New videos help explain Dementia Meeting Centres

Dementia Meeting Centres are a local resource which operate out of ordinary community buildings. The Meeting Centres offer ongoing warm and friendly expert support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their families. 

The Centres aim to help people to cope with adjusting to the symptoms and changes that living with dementia brings. 

There are currently 11 Meeting Centres across Worcestershire - two in Worcester and one each in Malvern Link, Evesham, Wichenford, Kidderminster, Stourport, Bromsgrove, Droitwich Spa, Redditch and one being piloted soon in Tenbury Wells. 

Worcestershire County Council has funded two short videos to help promote the Meeting Centres which are available on the University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies YouTube page. The two videos are aimed at different audiences: members and carers, and referrers. The purpose of the videos is to give people a better idea of what goes on at a Meeting Centre and some of the benefits that people experience through attending a Meeting Centre.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Adult Social Care from Worcestershire County Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the videos. Worcestershire is the only county in England which has such a regional spread of Meeting Centres. The Meeting Centres provide much-needed support for people with mild to moderate dementia and we are pleased this is available across the whole of Worcestershire.”

Dr Shirley Evans, Interim Director of the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester which manages the Meeting Centre programme, said: “It is really important to get the message out to people so that they can get the right support at the right time. This can help people live well for longer within their own communities. These videos are vital to getting the message out there.”

Please go to the University of Worcester Website to find out more about Dementia Meeting Centres.

If you would like to find out more about Meeting Centres, please email meetingcentres@worc.ac.uk