The Memory Lane Dementia Day Service in Boston, which offers a day facility for people living with dementia and their carers, has enjoyed great popularity during its first year of operation, report Boston Mayflower and Age UK Lincoln & Kesteven. The two charitable organisations, both members of Lincs Independent Living Partnership (LILP), launched the Service in response to local market demands.
Memory Lane offers a safe and peaceful environment where people with dementia can enjoy a range of activities to improve health and wellbeing. These include creative, educational, memory and cognition activities, music therapy and gentle exercise, all of which provide social contact and help people to improve self-esteem, retain and even regain important skills and realise their potential. Activities can be personalised according to interests, previous occupation and pursuits and current cognitive function and abilities.
At the same time, the Service provides carers and their families some respite from the constant demands of caring.
Small groups of up to 15 customers are staffed by trained support workers from Boston Mayflower and Age UK Lincoln & Kesteven, with some help from trained volunteers. The Service also offers nutritious meals and snacks, medication reminders, access to information and mental health training, and signposting to other support services, all within a protective and caring environment.
Murray Macdonald, Chief Executive at Boston Mayflower commented: ‘As a provider of housing and services for older and vulnerable people, we are delighted that Memory Lane Day Service is providing much needed support to people living with dementia and welcome respite for their carers.’
Memory Lane is held at Mayfields Extra Care Scheme, at Broadfield Lane, Boston, PE21 8GH owned and managed by Boston Mayflower, on the first and third Thursday of every month, and every Thursday from January 2018. It provides full and half day options and shorter sessions by arrangement. To find out more, including costs and a taster day, please call 0300 365 5000.
