Meridian Healthcare Care Centres Roby House in Huyton, Kirkby House in Kirkby, Amber Lodge in Armley, Leeds and Bridgewater Park in Scunthorpe are all holding an open afternoon during Dementia Awareness Week to provide information and support to anyone in the area responsible for the care of someone with a dementia related condition.

Members of the public are invited to join the teams at the above care centres on Wednesday 9th July between 2-4pm.

With over 700,000 people in the UK diagnosed with a dementia related condition, it is a subject recently well publicised with the award winning author Terry Pratchett being diagnosed and working to highlight through the media the area of dementia care. However many people do not fully understand the condition, and when it becomes relevant to people around them, are not sure who to turn to or what help is available to ensure that their loved ones receive the specialist care and attention they require.

The Alzheimer’s Society dementia awareness week focuses on reducing the risk of developing dementia and information on their ‘be head strong’ campaign along with the Alzheimer’s Society Guide to reducing risk through exercise and healthy eating will also be available. Visitors to the care centres will be able to talk to staff about how to adopt these principles when looking after an older person.

At Meridian Healthcare our philosophy is to see the person not the Dementia, to provide first class, person centred care which caters for the needs of the individual in a beautiful residential environment where people can feel comfortable and truly at home.

Kirkby House and Roby House have recently introduced the use of specialist sessions based on the ‘Sonas aPc’ practices into their care centres. The activities run by trained members of staff and are designed to bring together the concepts of stimulating all the senses to produce a group or a one to one session, the essential features of which are sensory, social and cognitive. There is strong scientific evidence that supports the link between communication and the various senses. Senior Care Assistant Lesley Vaughan from Roby House comments: ‘We have already seen a difference in our resident’s behaviour since the launch of the Sonas sessions; we have a number of residents who often become agitated and quite restless during the day, however they have responded very well to the calming music and will now sit down and participate throughout the session.’

Kirkby House, Roby House, Amber Lodge and Bridgewater all provide specialist care for older people with dementia related conditions, The Care Centre Managers invite anyone who would like more information on the residential care services available, advice/ guidance on who to contact with any queries regarding dementia care to call in anytime between 2-4pm on 9th July. Join us for an informal chat over coffee and cakes and experience some of the activities run at the care centres which are specially designed for people with dementia.

Ends.
• Photograph shows Senior Care Assistant Lesley Vaughan with Roby House resident.

Notes:
• Meridian Healthcare own 25 Care Centres throughout the North of England.

• Website: www.meridiancare.co.uk

• Further information about the Sonas initiative visit www.sonasapc.ie

• For further information on Roby House Care Centre in Huyton please contact Care Centre Manager Sarah Molloy on 0151 482 4440 or Click Here

• For further information on Kirkby House Care Centre in Kirkby please contact Care Centre Manager Madeleine Ward on 0151 289 9202 or Click Here

• For further information on Amber Lodge in Armley please contact Care Centre Manager Lynne Dawson on 0113 263 3231 or Click Here

• For further information on Bridgewater Park please contact Care Centre Manager Julie Moult on 01724 847 323 or Click Here

• For further information on the Alzheimers Society visit www.alzheimers.org.uk

For further information please contact: Tessa Matthews, Meridian Healthcare, 0161 368 9099 tmatthews@meridiancare.co.uk