Cafes because it knows how isolating it can be caring for people with dementia.

“There is no doubt that providing care is a demanding, often highly stressful and exhausting role but it is a job carers tell us they want to do to the best of their ability. They also want to enjoy their time being with the loved ones they care for.

“Providing care at home is our everyday business so we know that being listened to, sharing experiences and getting professional advice are all really important for making dementia care a more manageable task. The Sunflower Cafes are just one of the ways we support carers in our local community, and this is a very fulfilling part of our role,” says Claire.

“The cafés are very relaxed and friendly and there’s usually an activity planned for those who want to take part,” explains Claire. “Recently, one of our guests brought along a photo album and showed us photos of when he was based in Hong Kong and Singapore. He told us all about his time in the army and his friends. His pictures were breath taking and he encouraged us all to visit.
“From the sparkle in his eyes and the way his hand gestures increased with passion, it was clear that looking at and discussing the photos brought back some very happy memories.”

John Maries is a volunteer at the café and he says: “The Sunflower Café is a wonderful service as there is currently nowhere else in Bordon offering this type of support. Whether you care for someone with dementia or you have dementia, groups such as the Sunflower Café are so important as they offer a safe environment where you can share experiences and receive professional advice from the Right at Home team. I’m a regular volunteer and encourage anybody who is touched by dementia to come along.”

The cafe is open to all carers looking after someone with dementia and to people living with dementia themselves. It is free to attend although people are invited to make a voluntary donation of £2 if they feel able. For more information, call 01252 783426 or just come along on the day.