VIP guest officially opens new dedicated dementia café area in Sutton Coldfield care home

A care home in Sutton Coldfield invited a very special guest to officially launch their new dementia refreshment space as part of their ‘dining with dignity’ initiative, a dedicated area just for dementia residents and their loved ones when they visit. 

Care UK’s Bishops Manor, on Jockey Road, invited the Mayor of Royal Sutton Coldfield, Councillor Janet Cairns, to officially open their new space. 

 

The new refreshment area, which will be open daily for residents and their loved ones, provides them a dedicated area to relax, catch up, and spend time together. The space will also make use of Care UK’s specialist crockery and utensils for those living with impaired vision or dexterity difficulties, helping them to enjoy a safe and independent food and drink experience. 

The home has also launched a free monthly Reach Out Café event. The relaxed, informal event provides an opportunity for carers, families, and friends of those living with dementia, to drop into the home for a break, a chat, and to meet others in a similar situation to them.  

The Reach Out Café event runs from 5pm-6pm on the first Wednesday of every month. 

Care UK has also launched its new video guide to support people whose loved ones who have been diagnosed with dementia. 

Care UK has also launched its new video guide to support people whose loved ones who have been diagnosed with dementia. 

A poll of 2,000 adults carried out by Care UK found over two thirds of British adults (67%) admitted they felt they should know more about dementia.  

Launched in response, the guide – One step at a time – A video guide to navigating dementia – is the first of its kind and is split into three sections: Dealing with a dementia diagnosis, Living well with dementia and Supporting the carer. It is the eighth guide to be released by Care UK, following the success of its predecessors – but the first to be available in video format. 

Tapping into more than 40 years of experience providing care for people living with dementia, the videos include detailed explanations and practical advice from Care UK’s experts, including Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia, Suzanne Mumford, Managers and team members from care homes across the country, plus residents’ families and carers. 

Each section is designed to provide a lifeline for families whose loved one has been diagnosed with dementia by dispelling common myths and helping to shine a light on what it means to live with the condition. 

It also includes practical tips from carers to help them understand how they can continue taking care of themselves, but also how their loved ones can go on to lead fulfilling lives after a diagnosis – from keeping active to continuing to enjoy old hobbies.

Thomas Bampfield, Home Manager at Bishops Manor, said: “Here at Bishops Manor, we are committed to supporting families through their dementia journey – which is why we’re thrilled to be unveiling our latest guide, One step at a time.

“Despite recent advances and awareness campaigns, dementia remains a very misunderstood condition, which is why it can be overwhelming for families when a loved one is diagnosed. We’re here to help, and to show that people living with dementia can still lead fulfilling lives – but also to remind carers to look after themselves too. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so we’d like to encourage local people who may be going through this experience to watch our guide online or reach out for support.

“As part of the launch, we were really excited to open our new dementia café space for residents and their families, and also host regular events which we hope will help and support members of our community. We’d like to thank Councillor Janet Cairns for officially opening the café for us.” 

To access the guide, please visit careuk.com/one-step-at-a-time

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Bishops Manor, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been designed to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.